Mini Schnauzer fully grown?

Question
Hi, I have a mini schnauzer who is eating well but appears to be very small in respect of other mini schnauzers i have seen. She was 1 year old in july, what age are they fully grown, or is it a case that she could have been the runt of the litter that i had chosen, although she did look the same size as the other pups.

She is feed on bakers adult food since she was 1 year old and iv'e now introduced meat mixed with her biscuit. Have i maybe taken her off the puppy food to young.

She is a lively dog.

Many thanks

Becky

Answer
I had never heard of Baker's Dog Food so did an internet search, and now see why since you are apparently in the UK. That company certainly made it difficult to find the page with the ingredients list!

Are all foods in the UK listed with such a generalized list of ingredients? If I saw that here in the U.S., I would deem the product to be a totally unsatisfactory food to feed my dogs. The first ingredient should be a meat or preferably a meat meal, not cereal, which is mostly filler, AND it should be labeled as to what kind of meat (chicken, beef, etc)... not a generic "Meat and animal derivatives" which could be road kill and by-products. (This could also include dog and cat carcasses from the pound, etc., at least in *this* country!) Purina isn't that good a product here either...

As to your specific question... I never put my puppies on puppy food. They are weaned onto the same high-quality food that I feed all my dogs. No, their growth is not stunted; I currently have a lovely boy that I am afraid will go oversized.

I think you just happened to get a smaller schnauzer, and it sounds like your breeder is breeding them that way since the entire litter looked to be the same size when you picked yours. Is there a chance that you have been seeing other pet-quality schnauzers who happen to be on the larger side and your normal-sized girl looks smaller for that reason?

As to the growing time, that really depends on the line of dogs with which one is dealing. Some lines have attained full height by six months, needing only to fill out sideways. Some, such as mine, mature very slowly, and may take well over a year to attain full height. Many bitches do not grow much beyond what they are when they first come into season.

If you have further questions about schnauzers, you are welcome to check out my webpage http://britmorschnauzers.com or go to the parent club in your country http://www.the-miniature-schnauzer-club.co.uk/

Best wishes,
Karen