The Genetics of the White Colored Schnauzer

White is a recessive trait in the color gene for the Miniature Schnauzer. There is some disagreement among the experts as to whether it was in the genetic pool from the beginning of the breed, or not.  Because it is a recessive trait, it is somewhat uncommon to have an all-white litter of Miniature Schnauzer puppies unless you plan for it.  

Dixie had her first litter of puppies in the Winter of 2007, with her first owner.  She was bred to a Salt n' Pepper at that time.  The resulting litter had 3 blacks, 3 Salt n' Peppers and 1 white puppy.  The number of 1:7 seems to be a common ratio for whites in a litter when bred to a non-white.  Salt and Pepper appears to be the most common Schnauzer color.

We adopted Dixie at 18mths, shortly after her litter was sold. We waited till the spring of 2009 before we bred her to a White Schnauzer. The resulting litter was completely white because her Stud also carried the double recessive gene for white.

There is an interesting website all about the genetics of color in the Miniature Schnauzer.  It says the following,
"The true white Miniature Schnauzer is genetically a dog with the color turned 'off' so that it has white hair and pink skin...The 'true' white Miniature Schnauzer will also show cream and beige.  In this color schnauzer, white is masking over the real genetic color of the dog."  If you want to read more about it visit the following website:  

http://www.max-the-schnauzer.com/white-schnauzer.html