1. You, the owner, are primarily responsible for your "best friend" being obese.
2. Most dog owners over feed their pet by 20% or more.
3. Table scraps are not the right kind of food for your miniature schnauzer.
4. Most table scraps contain too many calories because of large amounts of fat, starches and sugar.
5. The unburned calories will be absorbed into your schnauzer's body and turned into "fat".
6. Keeping your dog active will help burn up the additional calories contained in table scraps.
7. Your local veterinarian should be consulted before putting your dog on a diet.Your vet will be able to determine if your pet is over weight. Weight alone is not conclusive. Other factors such as boon density should be considered. The expert advice of your vet will help determine this for you.
8. Certain breeds of dogs are predisposed to being overweight.Studies have shown that genetics may play a role in a dog's weight.A few of these breeds are, Collies, Bassett Hounds, Shelties, Labrador Retriever, Dachshunds, Cockers and others. This does not mean every dog in the breed is going to get fat. However, it does mean you should be on guard for the possibility. Schnauzers may not be genetically predisposed to being overweight but that doesn't mean they can eat everything in sight.
9. Age is a factor in overweight dogs.A great many dogs began to put on weight starting around the age of two years. This is generally around the age when they begin to mature and become somewhat less active. As the dog becomes older, weight gain tends to level off and in fact will decline with proper diet and exercise.
10. Medications can contribute to obesity in your pet.Just as in humans, dog medication may well increase their appetite and even cut down on their metabolic rate. Thus, the medicines may lead to eating a lot more food while decreasing the amount of exercise.

These are just some of the facts you need to know to help prevent your miniature schnauzer from becoming overweight. dog. Keeping your pet's weight under control will help you keep your dog healthy and give you and your dog many years of companionship.