These simple commands make life smoother. Teach your Schnauzer these basics for easier daily routines and better behavior.
Schnauzers are stubborn little geniuses wrapped in bearded packages of pure personality. These dogs will charm you one minute and selectively ignore you the next, which is why having the right commands in your training arsenal isn’t just helpful… it’s absolutely essential for maintaining your sanity. These seven commands will transform daily life from chaotic to manageable.
Getting a Schnauzer to listen takes more than basic obedience. It requires commands that work with their intelligent, independent nature instead of against it. The commands we’re covering today go beyond “sit” and “stay,” targeting the specific challenges that Schnauzer owners face every single day.
1. “Enough” (The Barking Control Command)
Let’s address the elephant in the room: Schnauzers love to alert you to everything. The mailman? Bark. A leaf moving suspiciously? Bark. Someone daring to walk past your house? Maximum barking. While their watchdog instincts make them excellent alert systems, you need a way to acknowledge their concerns without letting the barking spiral out of control.
The “Enough” command becomes your sanity saver. Unlike “Quiet” (which many dogs find confusing because silence isn’t their natural state), “Enough” acknowledges that they’ve done their job alerting you. You’re essentially saying, “Thank you for the notification, guard dog extraordinaire, but I’ve got it from here.”
Training this command effectively:
Start by letting your Schnauzer bark a few times when they alert to something. After two or three barks, calmly say “Enough” and redirect their attention with a treat or toy. The key is consistency and timing. You’re not punishing the barking; you’re teaching them when it’s time to stop. Most Schnauzers pick this up within a week or two because it works with their protective instincts rather than against them.
The “Enough” command respects your Schnauzer’s natural alert instincts while giving you back control of your auditory environment. It’s not about silencing your dog, but teaching them when the security briefing is complete.
2. “Leave It” (The Universal Lifesaver)
Schnauzers are curious, food motivated, and occasionally possess questionable judgment about what constitutes an appropriate snack. “Leave It” might be the most versatile command in your toolkit, applicable to situations ranging from preventing sidewalk trash consumption to stopping your dog from grabbing that chicken bone, stolen sock, or your expensive leather shoe.
This command differs from “Drop It” because it prevents your Schnauzer from picking something up in the first place. It’s proactive rather than reactive, which is crucial for a breed known for lightning fast reflexes when something interesting appears.
The beauty of “Leave It” lies in its flexibility. You can use it for food, objects, other animals, or even people your Schnauzer has decided to enthusiastically investigate. Teaching this command requires patience but pays dividends in prevented vet visits alone.
Practice progression: Start with low value items and work up to high value temptations. Place a treat on the floor, cover it with your hand, and say “Leave It.” Only reward your Schnauzer when they pull back and make eye contact with you instead of the treat. Gradually increase difficulty by using more tempting items and removing your hand from covering them.
3. “Go to Your Spot” (Peace and Quiet on Command)
Every Schnauzer needs a designated chill zone, and teaching them to go there on command transforms mealtimes, guest arrivals, and your own moments of needing space. This isn’t about banishing your dog; it’s about giving them a job (going to their spot) and a place where good things happen.
Why this command changes everything:
| Situation | Without Command | With “Go to Your Spot” |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking dinner | Dog underfoot, tripping hazard, begging intensifies | Dog relaxing on their bed, safely out of the kitchen |
| Doorbell rings | Barking chaos, jumping on guests, general mayhem | Dog goes to designated spot, calmer greeting possible |
| You’re working from home | Constant interruptions, attention seeking | Dog settles in their spot, you actually finish that report |
| Eating meals | Sad eyes inches from your plate, guilt increases | Peaceful meal while dog waits patiently in their space |
Choose a comfortable bed or mat as “the spot,” preferably somewhere your Schnauzer can still see you (they hate being completely excluded from family activities). Start by luring them to the spot with treats, then gradually add duration before they’re released. Eventually, “Go to Your Spot” becomes their default during busy household times.
4. “Wait” (Impulse Control for the Impulsive)
Schnauzers excel at many things: being adorable, judging your life choices, and bolting through open doors before you can blink. The “Wait” command teaches impulse control, asking your dog to pause before proceeding. This differs from “Stay” because it’s temporary; you’re not asking for a long duration, just a moment of self control.
Use “Wait” at doorways before your Schnauzer charges outside, at their food bowl before they dive in, and at the car before they leap out into parking lots. It’s a safety command disguised as a politeness command.
“Wait” transforms your impulsive Schnauzer into a dog who thinks before acting, creating those crucial seconds you need to ensure safety, check for hazards, or simply maintain your sanity during transitions.
The magic of this command lies in its brevity. You’re not asking for extended patience (we know that’s challenging for the breed); you’re asking for a momentary pause. Most Schnauzers find this reasonable, making it easier to teach than longer duration commands.
5. “Off” (For the Furniture Obsessed)
Let’s be real: Schnauzers believe all furniture exists for their comfort. Whether you allow couch privileges or not, there are moments when you need your dog to vacate a specific space. Maybe you’re carrying laundry, guests need somewhere to sit, or you’d like to use your own bed occasionally. “Off” creates a clear, consistent way to request furniture evacuation without confusion.
Many owners accidentally muddle “Off” and “Down,” using them interchangeably. Your Schnauzer finds this baffling. “Down” should mean lie down on the ground, while “Off” means remove yourself from the elevated surface. Keeping these distinct prevents the confused head tilt that Schnauzers have perfected into an art form.
Teaching the distinction: Only use “Off” when your dog is actually on something (furniture, people, counters for the ambitious Schnauzers). Lure them down with a treat, say “Off,” and reward when all four paws hit the floor. Never use “Off” to mean “Down” in other contexts. Consistency is everything with these intelligent, rule lawyering dogs.
6. “Bring It Here” (Channeling That Retrieving Instinct)
Not all Schnauzers are natural retrievers, but many enjoy carrying objects around. Teaching “Bring It Here” transforms random carrying into useful behavior. Suddenly, your Schnauzer can bring you the remote, fetch their leash when it’s walk time, or retrieve toys instead of leaving them scattered like tiny beard trimmed landmines throughout your home.
This command taps into something wonderful about the breed: they love having jobs. Schnauzers are working dogs at heart, originally bred for ratting and farm work. Giving them small tasks satisfies their need for purpose while making your life easier. Everyone wins.
Start with objects your Schnauzer already likes carrying. Use enthusiastic praise when they bring items to you rather than dropping them randomly or hoarding them in their secret stash (yes, they definitely have one). Gradually shape the behavior until “Bring It Here” means delivering objects directly to your hands.
7. “Settle” (Calm on Command)
Schnauzers possess two modes: asleep and intensely alert. The “Settle” command creates a middle ground, asking your dog to consciously relax without necessarily sleeping. This proves invaluable during vet visits, grooming appointments, car rides, or any situation requiring calm behavior without full sleep.
Unlike “Down” or “Stay,” which are about position, “Settle” is about mental state. You’re asking your Schnauzer to consciously choose relaxation, lowering their arousal level and finding calm. For a breed prone to reactivity and high alert status, this becomes a crucial life skill.
Teaching “Settle” gives your Schnauzer the emotional regulation tools they need to handle stimulating environments without becoming overwhelmed, stressed, or reactive. It’s like meditation for your bearded companion.
Building the settle: Practice during naturally calm moments, not when your dog is already wound up. Use a calm voice, gentle petting, and reward quiet, relaxed behavior. Many owners pair this with relaxing music or a specific mat that becomes associated with calm time. The goal is teaching your Schnauzer that they can choose to be calm, even when exciting things are happening around them.
Bonus Tips for Schnauzer Command Success
Consistency Matters More Than Perfection.
Schnauzers are brilliant rule followers when the rules are clear, but they’ll exploit every loophole when rules become fuzzy. If “Off” means get off the couch on Tuesdays but is ignored on weekends, your Schnauzer concludes the command is optional. Everyone in your household must use the same words for the same behaviors.
Reward With Variety
These smart dogs get bored with predictable reward patterns. Mix treats, praise, play, and life rewards (like opening the door after a nice “Wait”) to keep training interesting. A Schnauzer who knows exactly what’s coming next is a Schnauzer who might decide the reward isn’t worth the effort.
Short Sessions Win
Your Schnauzer’s attention span is impressive when they’re interested and nonexistent when they’re not. Keep training sessions brief (five to ten minutes), upbeat, and successful. End on a high note, before frustration sets in for either of you.
Embrace the Beard
This seems unrelated to commands, but accepting your Schnauzer’s glorious facial hair means accepting their whole personality: opinionated, dignified, occasionally ridiculous, and utterly devoted. Training works best when you appreciate who they are rather than wishing they were a different breed.
These seven commands create a framework for easier daily life with your Schnauzer. They address the specific challenges this breed presents while working with their intelligent, independent nature. Master these, and you’ll find that life with your bearded companion becomes less about constant management and more about genuine partnership. Your Schnauzer might still judge your decisions (that’s non negotiable), but at least they’ll do it while following commands.
