Quick answer
Boston Terrier or Standard Schnauzer — which should I get?
Pick the Boston if you want a low-maintenance, low-energy dog that's forgiving for a first-timer. Pick the Schnauzer if you want a smarter, more athletic dog and don't mind the grooming bill.
Boston Terrier or Schnauzer (Standard)? On paper they differ most on grooming need, and on the scales Schnauzer (Standard) is the heavier at 26–50 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Boston Terrier and Schnauzer (Standard) and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on grooming need and exercise need, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Boston Terrier rates 5/5 against 4/5. There is no origin story here — only what changes about your week.
Between Boston Terrier and Schnauzer (Standard), grooming need is what separates them, and Boston Terrier is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose Boston Terrier if you are in a flat or a smaller home, this is your first dog and you do not want a standing grooming appointment.
Choose Schnauzer (Standard) if shedding is a problem in your house, you want a dog that picks up training quickly and you want a dog that can keep up with an active routine.
| Feature | boston terrier | schnauzer standard | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | small | medium | Equal |
| Weight | 12–25 lbs | 26–50 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 15–17 in | 17–20 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 11–13 years | 13–16 years | schnauzer standard |
| Exercise need | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | boston terrier |
| Grooming need | Very low (1/5) | High (4/5) | boston terrier |
| Shedding | Low (2/5) | Very low (1/5) | schnauzer standard |
| Energy level | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | boston terrier |
| Apartment suitability | Very high (5/5) | High (4/5) | boston terrier |
| Good for first-time owners | Very high (5/5) | Moderate (3/5) | boston terrier |
| Tolerates being alone | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Trainability | High (4/5) | Very high (5/5) | schnauzer standard |
| Good with kids | Very high (5/5) | Very high (5/5) | Equal |
| Good with other dogs | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | boston terrier |
| Friendly to strangers | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | boston terrier |
| Cost level | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Coat | Short and smooth | Wiry double coat | Equal |
| Origin | Various | Germany | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $80–$150 | $100–$200 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,100–$2,300 | $1,500–$2,800 | Equal |
A Boston Terrier tops out around 25 pounds and stands 15 to 17 inches at the shoulder — a compact, square-built dog you can pick up without much thought. The Standard Schnauzer runs noticeably bigger, 26 to 50 pounds and up to 20 inches, with a rangier, more athletic frame under that wiry coat. If crate size, car space, or how much dog you can physically handle matters to you, the Schnauzer is roughly double the Boston in mass.
The Boston Terrier's exercise need sits at a 2 out of 5 — a couple of short walks and some indoor play cover it. The Standard Schnauzer rates a 4, and its energy level matches at high, meaning it wants real work: long walks, a job, something to do with its brain and body most days. Skip that with a Schnauzer and it will likely invent its own entertainment, which owners rarely enjoy.
Grooming is where these two split hardest. The Boston's short coat needs almost nothing — a 1 out of 5 — and it sheds lightly. The Schnauzer's wiry double coat rates a 4 for grooming demand, needing regular brushing and periodic hand-stripping or clipping to keep its shape, even though it actually sheds less than the Boston day to day. Low shedding does not mean low maintenance here.
Both dogs handle alone time about the same, a moderate 3 out of 5, so neither is a natural fit for a nine-to-five with no midday break. Where they diverge is noise and space: the Boston barks rarely (2/5) and scores a 5 for apartment living, while the Schnauzer barks more (4/5) and rates a 4 for apartments — livable, but your neighbors will know when someone's at the door.
The Boston Terrier is rated a full 5 out of 5 for first-time owners, and its trainability is already high at 4/5 — an easy, forgiving dog to raise. The Schnauzer trains even better on paper, a 5/5 for trainability thanks to its intelligence, but it only rates a 3/5 for first-timers because that same intelligence needs consistent direction or it goes looking for its own projects.
Both breeds score a full 5 out of 5 with kids, so that's a wash. The Boston edges ahead elsewhere in the social columns — 4/5 with other dogs and 4/5 with strangers, against the Schnauzer's 3/5 on both. A Schnauzer isn't unfriendly, but it tends to be more reserved and watchful around unfamiliar dogs and people, which is part of why it also makes a more attentive watchdog.
The Schnauzer lives longer on paper, 13 to 16 years against the Boston's 11 to 13, but it also carries a longer list of documented conditions — including hip dysplasia, hemangiosarcoma, and seizures — versus the Boston's shorter, airway-and-eye-focused list built around its flat face. Cataracts show up in both breeds' health data, so that's one thing worth screening for regardless of which one you pick.
Both breeds land at a moderate 3 out of 5 on overall cost, and the monthly ranges are close: $80–$150 for the Boston versus $100–$200 for the Schnauzer. The gap shows up more in year one, $1,100–$2,300 against $1,500–$2,800, and in ongoing grooming bills — the Schnauzer's coat maintenance is a recurring expense the low-upkeep Boston simply doesn't have.
Boston Terrier weighs 12–25 lbs and lives 11–13 years; Schnauzer (Standard) weighs 26–50 lbs and lives 13–16 years. The two diverge most on grooming need, exercise need and good for first-time owners and 1 other rated axes. They are level on tolerates being alone, cost level and good with kids, so those cannot decide it. Where the table declares a winner it means less work for the owner, nothing more; descriptive rows are left as ties on purpose. The value here is in the differences between the two columns; treat any single score as approximate.
The Schnauzer is bigger by a wide margin — 26 to 50 pounds and up to 20 inches tall, versus the Boston's 12 to 25 pounds and 15 to 17 inches. Expect roughly double the dog in the Schnauzer.
The Schnauzer actually wins on shedding, rated very low (1/5) against the Boston's low (2/5). But it doesn't win on grooming overall — its wiry coat needs regular brushing and stripping that the wash-and-go Boston skips entirely.
The Boston Terrier, clearly — it rates 5/5 for first-time owners against the Schnauzer's 3/5. The Schnauzer is smart and trainable, but it needs an owner who will actually follow through on that training.
Both can, but the Boston is the easier call at 5/5 apartment suitability and low barking (2/5). The Schnauzer scores a still-respectable 4/5, but its higher barking tendency (4/5) and bigger exercise needs make it more work in a small space.
Plan on $80–$150 a month for a Boston Terrier and $100–$200 for a Standard Schnauzer, with the Schnauzer's grooming needs pushing its real-world cost toward the top of that range more often.
Cataracts appear in both breeds' health data. Beyond that, their risk profiles diverge — the Boston's issues cluster around its short face and eyes, while the Schnauzer's list is longer and includes hip dysplasia, hemangiosarcoma, and seizures.
The Schnauzer, typically — 13 to 16 years versus the Boston's 11 to 13. That two-to-three-year edge is one of the clearer advantages in the Schnauzer's favor.
Pick the Boston if you want a low-maintenance, low-energy dog that's forgiving for a first-timer. Pick the Schnauzer if you want a smarter, more athletic dog and don't mind the grooming bill.
$80–$150 for the Boston, $100–$200 for the Schnauzer, with the Schnauzer's coat care typically pushing it toward the higher end.
The Schnauzer, rated 4/5 against the Boston's 2/5 — it needs real daily activity, not just a short walk.
The Schnauzer, typically 13-16 years versus 11-13 for the Boston Terrier.
Secure checkout on Stripe. We never see your card.
7-day money-back guarantee. Instant access.
Health information here is general and is not veterinary advice. If your dog shows pain, sudden behaviour change, or worsening symptoms, consult a licensed veterinarian.
Some links on this site are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and we only suggest products we believe are helpful for dog owners.
We research and check what we publish, but we do not warrant that any figure, date, price, or statement is accurate, complete, or current, and we accept no liability for any loss, cost, injury, or other harm arising from the use of this site. Use it as one reference among several. You remain responsible for your own decisions and for your dog's care - confirm anything that matters with a licensed veterinarian or another qualified professional before you act on it. Full disclaimer.
Match your lifestyle to the right dog.
Take quizNot sure which breed is right for you? Take our 2-minute quiz to find out.
Take the quiz