Leslie Shriner | Straw Hat Standard Schnauzers

“Find your North Star and always breed toward it. Don’t sacrifice what’s most valuable to gain something new, and learn to recognize true virtues.”

The Journey

Leslie has spent the majority of her adult life dedicated to the Standard Schnauzer. She acquired her first dog of the breed nearly 35 years ago from Pat White, and she has consistently maintained lines bred by or descended from Pat’s foundation stock. As a mentor and friend, Pat demonstrated—by example—the importance of prioritizing structure and type without ever compromising temperament or health. The Straw Hat lines are built upon this prestigious foundation, augmented by collaborations with the Mohner Kennel of Denmark.

Over the past decade, the Straw Hat kennel has achieved significant acclaim, producing Best in Show and Best in Specialty Show winners. Leslie’s accomplishments include SSCA National Specialty Best of Breed Opposite Sex winners, Westminster Best of Opposite, Select, and Award of Merit recipients. The kennel has also produced the first Platinum Grand Champion offspring from a Platinum SS parent, multiple Gold Grand Champion winners, a performance and versatility superstar, and many beloved family companions.

The Focus

Leslie began her journey in the breed through performance work, primarily in obedience and herding. She eventually transitioned into conformation showing while simultaneously teaching obedience classes, working as a veterinary nurse, and operating a professional grooming business—an enterprise she has owned and managed for several decades. Though she did not initially anticipate becoming a successful owner-handler, she has since earned dozens of conformation titles on dogs of her own breeding. She remains grateful for these opportunities and for the training and grooming expertise she has spent a lifetime honing. Leslie is deeply passionate about preserving the legacy of the Standard Schnauzer as a healthy, handsome, intelligent, and trainable companion that remains true to its heritage as an “all-purpose farm dog.”

Vision for the Initiative

When it became evident that the population of competitive show and performance black Standard Schnauzers was not merely in decline, but in danger of disappearing, Leslie felt a clear calling to support her friends in their passion for curating a new, robust line of black Standard Schnauzers. Having worked with and observed quality black Standard Schnauzers from top historical kennels for many years, she possesses a clear vision for elevating overall quality back to its highest levels. She is proud that Straw Hat Standard Schnauzers can provide a strong, reliable foundation for this collaborative endeavor.