A Schnauzer is a German dog type that originated in Germany in the 15th and 16th centuries. The term comes from Schnauze the German word for snout because of the dog's distinctively bearded snout. The word Schnauzer also means moustache in German; some authorities such as Encyclopædia Britannica say this is the origin of the name. Although the Schnauzer is considered a terrier-type dog they do not have the typical terrier temperament.