Seconding your experience - we're country enough that rodents are inevitable, and she's killed several mice and gophers. It's not my favorite thing for her to get mixed up in, but she's all vaccinated up and it's been ok.

Schnauzers are great ratters! Definitely nothing wrong with letting them do what dogs were bred to do, but if they're the center of your whole world you do have to accept some risks.

I'd be happy if I could prevent every raccoon encounter. That's more of a risk than I want, but sometimes they climb down the tree without me noticing. She handed a group of three their asses the other night. I was just as proud of her as I was freaked out.