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The Giant Schnauzer is a large, powerful, and compact breed of dog. It is one of the three Schnauzer breeds. Like most large breeds, the Giant Schnauzer needs a fair amount of exercise.
Appearance
When hand-stripped, the Giant Schnauzer has a harsh, wiry outer coat and dense, soft undercoat. Coat color is either black or salt and pepper (grey). It weighs between 70 and 100 lb (32 to 45 kg) and stands 23.5 to 27.5 in (59 to 70 cm) at the withers.
When moving at a fast trot, a properly built Giant Schnauzer will single-track. Back remains strong, firm, and flat.
The American Kennel Club lists the Giant as low shedding - and therefore hypoallergenic - along with both other breeds of Schnauzers. However, Giant Schnauzers, as with almost all dogs, do shed. When allowed, the hair on a Schnauzer will grow long, which increases shedding, and thereby potentially increasing allergens. This can be mitigated with consistent grooming to include mostly short hair. The Giant Schnauzer does not moult.
Temperament
The Giant Schnauzer is a large, powerful, dominant dog which needs a firm, consistent but friendly handler. Unnecessary harshness will only do harm.
Early and consistent training is necessary as Giant Schnauzers tend to be very willful and highly intelligent dogs. Their ability to understand a command does not always translate into obedience.
Giant Schnauzers are fiercely loyal, often becoming so attached to their owner that they follow them around the house. Giant schnauzers can be good with children if obtained as a young puppy and trained. Many giants are of the mind set, "If they don't live here, they don't belong here." Which means, your children's friends might have a problem. They are big and powerful dogs and could injure a child without meaning to do so. They often get what are called the rips and run with high speed and great abandon. They often don't see people in their way and can and would run into them. They are best for older children. Obedience training is a must for both the dog and the humans that he/she owns. Overall Giant Schnauzers are great pets.
"Some of the great qualities of Giants is that they can excel at obedience/agility/carting/protection work, if properly trained they are a dog that can do it all. They need an owner who displays consistent leadership, or they will feel it is their job to take over as top dog. If not given the proper amount of exercise and left to their own devices, this breed can turn very destructive, if their energy and busy minds are not channeled properly. They are a people dog and not a dog to be left outside. They need a job of some sort or they will create their own job and it may well be relandscaping the yard if left outdoors to long." The Giant Schnauzer is a natural guard dog.
Giant Schnauzers need vigorous exercise at least twice every day and can easily make a 15 mile hike. The Giant Schnauzer is not a good companion for hunters as they can be very willful and may not consistently obey a recall command.
Health problems in the breed include:
• Autoimmune diseases (hypothyroidism, Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) (also called Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA)), SLO, Crohn's disease, and so on)
• Epilepsy
• Hip dysplasia
• Incontinence
• Toe Cancer
History
The breed originated in the mid to late 19th century in the Bavarian and Württemberg regions of Germany. Cattlemen wanted a larger version of the Standard Schnauzer for herding and driving, creating it by selectively breeding the Standard Schnauzer with the Great Dane, the Bouvier des Flandres, and rough haired sheepdogs.
It is important to note, the Giant Schnauzer and Miniature Schnauzer were bred from the Standard Schnauzer, making the Standard Schnauzer the original and oldest of this breed of dog. This distinction is important as when talking about "Schnauzers" most will think of the Miniature Schnauzer and not realize the distinction of Standard Schnauzer or Giant Schnauzer.
It was a popular herding breed, but its need for more food than some breeds made it less popular for farmers on tight budgets or with limited resources. It was used as a guard dog in breweries and stockyards, a police dog, and during World War I as a military dog. It became scarce during World War II, but its popularity grew again after the war, when it was used as a drover and as a guard dog.
Appearance
When hand-stripped, the Giant Schnauzer has a harsh, wiry outer coat and dense, soft undercoat. Coat color is either black or salt and pepper (grey). It weighs between 70 and 100 lb (32 to 45 kg) and stands 23.5 to 27.5 in (59 to 70 cm) at the withers.
When moving at a fast trot, a properly built Giant Schnauzer will single-track. Back remains strong, firm, and flat.
The American Kennel Club lists the Giant as low shedding - and therefore hypoallergenic - along with both other breeds of Schnauzers. However, Giant Schnauzers, as with almost all dogs, do shed. When allowed, the hair on a Schnauzer will grow long, which increases shedding, and thereby potentially increasing allergens. This can be mitigated with consistent grooming to include mostly short hair. The Giant Schnauzer does not moult.
Temperament
The Giant Schnauzer is a large, powerful, dominant dog which needs a firm, consistent but friendly handler. Unnecessary harshness will only do harm.
Early and consistent training is necessary as Giant Schnauzers tend to be very willful and highly intelligent dogs. Their ability to understand a command does not always translate into obedience.
Giant Schnauzers are fiercely loyal, often becoming so attached to their owner that they follow them around the house. Giant schnauzers can be good with children if obtained as a young puppy and trained. Many giants are of the mind set, "If they don't live here, they don't belong here." Which means, your children's friends might have a problem. They are big and powerful dogs and could injure a child without meaning to do so. They often get what are called the rips and run with high speed and great abandon. They often don't see people in their way and can and would run into them. They are best for older children. Obedience training is a must for both the dog and the humans that he/she owns. Overall Giant Schnauzers are great pets.
"Some of the great qualities of Giants is that they can excel at obedience/agility/carting/protection work, if properly trained they are a dog that can do it all. They need an owner who displays consistent leadership, or they will feel it is their job to take over as top dog. If not given the proper amount of exercise and left to their own devices, this breed can turn very destructive, if their energy and busy minds are not channeled properly. They are a people dog and not a dog to be left outside. They need a job of some sort or they will create their own job and it may well be relandscaping the yard if left outdoors to long." The Giant Schnauzer is a natural guard dog.
Giant Schnauzers need vigorous exercise at least twice every day and can easily make a 15 mile hike. The Giant Schnauzer is not a good companion for hunters as they can be very willful and may not consistently obey a recall command.
Health problems in the breed include:
• Autoimmune diseases (hypothyroidism, Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) (also called Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA)), SLO, Crohn's disease, and so on)
• Epilepsy
• Hip dysplasia
• Incontinence
• Toe Cancer
History
The breed originated in the mid to late 19th century in the Bavarian and Württemberg regions of Germany. Cattlemen wanted a larger version of the Standard Schnauzer for herding and driving, creating it by selectively breeding the Standard Schnauzer with the Great Dane, the Bouvier des Flandres, and rough haired sheepdogs.
It is important to note, the Giant Schnauzer and Miniature Schnauzer were bred from the Standard Schnauzer, making the Standard Schnauzer the original and oldest of this breed of dog. This distinction is important as when talking about "Schnauzers" most will think of the Miniature Schnauzer and not realize the distinction of Standard Schnauzer or Giant Schnauzer.
It was a popular herding breed, but its need for more food than some breeds made it less popular for farmers on tight budgets or with limited resources. It was used as a guard dog in breweries and stockyards, a police dog, and during World War I as a military dog. It became scarce during World War II, but its popularity grew again after the war, when it was used as a drover and as a guard dog.
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