The Giant Schnauzer is a bigger, stronger version of the Standard Schnauzer, and according to the breed standard, he should “be a bold and valiant figure of a dog.” His superior intelligence and loyalty make him a fantastic worker and friend. The Standard Schnauzer and the well-bred Giant Schnauzer are very similar dogs. Giants are powerful, as their name implies. Males can weigh 95 pounds and stand as tall as 27.5 inches at the shoulder. The Mini, Standard, and Giant are known for their sharp beard and eyebrows, emphasizing a keen, sagacious look. The muscular, robust body is, in the words of the breed’s fanciers, a “bold and valiant figure of a dog.” The double coat is either pure black or “pepper and salt.”
Giant Schnauzer
alert / loyal / trainable
Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.
Height
25.5-27.5 inches (male)
23.5-25.5 inches (female)
Weight
60-85 pounds (male)
55-75 pounds (female)
Life Expectancy
12-15 years
Breed Traits & Characteristics
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Affectionate With Family
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Openness To Strangers
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!
Playfulness Level
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.
Watchdog/Protective Nature
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.
Adaptability Level
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.
Trainability Level
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!
Energy Level
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.
Barking Level
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.
Mental Stimulation Needs
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.
About the Breed
What To Expect When Caring For a Giant Schnauzer
Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.
Health
Generally speaking, giant schnauzers are in good health, and committed breeders will test for conditions like autoimmune thyroiditis, hip dysplasia, and eye disorders. The Giant Schnauzer Club of America member is the breeder that prospective owners should choose. Members of the GSCA abide by a code of ethics for breeding, and they serve as the owner's go-to source for information on health issues, grooming advice, and training and care ideas for giant schnauzers.
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
- Hip Evaluation
- Thyroid Evaluation
- Ophthalmologist Evaluation
Grooming
The Giant Schnauzer has a double coat that is dense, wiry, and weatherproof and is made up of a delicate undercoat and a rough outer coat. To keep a shiny, healthy coat, the Giant has to be brushed once per week and has its hair cut or stripped on a regular basis. The owner should be willing to devote time to keeping the coat or arrange to have the dog trimmed on occasion by the breeder or a professional the breeder suggests. The Giant's teeth should be often brushed with a toothpaste made for dogs, and the ears should be constantly examined for indications of infection.
Exercise
Giants require a lot of exercise because they are more vivacious and active than most large breeds. Long daily strolls, play dates with other dogs, or backyard romps with their owners will do just fine. For those who like to run, bike, walk, cross-country ski, swim, or skijor, giants make excellent workout partners. A very active partnership with the owner is necessary for all of these operations. The Giant needs company, either from another big dog or from a human he can play with. Playing games he'll like, like tennis ball chase or hide and seek, will keep his mind and body active and help him stay healthy and happy.
Training
Extremely intelligent and strongly territorial, the Giant Schnauzer loves his owners and feels great responsibility to protect them. He learns quickly and can distinguish between friend and foe. Giants want to be with their owners and cannot abide being ignored or left in the yard. A Giant Schnauzer needs to have a job'¿even something as simple as chasing a ball. The Giant is a 'high-energy, protective, territorial guard dog,' says one prominent breed fancier. 'The breed is not for the casual owner.' Giants do best with fenced-in running room, regular exercise, and activities that provide mental and physical exercise. They enjoy and excel in dog sports such as carting, herding, agility, coursing ability tests, and obedience. Early socialization and puppy training classes are a must with this strong, protective breed.
Nutrition
Giant Schnauzers should be fed premium food that is suitable for their age (puppy, adult, or senior) and level of activity. Treats can be a valuable training tool, but offering them in excess might lead to obesity. Discover which foods fit the bill for canine consumption and which don't. If you have any worries about your dog's weight or diet, consult your veterinarian.
History
Sometime in the middle of the 1800s, the Giant Schnauzer was produced in the Bavarian Alps. These hardy labor dogs, developed from the Standard Schnauzer, were employed to herd livestock from the ranch to the market.
They were also effective guard dogs for farmers, businesspeople, and innkeepers. Cattle drives were rendered useless by railroads, thus Giants found employment as K-9s for the military and police in Europe. Giants were well-known in America as attractive show dogs, outstanding obedience competitors, and brave protectors of the home and family.