About the Giant Schnauzer
The Giant Schnauzers were originally developed in Germany as working farm dogs, herding cattle and farm animals, and with the loyalty to guard their human family. In more modern times, they have been trained as search and rescue dogs and police dogs. These dogs are territorial which leads to their protective and loyal nature with their family. The Giant Schnauzer is very active and powerful, requires a great deal of exercise, and enjoys all the “people sports” with their family such as jogging, frisbee, and hiking. They even enjoy keeping up with your bicycle.
These gentle giants are renowned for their guarding instincts, with the strength and appearance of an imposing guardian. However, Giant Schnauzers range from 25.5 to 30 inches at the shoulder, and weigh an average of 50 to 95 pounds. Their expression is very keen and intelligent, accented by their aristocratic long, thick eyebrows and beard. They have a keen mind, being very trainable, smart and loyal companions.
The coat of the Giant Schnauzer can be a rough coat or a smooth coat. In either event, they do require daily grooming to remove dirt, tangles and debris from their coat. Their faces also require special attention, as an unkempt coat can interfere with a healthy debris free eye, and their ability to see well can be impaired. Regular grooming and trimming of the head is highly recommended.
These dogs need to be with an active people partner. The Giant Schnauzer it typically a quiet companion and is appropriately cautious with strangers, and can be an excellent watchdog. This dog is very intelligent and is highly trainable, although they have a bit of a stubborn streak drawn from the Schnauzer breed. However, with consistent and early, praise and reward based training, this large breed is an amazing and beautiful companion.
Avoid leaving your Giant Schnauzer alone for long periods of time, as they will become bored without their usual stimulus which can lead to bad habits such as digging. They are healthy and happiest with a great deal of outdoor activity and mental stimulus in addition to their physical activity. They are very easy to train, while still remaining playful and an excellent guard dog.
The Giant Schnauzer is the perfect family pet, getting along with other dogs as well as children and all family members. They will be an excellent addition to your family, being very protective and excellent watch dogs. When mature, their stature and size can be daunting and imposing … both very good traits to warn unwanted strangers from approaching. However, they are not inclined to bark, lunge or show an aggressive stature towards strangers.
This breed is not recommended for apartment dwellers, as your dog will require a space to run and romp and play, and they love the outdoors. They are very cold tolerant, I have observed my dogs sleeping on top of an iced patio or on a soft bed of fresh snow. They do love to cuddle, so time in your home with your dog will be very much looked forward to by your Schnauzer.
Your Giant Schnauzer can come in several colors, the most common color is black and silver (or salt and pepper). A white Giant is rare, the majority of photos you will find on the internet with white Schnauzers are the smaller Schnauzer breeds. Your Schnauzer will have a beard, however it varies in length and texture, varying from a long, silky wrap around the muzzle to a shorter, wavier beard. Either look, pamper and take care of that beard … it is one of their endearing traits!
The Giant Schnauzer’s ears when left natural, are somewhat long and floppy. I leave my pups ears natural, and you as their new owner can have them cropped, but you are on a short time frame to have this done safely and humanely. They should be cropped from 7 weeks up to the time they reach 12 weeks. The longer you wait, the more painful the procedure will be on the dog, and the longer you wait … the bleeding is more prominent. Vets recommend that you not wait longer than the 12 week period. Having said that, the pups are going to their new homes at eight weeks, so you could plan with your regular vet to have them cropped as soon as your pup comes to his new home. Their tails will be curly or wavy, depending on which parent they resemble more. The breeder, including myself, can dock the tails when the pups are very young, or a prospective new parent can request the tail be left long and natural. Docking is done within a few days of birth, so please let us know when you reserve if you want your puppies’ tail left long or docked.
