Giant Schnauzer

The Giant Schnauzer's main occupation today is as a police dog. He is a bold, strong, smart dog who does best with a serious, experienced, and confident owner. With solid obedience training, he will reward you with loyalty and obedience.
 

Giant Schnauzer breed facts

The Giant Schnauzer was developed to be an alert, vigorous, versatile, and intelligent dog able to herd cattle.

The Giant Schnauzer should closely resemble the Standard and Miniature Schnauzers, but it is important to understand the Giant Schnauzer, Standard Schnauzer, and Miniature Schnauzer, are three separate and distinct breeds.

The Giant Schnauzer is not a giant dog, but he is the largest of the Schnauzers standing 23 to 27 inches at the withers.

Not until just before World War I did the Giant Schnauzer begin to come to nationwide attention in Germany as a suitable subject to receive police training at the schools in Berlin and other principal cities.

Information you should know before owning a Giant Schnauzer

The Giant Schnauzer has a harsh double wire coat which requires skilled professional grooming at least twice a year and weekly grooming in between.

The Giant Schnauzer is happiest with his family and is very good with young children and other pets, but may be aggressive with strange children or strange pets.

Giant Schnauzers are loyal to their owners and eager to defend family and property. The Giant Schnauzer should be obedience trained at an early age.

The breed was originally developed in Germany as one of the three distinct Schnauzer breeds, Miniature, Standard and Giant. All Schnauzers had their origins in the neighboring kingdoms of Wurttenberg and Bavaria. These are agricultural sections where the raising of sheep and livestock were a major occupation. Livestock had to be driven to market, and the Schnauzer was the aid to the shepherd. For many years the Giant Schnauzer was called the Munchener, and it is widely known as a great cattle and driving dog. The breed was also used as a guard dog being in the possession of the butchers and the breweries.

During World War I the breed was recognized in Germany for its intelligence and trainability becoming one of the breeds utilized since for police training.

Is this a vulnerable breed? Yes, No	No
What size is this dog? Small, Medium, Large	Large
How much excercise is required? 30 mins a day, 1 hour a day, Over 2 hours a day	Over 2 hours a day
How long is this dog's coat? Short, Medium, Long	Medium
How much grooming is required? Once a week, More than once a week, Every day	Every day
Does this dog shed? Does shed, Does not shed	Does not shed
What area is this dog best suited to? Town, Country, Either	Either
What size house is required for this breed? Flat/Apartment, Small House, Large House	Small House
What size of garden is required? Small Garden, Large Garden, No Garden	Large garden

	General Appearance Powerfully built, robust, sinewy, appearing almost square. Imposing, with keen expression and alert attitude. Correct conformation of the utmost importance.
	Characteristics Versatile, strong, hardy, intelligent and vigorous. Adaptable, capable of great speed and endurance and resistant to weather.
	Temperament Bold, reliable, good-natured and composed.
	Eyes Medium-sized, dark, oval, set forward, with lower lid fitting closely.
	Mouth Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Lips black, closing tightly but not overlapping.
	Neck Moderately long, strong and slightly arched, skin close to throat, neck set cleanly on shoulders.
	Forequarters Shoulders flat, well laid back. Forelegs straight viewed from any angle. Muscles smooth and lithe rather than prominent, bone strong, carried straight to feet. Elbows set close to body and pointing directly backward.
	Body Chest moderately broad and deep, reaching at least to height of elbow rising slightly backward to loins. Breast bone clearly extends to beyond joint of shoulder and upper arm forming the conspicuous forechest. Back strong and straight, slightly higher at shoulder than at hindquarters, with short, well developed loins. Slightly sloping croup. Ribs well sprung. Length of body equal to height at top of withers to ground.
	Hindquarters Strongly muscled. Stifles forming a well defined angle. Upper thighs vertical to stifle, from stifle to hock in line with extension of upper neck line, from hock vertical to ground. When viewed from rear, hindlegs parallel.
	Feet Pointing directly forward, short, round, compact with closely arched toes. Deep, dark and firm pads. Dark nails.
	Tail Customarily docked. Docked: Set on high and carried at an angle slightly above topline. Customarily docked to two joints. Undocked: Set on high and carried at an angle slightly above topline. In balance with the rest of the dog.
	Gait / Movement Powerfully built, robust, sinewy, appearing almost square. Imposing, with keen expression and alert attitude. Correct conformation of the utmost importance.
	Coat Top coat harsh and wiry, just short enough for smartness on body. Slightly shorter on neck and shoulders, but blending smoothly into body coat. Clean on throat, skull, ears and under tail. Good undercoat. Harsh hair on legs.
	Colour (a) Pure black (b) Pepper and salt: Shades range from dark iron grey to light grey; hairs banded black/light/black. Dark facial mask essential, harmonising with corresponding body colour. On both colours white markings on head, chest and legs undesirable. Good pigmentation essential.
	Size Height: dogs: 65-70 cms (251/2-271/2 ins); bitches: 60-65 cms (231/2-251/2 ins). Variations outside these limits undesirable.