Are you considering bringing home a Giant Schnauzer to your home or family? While it is true that the Giant Schnauzer is a dog that could impress us, it may also be true that this dog may not be the best dog breed for every person. If you are not sure if you are ready for a commitment to owning a giant schnauzer, let’s get to know more about this dog breed in terms of the breed standard, history, personality and more.
The Giant Schnauzers come from the Bavarian region in Germany. They are thought to evolve from crossbreeds between Sheepdogs, Great Danes, Bouvier des Flandres, among others. Originally, these breed of dogs are considered herding dogs and they are bred to drive cattle.
They have a square frame with a strong arched neck and rectangular head. Giant Schnauzers have a coat that can protect them from tough working and weather conditions. Though their name suggests that they are giant, it is not considered a giant based on breed standards. The average height of Giant Schnauzer dogs is between 23.5-27.5 inches and the average weight is 55-90 pounds. Males are larger than females and males seem to be taller than females because of their clipped, erect and alert ears.
The popularity of this dog breed grew after it was trained to be a police dog in World War I. Today, the Giant Schnauzers are used as police and guard dogs and it is the preferred choice for dog shows and sports competitions.
Giant Schnauzers are high energy dogs. They have lots of stamina and require lots of daily exercises to help keep them happy and healthy. They are ideal dogs for runners, hikers, bikers and swimmers because they are great exercise companions. Though they are lovable to family members and generally patient to kids from their own family, they are not ideal to families with very young children. When you plan of bringing them home, do consider not having other pets like cats, other dog breeds and small pets because Giant Schnauzers tend to be aggressive towards other animals. Since they are bred to be guard dogs, they are highly protective of their owners, themselves and their territory.
Their life expectancy is 12-15 years. When it comes to grooming, weekly brushing is required and its wiry coat needs to have regular clipping and stripping. You can either do this at home or hire a groomer to do this job for you. Teeth is brushed several times a week, nails trimmed every month and ears are cleaned weekly to prevent build-up leading to infection. Breed-specific health conditions for Giant Schnauzers are the following:Hip dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
- Joint disorders
- Gastric torsion
Since Giant Schnauzers are highly territorial, early training and consistent socialization is a must preferably during puppyhood to avoid aggressive behavior.
Giant Schnauzers will require both time and money. With the right training and if they are properly raised, having an intelligent, loyal, and loving Giant Schnauzer is worth it.
Credit source: Orvis
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