Family-friendly: 5/5 Exercise needs: 5/5 Easy to train: 5/5 Tolerates being alone: 2/5 Likes other pets: 3/5 Energy level: 5/5 Grooming needs: 4/5 Shedding: 3/5

Schnauzer (Giant)

Strong, imposing, and business-like, the Giant Schnauzer is a powerfully built, square framed dog with a coat that is harsh and protective in texture. This working dog is an affectionate and loyal companion, but they’re also full of energy and stamina. If you don’t mind play sessions several times a day, this is the dog for you.

Giant Schnauzer puppy in the autumn forest

Lifespan

12-15 years

Weight

Adult males 27-48kg, adult females 25-34kg

Height

Adult males stand at 65-70cm, females are around 60-65cm

Colours

Black or pepper and salt (dark iron grey to light grey with hairs banded dark/light/dark)

Size

Large

UK Kennel Club Groups

Working

The need-to-know

Dogs suitable for experienced owners
Extra training required
Generally healthy breed
Enjoys vigorous walks
Enjoys more than two hours of walking a day

Giant dog
Some drool
Requires grooming every other day
Chatty and vocal dog
Barks, alerts and may be physically protective/suspicious of visitors

Might not like other dogs
May need additional training to live with other pets
May need additional supervision to live with children
Needs a large garden
Can live in semi-rural areas

Can be left occasionally with training

Generally healthy breed

As with many breeds, the Giant Schnauzer can suffer from:
- Hip dysplasia
- Gastric dilatation volvulus
- Panosteitis
- Hereditary cataracts which is a condition where the lens in the eye becomes cloudy and this can result in blindness.
- Hypothyroidism¹ where the thyroid gland is underactive and does not product enough thyroid hormone. This can result in low energy levels, weight gain and skin problems.
- Urinary incontinence² which is a condition where urine start to leak involuntarily.
- Epilepsy which is a condition where abnormal brain function can lead to seizures which damage the brain.
- Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of cancer that originates from a particular type of skin cell. This cancer often develops in a dog's digits.
- Dilated cardiomyopathy which is a condition where the heart muscle becomes progressively weak and cannot beat properly.
- Progressive retinal atrophy which is an inherited disorder where part of the eye degenerates and wastes away which can result in blindness.

Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
- Eye screening scheme

¹L. J. Kennedy, 'Association of canine hypothyroidism with a common major histocompatibility complex DLA class II allele', 2006, Tissue Antigens
²S. Arnold, 'Urinary incontinence in castrated bitches. Part 1: Significance, clinical aspects and etiopathogenesis', Jan 1997 Europe PMC

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Personality

The Giant Schnauzer should look strong, alert and imposing, but be good-natured in temperament. A natural watchdog, they will be vocal to get your attention if necessary, and will need polite introduction to new people rather than assuming friendship on sight!

If well socialised, the Giant Schnauzer can get on well with other animals, but are generally better with dogs of the opposite sex.

Vet Rating

Family-friendly:	5/5
Exercise needs:	5/5
Easy to train:	5/5
Tolerates being alone:	2/5
Likes other pets:	3/5
Energy level:	5/5
Grooming needs:	4/5
Shedding:	3/5

History and Origins

The original ancestor of the Giant Schnauzer is unsurprisingly, the Standard Schnauzer. Cattlemen from Bavaria found they needed a larger dog for working their cattle over long distances and created the breed using other pastoral types including Great Danes, Rottweilers and possibly the Bouvier des Flandres. Since then this tough, working breed has found popularity as a very effective police and security dog.

Ideal Owner

Giant Schnauzers require very calm, sensible and competent owners who are skilled at reward based training and particularly at motivating what is in effect a giant terrier, to want to do what they want them to do. You’ll be involved in dog sports and training as a profession or serious hobby and have experience in handling and living with other large, independent minded and clever breeds. Better suited to rural or semi-rural homes and owners who can do their own grooming.

Exercise Needs

Two hours a day or more, of dog exercise with walking, training and games included will be needed to keep the Giant Schnauzer content. This is an athletic outdoors dog, not put off by wind and rain due to his protective, weather resistant coat. Although smart in appearance, the Giant Schnauzer’s trousers and beard will pick up water, mud and debris and so need drying and checking after each walk to clean up.

Space Requirements

The Giant Schnauzer is a large dog with a coat that collects muck, water and debris, so may not be suitable for the smaller home. A large garden offering space to train and play in, and access to a variety of walking routes will help keep them mentally satisfied.

Given their vocal, guarding nature, this is a dog who needs space and will be potentially over stimulated and stressed by constant noise from neighbours or traffic. Quiet suburbs or rural living will suit the Giant Schnauzer better than busy town or city.

Nutrition and Feeding

Large breed dogs, as well as having large appetites, benefit from a different balance of nutrients including minerals and vitamins compared to smaller-breed dogs. The Giant Schnauzer is also prone to bloating and stomach problems. Smaller, more frequent meals can help minimise this risk. Discover more about how to offer your dog a balanced diet with our easy-to-follow guide.

Grooming Giant Schnauzers

Giant Schnauzers’ beards tend to gather water and debris from both the floor and meals, so cleaning the beard daily is necessary to avoid lip fold infections and nasty pongs. Check the coat daily after walks, and brush through two or three times a week. Hand-stripping is needed every three months, to remove dead hair, though pet owners who are not exhibiting their dogs may prefer to get the coat clipped instead. This can be done at home if you wish to learn how, or by professional groomers if not. Find out more about dog grooming and daily care with our article.

Training Giant Schnauzers

The Giant Schnauzer is suited to those who enjoy dog training and working with their pet. Early dog socialisation is vital to ensure they are relaxed and happy in the presence of other dogs and animals, as this breed has guarding tendencies and will react to unfamiliar sights and sounds. Well capable of competing in a variety of dog sports including tracking, Cani-X and obedience, this is a dog who needs a job to do.

Suitability for Family Life

The Giant Schnauzer is still very much a working, guarding breed and therefore better suited for those with older children or teenagers. As puppies and juveniles they are big, boisterous and bitey, not an ideal combination with children. This is also a dog who requires several hours exercise and training per day which will take up a reasonable amount of time and energy making them less suitable for the young, busy family.

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with each other and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.

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Did You Know?

The Giant Schnauzers moustache and beard are so important to the breed it is actually where their name originates. The term comes from the German word for ‘snout’ and colloquially means ‘moustache’ or ‘whiskered snout’.