Back to Breeds Listing

Giant Schnauzer

Giant Schnauzer
History:

Country/Date of Origin: Germany/1400s

Schnauzers come in three sizes: Miniature, Standard and Giant. The two extremes are believed to have sprung from the middle or standard size, which is at least five hundred years old. Butchers looking for a dog with strong guarding and droving instincts, and a large size, took the standard schnauzer and crossed it with the black Great Dane and got the required attributes. The big dog was seldom seen outside its native Bavaria until the twentieth century. Then it came into prominence due to its work as a police and military dog. It was not until 1977 that the Giant Schnauzers were admitted to an American Kennel Club show ring.

 Other Names Body Type Personality Coat Health Concerns

Back to Top

Riesenschnauzer

AKC Group: Working

Breed Club: Giant Schnauzer Club of America

Rescue Club: Giant Schnauzer Club of America Rescue

Back to Top

Body Type:

  • A large cattle drover's dog built along terrier lines. Square in shape
  • Has chin whiskers and a stubby mustache
  • Height: 23-27 inches (at shoulder)
  • Weight: 70-77 pounds
  • Tail is short and always docked

Personality:

  • A loyal attentive companion. Intensely loyal
  • and totally reliable guard dog
  • Easily trained
  • Excellent with children

Coat:

  • The coat is dense and consists of a wiry outer coat and a short undercoat. Water resistant
  • Permissible colors are black or pepper-and-salt. The latter color is not a mixture of black and white hairs but of "agouti" hairs that have banded patterns of light and dark and appear gray at a distance
  • Professional grooming is suggested. Long, dead hairs must be removed by hand plucking if the dog is to be shown. Eyebrows and beard can be trimmed with scissors
  • Beard and legs should be groomed daily

Health Concerns:

Back to Top
Tasty Tidbits:
  • Dogs with black coloring dominate the breed, so much so that pepper-and-salt dogs may be difficult to obtain