This breed is native to Germany, starting with its cousin Schnauzer, the German breeders were so impressed by the qualities of the Schnauzer that they decided to create a new breed that had the same qualities, but that was greater.Size was needed to handle cattle. There is no trace of crosses made to obtain the giant Schnauzer, but it is believed that in this breed is the German Doge, Boiadeiro Flanders, among others.
Over time, the giant Schnauzer demonstrated his guardian dog skills and ceased to be a shepherd dog.With World War II, the race lost its popularity but at the end of the war, its fame increased again.
- Today it is a well-known breed.
- But little known.
- It is a dog highly appreciated by law enforcement because it can show its greatest qualities.
According to the FCI breed standard, the height to the cross, for both males and females, varies between 60 and 70 centimeters and the ideal weight for men and women is 35 to 47 kilograms.The overall appearance of this dog is exactly the same.like that of the Schnauzer, but in a much larger size, It is a tall dog, strong and robust, with a height on the cross approximately equal to the length of its body, its back is short and strong, the back is short and the back slightly rounded.The chest is moderately wide and deep, reaching up to the elbows.The flanks are retracted in the belly, but not excessively.
The head of the giant Schnauzer is very characteristic, it is solid and elongated, about half the length of the body, measured from the cross at the base of the tail, the forehead is flat and the occipital bone little marked., or naso-frontal depression, is well marked under the eyebrows; the snout is straight and truncated in the corner form; is covered with thick fur, moustaches and beard; lips are black and the bite must be scissors.The eyes are oval, medium and dark, with a vivid expression.The ears, on the other hand, are high insertion and “V”-shaped.Previously, they were cut to meet the standard of the breed, but fortunately today, the standard requires that they be complete, so it is not necessary to mutilate the dogs.In any case, the giant Schnauzer with amputated ears is still visible.
The tail must be shaped like a sword or sickle, today the FCI standard of the breed demands that the tail be natural, however, in the past, the tail was amputated and there are still many dogs of this breed with a cut.Fortunately, this practice is disappearing.
The hair is composed of dense wool and a hard outer layer well attached to the body, the result is a generally hard and dense layer, this hair forms a beard on the snout and very thick eyebrows in the eyes, characteristics of the breed.Accepted colors are pure black and “salt and pepper”.
The Giant Schnauzer is a dog of stable temperament, very intelligent, loyal, brave and active, likes to play and practice physical activities outdoors in style, is usually territorial and reserved, so if not well educated can become aggressive These undesirable characteristics in a pet can be channeled well to transform the giant Schnauzer into one of the best guard and defense dogs.
On the other hand, when properly socialized as puppies, these dogs can get along with others of their breed, with humans and with other animals; However, they are not as sociable as a Golden Retriever or a similar dog.Adequate and properly educated and socialized environment, the giant Schnauzer can become an exceptional animal, its temperament allows them to be excellent companions of dynamic people who enjoy physical activity, as well as families with large children, adolescents and young people.It is not recommended as a pet for families with young children, as these dogs enjoy many difficult games and can become very upset with children.
The fur of these dogs is not difficult to maintain, but requires some care, it is necessary to brush it two to three times a week so as not to be ashamed, in addition it is important to clean your beard after meals, remove the leftover food.that can generate bad smells and besides, it’s good to take the dogs to the pet store about three times a year, anyway it’s worth taking care of the Schnauzer’s hair because it loses very little.
This breed of giant dog needs a lot of exercise to keep you happy, you have to take it for a walk three times a day and let it do a good amount of exercise, it also needs games and socialization with other dogs, canine sports like: freestyle and canine agility are useful for this breed because they allow to release energies in a controlled way, however , protective canine sports, such as Schutzhund or THE IPO, tend to be better because they allow the giant Schnauzer to cover their game.needs and develop your potential as a defense dog (even if you are just an adorable pet).
Like the Schnauzer and the dwarf Schnauzer, the giant is an independent dog, however, you should not be alone for long periods of time, this animal can not live in apartments, because of its size and dynamism tends to cause problems, however, you can adapt to living in an apartment if you receive many walks and are well educated.In any case, it is best to live in a house with garden and divide your time between the interior and exterior of the house.
The giant schnauzer responds well to different training styles, but can be stubborn when treated with excessive punishment, in such cases he rebels or is completely inhibited, so it is best to train him through positive training, with techniques such as clicker training.
Because of their size and dynamism, these dogs can develop problematic behaviors, they can become destructive if they are alone for a long time or if they do not exercise enough, they can also behave aggressively if they do not socialize properly.
Like many breeds of dogs today, the giant schnauzer is predisposed to certain canine diseases. The most common health problems in this breed of dog are: cancer, gastric torsion, epilepsy and hip dysplasia. They can also injure your joints with jumps and difficult games.When they are puppies, so it is good to avoid very energetic games and high jumps when dogs are not yet fully developed.