Get to know
Giant Schnauzers
Written by author of 34 dog books.
Caroline Coile, Ph.D.,
Written by author of 34 dog books, including the top-selling Barron's Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds.
Caroline Coile, Ph.D.,
Giant Schnauzers (or just “Giants” for short) are like the 007s of the dog world: resourceful, suave, ever alert to threats, and always looking sharp.
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At a glance
High Energy
Energy level
4/5
Low Maintenance
Grooming
3/5
Large to Extra Large
Size
Protective, rambunctious
Temperament
12-15 years
Lifespan
Average Trainability
Training
3/5
Medium Vocality
Barking
3/5
At a glance
Energy level
High Energy
Grooming
Low Maintenance
Size
Large to Extra Large
Temperament
Protective, rambunctious
Lifespan
12-15 years
Training
Average Trainability
Barking
Medium Vocality
Why people love the breed
People love Giant Schnauzers because these striking dogs are like living with a body guard that moonlights as a movie star. Few breeds boast of such a strong combination of protectiveness along with dapper good looks.
Not only is a Giant a head-turning companion when you walk down the street, but also a fun friend at home, an adventurous partner in the wilds, and a devoted family member. They are alert without being hyperactive, protective without being aggressive.
Appearance
Like the more familiar Miniature Schnauzer, the Giant gives the impression of great power, agility, and alertness.
The Giant Schnauzer is basically a square-proportioned dog with a short, straight back, alert carriage, and noticeable tuck-up. The tail is traditionally docked to the second or third joint, and whether docked or not, carried high and confidently.
The head is rectangular, further emphasized by its long beard. The ears may be cropped or uncropped. When cropped, they stand erect and come to points. When uncropped, they hang and are V-shaped. The eyes are deep-set and oval.
The coat consists of a soft undercoat and a harsh, wiry overcoat that tends to have a slight wave. It has a long harsh beard and eyebrows. The coat can be either black, which is most popular, or pepper and salt.
The gait is powerful and free, with good reach and drive.
Grooming
To maintain their sharp-dressed appearance, Giants need regular at-home brushing, plus occasional professional shaping.
At-home maintenance is pretty simple, requiring brushing with a pin-brush, or combing, to ensure no tangles form in the undercoat. This should be done once or twice a week. Without this they can develop mats that may need professional grooming to remove.
In order to maintain a dapper appearance, professional grooming is needed at least four times a year to shape the coat. Show dogs require regular plucking as well as scissoring to create the perfect silhouette. Most non-show Giants are instead clipped rather than plucked because it’s much faster and easier. However, clipping exposes the soft undercoat and the dog loses its proper harsh jacket.
Giants don’t need a lot of bathing but an occasional bath will help prevent tangles and keep the dog smelling its best. You will want to bathe the beard much more frequently, as it tends to get food and saliva in it and can get icky and smelly. Just dipping it in a bucket of water after meals may help. The beard will tend to be wet a lot because it drags in the water bowl.
Trim the toenails as needed, brush the teeth daily, and inspect the ears for debris weekly.
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Pawsh K9’s
Breed temperament and characteristics
Courageous, bold, and protective, the Giant is nonetheless a kid at heart that loves to play and even occasionally cuddle.
The Giant Schnauzer was developed to herd ornery cattle and to guard them and the homestead. The Giant is not easily intimidated, and once started on a project, doesn’t quit. Much of its work was done on its own, with little human direction. This can translate to a dog that is self-sufficient, courageous, but also independent, strong-willed and even stubborn.
Giants are excellent home guardians, They are alert but don’t bark indiscriminately. They are protective but not aggressive. They are brave but don’t go looking for a brawl. They are active but not hyperactive, and given adequate exercise can be content to snooze inside or outside.
They are calm and gentle enough to be good with children and the elderly, but they can be overly boisterous and inadvertently knock down even a strong person. They enjoy playing games, and love to go exploring. While generally willing to please, they value their own judgment and won’t hesitate to disobey if they feel it’s warranted.
Exercise
Giants are large, energetic, athletic dogs, and they need a good deal of both physical and mental exercise. They are not hyperactive, but do need at least an hour daily, preferably more. Given that, they are well-mannered and calm dogs.
Giants need to run and play every day, whether in the form of athletic games or long jogs or hikes. They should not be let off lead except in fenced areas. They are not good dog park candidates as they can overpower other dogs there.
Herding is one of their favorite activities. They also enjoy swimming and hiking, and games such as fetch, tug, and Frisbee. Other favorite activities are dock-diving, protection work, coursing, or just running amok. Basically, if you propose it, most Giants will think it’s great fun.
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Tailwind Kennel
Training
Giants are a study in contrasts. They can be independent and strong-willed, refusing to do anything you say. Or they can be amongst the best obedience dogs, capable of working with military precision. It’s all in how you train them.
Training a Giant means walking a fine line between being a pushover and an authoritarian; neither will go well. If your Giant senses they have the upper hand, they will take advantage and do as they wish. If they sense they’re being bullied, they will dig in and determine to win. So you must be firm but gentle, never unreasonable. Give ample rewards for doing as asked, and hold back on them for not doing as asked. There's no need to be rough. Remember, Giants were bred to continue on in the face of adversity. This is a breed that is smart, willing to please and biddable, but also has a lot of pride and determination. Make those all work for you with treats, games and praise, and you can develop an exceptional obedience dog.
Giants have achieved the very highest levels of competitive obedience. They also can excel at other dog sports such as agility, nose work, tracking, herding, and protection sports, all of which require a lot of training.
Because of their protective nature, Giants need a lot of socialization as youngsters so they realize they have friends everywhere.
Diet and nutrition
Most Giants need a high-calorie food to fuel their high activity level. Fortunately, they do well on many “performance” commercial dog foods—or you can make your own (only following consultation with a veterinary nutritionist).
Giant Schnauzer puppies should be fed a food formulated for large breeds. These foods are designed to regulate growth rate.
Young Giants are more likely to be underweight because of their high energy. But with age they will tend to gain weight, especially if neutered or spayed. Proper weight is when the body has an hourglass figure viewed from both the top and side, with a noticeable tuck-up. No ribs or vertebrae should show, but you should be able to feel the ribs without digging for them. This is a powerful dog that should have well-developed muscles, but not fat. If the dog begins to be overweight, discuss with your veterinarian.
Although Giants are not prone to diet-related disorders, like any dog, they can develop health problems that do best with special food. Your veterinarian can advise you.
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Elevated Pearl Giants
Health issues
The breed is at an increased risk for a number of disorders.
Lifespan: 12 to 15 years.
Hip dysplasia
Common in large breed dogs, this complex condition involves both genetic and environmental factors and arises when the head of the femur doesn’t fit in the pelvic socket, causing arthritis and lameness. No genetic test is available to date, therefore, the recommended screening test is x-rays.
Elbow dysplasia
Found more often in larger breeds, this is a condition in which the elbow joint develops inappropriately, causing arthritis and lameness. No genetic test is available to date, therefore, the recommended screening test is x-rays.
Hypothyroidism
A condition in which the thyroid gland produces reduced levels of hormones, often due to the immune system attacking the gland.
Ocular issues
Such as cataracts, glaucoma, and progressive retinal atrophy occur in Giant Schnauzers.
History
The Giant Schnauzer was developed from the smaller Standard Schnauzer, and has worked a variety of jobs throughout history.
The Standard Schnauzer originated in Germany in the Middle Ages, developed as an all-around farm dog that targeted vermin, guarded the property, and controlled livestock. In the 1600s German cattlemen wanted a larger version they could use to drive cattle, so they crossed Standard Schnauzers with their larger, smooth-coated cattle driving dogs. They later probably added Bouvier des Flandres, Great Danes, and other breeds. DNA studies show the Giant is closely related to the Rottweiler and Doberman Pinscher, more so than to the Great Dane.
They were called Muncheners. The name Schnauzer was first used in 1842 and probably comes from the German word for nose or beard.
Giants became more popular as butcher’s dogs, and even later, brewery guard dogs. In World War I they became police and military dogs.
The breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1930, It is a member of the Working group.
About the author
Canine specialist, Caroline Coile, Ph.D., is the author of 34 dog books, including the top-selling Barron's Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds. She’s written thousands of magazine and web articles about dogs. She specializes in canine science, health, breeds and competitions. Caroline has won 20 national dog-writing awards, and was a 2015 Inductee into the Dog Writers Association of America Hall of Fame.
Breed Scorecard
Characteristics and temperament
Affectionate with family
2
Watchdog level
5
Playfulness
4
Adaptability
3
Social needs
2
Temperament
Protective, rambunctious
Intelligence
4
Good with other dogs
3
Good with cats or other pets
3
Friendly with strangers
1
Good as a service dog
4
Good for apartments
1
Barking level
3
Appearance
Height
23-27"
Size
Large to Extra Large
Colors
Black, Black and tan (non-standard), Fawn (non-standard), Pepper and salt
Coat texture
Harsh
Coat length
Medium, wavy, bearded
Training
Trainability
3
Exercise
Exercise needs
4
Exercise time
1 to 2 hours daily
Mental exercise needs
3
Favorite activities
Protection work, hiking, tracking
Grooming
Grooming needs
3
Brushing frequency
Weekly
Needs professional grooming?
Yes
Drooling level
1
Health issues
Hip dysplasia
Elbow dysplasia
Hypothyroidism
Ocular issues
Other
Bred for
Guarding, herding cattle
Country of origin
Germany
Popularity level
3
FAQs
On Good Dog, you can search for Giant Schnauzer puppies or dogs in rescues and shelters. Adopting a Giant Schnauzer from a shelter or rescue is generally less expensive than buying a puppy from a breeder with ethical practices. Across the United States, there are dedicated rescues that specialize in specific breeds and may even help transport a Giant Schnauzer dog to you from another part of the country. Although it can be more cost-effective, adopting the exact breed you're looking for is typically more difficult than working with a responsible breeder. Learn more about adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue.
Giants can be fabulous family dogs for active families. They excel at being protective and devoted. But they may be too rambunctious for families with toddlers.
They are medium-maintenance. Their coat does require regular brushing and either plucking or professional clipping occasionally.
The major ancestor was the Standard Schnauzer. Other crosses aren’t well-documented but probably included German cattle drovers, Bouvier des Flandres, and Great Dane.
Prices may vary based on the breeder and individual puppy. On Good Dog, Giant Schnauzer puppies are around $2,900. We recommend speaking directly with your breeder to get a better idea of their price range.
