The Giant Schnauzer as seen by a dog trainer

Origin:

First of all, for people who are not aware of this breed, it is necessary to clarify that Schnauzers come in three sizes, the Giant, the standard, and the miniature. This article, focuses on the larger size, that is, the giant.

It is a very recent name that appeared in the late 19th century, to refer to the wire-haired Pinscher (which was how this breed was known until then). It is of German origin and the literal translation of the name is "Snouter" from the German word for "snout" and means colloquially "moustache" because of the dog's distinctively bearded snout.

We have to go back to 3000 BC to find the predecessors of these dogs close to the lake populations (Baltic shores). Their ancestors were already dedicated to protecting these men from wild beasts, more specifically, the hunting of wild boars and bears. Centuries later, this dog was dedicated to the escort of carriages and errands, always next to the horses, discovering the predators and keeping the away.

Physical attitudes:

It is a robust dog, of a great height (60 - 70 cm to the height of cross), of wire hair. Resistant to fatigue, rain and cold. A perfect athlete, fast and agile.

Temperament:

It is a strong-minded breed and although its appearance is of serious dog, it is a charming animal. It is lovely with its family and a great for children as it is a secure, strong and patient animal. Its temperament and size make it an idea breed for guard and defence. As for its relationship with other dogs, it is typically very good.

Grooming:

The hair of the Schnauzers has to be stripped, a technique that the actual hair is pulled out rather than cut. At the same time, the undercoat needs to be removed to liberate the hair follicle. Due to the complexity of the process, stripping is typically done exclusively by professional groomers.

Maintenance:

Maintenance cost is in the mid-range and is around 300 g to 400 g of food per day.

Training:

Being a strong dog, both in body and mind, training needs to start at an early age. This is necessary to properly channel all that energy and strength of the breed. They are intelligent dogs that learn very fast and are very predisposed to work.

Walking:

The giant Schnauzer is an ideal dog for sporty people. If exercised properly they could perfectly live inside the house without any issue. If you are an athlete this could be the breed for you.

More Breeds

You can check Mario’s advice on other dog breeds here