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Giant Schnauzer
A black Giant Schnauzer with a docked tail
Other names	Munich Schnauzer Munchener Russian Bear Schnauzer
Origin	Germany
Traits Height Males 65–70 cm (25.5–27.5 in) Females 60–65 cm (23.5–25.5 in) Weight 35–47 kg (77–104 lb) Coat Dense, wiry Color pure black (with black undercoat), pepper&salt, black-silver Litter size 5–8
Kennel club standards VDH standard Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard
Dog (domestic dog)

The Giant Schnauzer is a breed of dog developed in the 17th century in Germany. It is the largest of the three breeds of Schnauzer—the other two breeds being the Standard Schnauzer and the Miniature Schnauzer. Originally bred to assist on farms by driving livestock to market and guarding the farmer's property, the breed eventually moved into the city, where it worked guarding breweries, butchers' shops, stockyards and factories. It was unknown outside of Bavaria until it became popular as a military dog during World War I and World War II.

They have a dense coarse coat that protects them from the weather and from vermin. Giant Schnauzers come in three color varieties: pepper and salt, pure black with black undercoat, and black and silver. Where legal, they are shown with cropped ears and docked tails. Like other schnauzers, they have a distinct beard and eyebrows. Today, the Giant Schnauzer participates in numerous dog sports, including Schutzhund. Another sport that the dog excels in is that of nosework. Due to its alert nature, the dog is also used in police work.

History

The first Giant Schnauzers emerged from Swabia in the German state of Bavaria, and Württemberg in the 17th century. These original Giant Schnauzers were considered a rough-coated version of the German Pinscher breeds, and their hair was thought to help them withstand the harsh German winters and bites from vermin. The origins of the breed are unclear, but sources speculate it originated through some combination of black Great Danes, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermanns, Boxers, Bouvier des Flandres, Thuringian Shepherds, and the Standard Schnauzer.

The Giant Schnauzer was originally bred as a multipurpose farm dog for guarding property and driving animals to market. By the turn of the 20th century the Giant Schnauzer was being used as a watchdog at factories, breweries, butcheries, and stockyards throughout Bavaria. It was unknown outside Bavaria until it was used as a military dog in World War I and World War II. The first Giant Schnauzers were imported to America in the 1930s, but they remained rare until the 1960s, when the breed became popular. In 1962, there were 23 new Giant Schnauzers registered with the American Kennel Club; in 1974 this number was 386; in 1984 it was over 800 and in 1987 it was around 1000 animals. In 2012, there were 94 new dogs registered, down from 95 in 2011.

In modern times, the Giant Schnauzer is used as a police dog; is trained for obedience, dog agility, herding, search and rescue, and Schutzhund; and is shown in conformation shows. They are also used for carting. In Europe, the breed is considered to be more of a working dog than a show dog. The focus in many European Schnauzer clubs is not so much on conformation shows, but on the working ability of the breed. In several countries, including Germany, dogs must achieve a Schutzhund Champion title before they can qualify to be a conformation champion.

Description

Appearance

Although the Giant Schnauzer is called 'Giant', this is not in comparison to other large dog breeds such as the Great Dane or the Rottweiler, but instead in comparison to the Standard and Miniature Schnauzers. The AKC breed standard calls for males to stand from 65 to 70 centimetres (25.5 to 27.5 in) at the withers, and for females to stand from 60 to 65 centimetres (23.5 to 25.5 in). Giant Schnauzers are square in shape, and should resemble a larger version of the Standard Schnauzer. The tail is long and the ears are small button ears carried high on the head. Where it is legal, it is possibly docked and the ears cropped.

The head is 1⁄2 the length of the dog's back, when the back is measured from the withers to the base of the tail. The cheeks are flat, but well muscled. The coat is dense, wiry, and weather resistant. The fur on the Giant Schnauzer's face forms a distinct "beard" and eyebrows. Its stride is long and crisp.

Temperament

Giant Schnauzers are usually a quiet breed. Due to its breeding, the Giant Schnauzer is inherently suspicious of strangers and can be very territorial. Once introduced, it is usually accepting of novel people or situations. It has the potential to be aggressive, but Giant Schnauzers are usually reserved – they are "amiable in repose, and a commanding figure when aroused".

Giant Schnauzers have been described as trustworthy with children. They are very intelligent, and can become bored easily. They are also very energetic and highly spirited, which, when coupled with boredom, can lead to unwanted and destructive behavior. They are easily trained, and deeply loyal to their owner. They are known to become highly imprinted to their owners. Some breeders believe that pepper and salt colored Giant Schnauzers are more docile than their black-furred counterparts.

Health

A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 12.1 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds.

Giant Schnauzers require regular grooming. Their beard can collect drool and food particles, making frequent cleanings essential. If being shown, their coat needs to be stripped every two to four weeks. If they are simply a companion animal, the coat can be clipped instead. Some Giant Schnauzers have an allergy to shampoo.

Hip and elbow dysplasia are common. Giant Schnauzers are also prone to eye problems such as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, glaucoma, cataracts, multifocal retinal dysplasia, and generalized progressive retinal atrophy. They are also prone to skin diseases, such as seasonal flank alopecia, vitiligo, and follicular cysts. Cancer of the skin is common in dark-colored dogs, with the most frequently occurring varieties being melanoma of the limbs and digits, and squamous cell carcinoma of the digit. Noncancerous skin tumors are also common.

Some Giant Schnauzers develop central diabetes insipidus, autosomal recessive hypothyroidism, selective malabsorption of cobalamin, narcolepsy, cataplexy, and various seizure disorders. Some are also sensitive to sulphonamides and gold. Bone diseases and joint problems are also an issue. The most common causes of death in Giant Schnauzers in a Kennel Club survey were lymphoma and liver cancer, followed by heart attacks and heart failure.

See also

• Black Russian Terrier

References

1. ^ Stahlkuppe, Joe; Earle-Bridges, Michele (March 1, 2002). Giant Schnauzers: Everything About Purchase, Care, Nutrition, Training, and Wellness. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series. pp. 5–11. ISBN 0-7641-1884-6. OCLC 47289437.
2. ^ Rice, Dan (1 March 2001). "Giant Schnauzer". Big Dog Breeds. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series. pp. 166–167. ISBN 0-7641-1649-5. OCLC 44860848.
3. "FCI-Standard № 181 – Giant Schnauzer (Riesenschnauzer)" (PDF). Fédération Cynologique Internationale. April 18, 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
4. ^ "Giant Schnauzer". AKC Meet The Breeds. American Kennel Club. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
5. ^ Kern, Kerry V.; Vriends, Matthew M. (1988). The New Terrier Handbook: Everything about Purchase, Care, Nutrition, Breeding, Behavior, and Training. New York: Barron's Educational Series. p. 115. ISBN 0-8120-3951-3. OCLC 17508196. Giant Schnauzer.
6. "Riesenschnauzer (181): new colour variety as from 01/07/2021". www.fci.be.
7. ^ American Kennel Club (December 18, 2007). "Giant Schnauzer". The Complete Dog Book (20th ed.). Random House Digital. ISBN 978-0-345-47626-5.
8. ^ Palika, Liz (2007). The Howell Book of Dogs: The Definitive Reference to 300 Breeds and Varieties. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley Publishing. pp. 250–251. ISBN 978-0-470-00921-5.
9. ^ "The Westminster Kennel Club | Breed Information: Giant Schnauzer". The Westminster Kennel Club. 2013. Archived from the original on March 17, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
10. ^ Brown, Catherine (1988). "Origin and History of the Giant Schnauzer". Giant Schnauzer Club of America. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
11. "AKC Dog Registration Statistics". American Kennel Club. 2013. Archived from the original on February 7, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
12. Welton, Michele (15 October 2000). Your Purebred Puppy (Second ed.). Neptune City, NJ: Macmillan. p. 137. ISBN 0-7938-3094-X. OCLC 50295276 – via Google Books. A buyers' guide; completely revised and updated
13. McMillan, Kirsten M.; Bielby, Jon; Williams, Carys L.; Upjohn, Melissa M.; Casey, Rachel A.; Christley, Robert M. (2024-02-01). "Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death". Scientific Reports. 14 (1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC: 531. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 10834484. PMID 38302530.
14. Bailey, Gwen (May 2009). "Giant Schnauzer". Training Your Superdog. Dorling Kindersley. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-7566-4978-4.
15. ^ Gough, Alex; Thomas, Alison (2004). Breed Predispositions to Disease in Dogs and Cats. Blackwell Publishing. pp. 133–137. ISBN 1-4051-0748-0.
16. Stall, Sam (April 28, 2005). "Schnauzer (Giant)". The Good Bad, and the Furry: Choosing the Dog That's Right for You. Quirk Books. pp. 169–170. ISBN 1-59474-021-6.
17. "Summary results of the Purebred Dog Health Survey for Giant Schnauzers" (PDF). Report from the Kennel Club/ British Small Animal Veterinary Association Scientific Committee. The Kennel Club. August 18, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2013.

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