Giant Schnauzer
A big, bearded and very energetic German working dog that needs an active owner and a real job to do.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- 60–70 cm
- Weight
- Males 35–47 kg · Females 35–45 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10–12 years
- Exercise
- 90–150 min a day
- Grooming
- Regular trips to a groomer
- Coat
- Wire-haired, medium
- Colours
- Black, Salt and pepper
- Bred for
- Guarding, Herding, Companionship
- Country of origin
- Germany
- FCI
- Group 2, no. 181 · Pinschers, molossers & mountain dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with other dogs | 2/5 – Low |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 2/5 – Low |
| Energy | 5/5 – Very high |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 5/5 – Very high |
| Easy to train | 4/5 – High |
| Prey drive | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Watchful and protective | 4/5 – High |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 2/5 – Low |
| Grooming effort | 4/5 – High |
| Drooling | 2/5 – Low |
| Good for first-time owners | 1/5 – Very low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want an active working partner
- enjoy dog sports and training
- prefer a low-shedding coat
Think twice if you …
- are a first-time owner
- have limited time for exercise
- do not want to pay for regular grooming
Care
Temperament
Bold, loyal and spirited, with a strong protective instinct. Loving with its own people, reserved with strangers and sometimes dominant with other dogs.
Exercise
Needs plenty of daily exercise and mental work; protection sports, obedience, tracking, agility and running all suit it.
Grooming
The wiry coat needs regular brushing and professional hand-stripping or clipping every 6 to 8 weeks, and the beard needs frequent cleaning; it sheds little.
Training
Very intelligent and capable of excellent work, but strong-willed; it needs early socialisation and consistent, fair training.
Health
Known concerns include hip and elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, some eye conditions and toe cancer (digital squamous cell carcinoma), especially in black dogs. Ask the breeder for the parents' hip, elbow and eye results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
- Thyroid
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Giant Schnauzer was developed in southern Bavaria in the 19th century, where farmers and drovers wanted a larger version of the Standard Schnauzer to move cattle and guard property. Later it worked outside breweries and butchers' shops, and in the early 20th century it became a police dog.
It is a demanding but rewarding breed. It bonds closely with its family, is suspicious of strangers and has energy to spare. Without enough exercise, training and company it can become pushy or destructive, so it suits people with time and experience.
Did you know?
The breed was once known as the "Munich Schnauzer" because so many early Giant Schnauzers were found around Munich.