Giant Schnauzer

Temperament:
The Giant Schnauzer is an intelligent dog. They are very protective, bold and spirited. Calm, loyal, loving and responsible. The Giant Schnauzer is a true "Velcro" dog. It loves to be with its owner at all times. This is a dominant breed that needs an experienced trainer. They are easy to train and respond best to firm, consistent training with a positive attitude and plentiful rewards. Giants are in essence a working dog with a terrier temperament, that temperament in a large package causes problems if they aren't properly trained. If the Giant Schnauzer is properly trained, it makes a fine pet. Unless professionally trained from puppyhood by an experienced handler/trainer, Giants are not reliable for most households. They tend to be on the dominate side and need an owner who understands the breed and how to show the dog humans are boss. If they have a strong leader, they are secure enough to allow you to interpret danger and will simply alert you but if they don't have complete confidence in their handler, they will immediately take the lead and think that it is their job to not only distinguish that someone is dangerous but to act on that thought. They need to be owned by folks that respect and admire this independent intelligence and are prepared to channel it into positive ways via dog sports or just lots of activity. This kind of intelligence, left to it's own devices can turn very destructive if not channeled properly.This breed is dominant with other dogs and should be socialized extensively both with other dogs and people as a young puppy. It is usually good with other pets and some can be good with other dogs if properly socialized as puppies. They can be fairly reserved with strangers. Giants have been bred for generations as Guard/Watch dogs, they are huge and have a relentless, imposing bark when they hear/see/perceive anything out of the ordinary. You can't really train a Giant not to bark, it's just what they do.

Grooming:
The wiry coat is reasonably easy to look after, but the undercoat is dense and it will become matted unless it is combed or brushed weekly with a short wire brush. Clip out knots and brush first with the grain, then against the grain to lift the coat. The animal should be clipped all over to an even length at least four times a year and ear care continually is important. A person can easily learn how to do it. Pet dogs are generally clipped, but show dogs may be stripped. Trim around the eyes and ears with a blunt-nosed scissor and clean the whiskers after meals. They have no doggie odor and shed little to no hair.

Exercise:
Giants have a huge need for exercise and if not vigorously done at least twice daily they bounce off the walls and are difficult to deal with, even a very well trained one, they have to expend the excess energy they were originally bred for or they just can't settle at night. They need to be taken on a daily, brisk, long walk, jog or run alongside you when you bicycle, at least once a day combined with an additional walk or another type of exercise. These energetic dogs will take as much exercise as they can get, and just love play sessions during which they can run free.

Living Condition:
The Giant Schnauzer is not suited for apartment life. They are fairly active indoors and will do best with acreage.

Origin:
Known over history as the Russian Bear Schnauzer, Munich Schnauzer and Riesenschnauzer, the Giant Schnauzer is thought to have come from crosses between dogs such as the black Great Dane, Bouvier des Flandres and the Standard Schnauzer. The word "Schnauze" means "muzzle" in German. The Giant Schnauzer was first used as a cattle driving dog in Bavaria, then later as a guard dog by the police and military. The Giant Schnauzer excels at schutzhund and also makes a good companion dog.