Giant Schnauzer

The Giant Schnauzer was originally bred as working dogs, and they still have lots of the traits that made them the right breed for the job. They have high levels of intelligence and a strong drive, and they make some of the most loyal companions that you will ever meet. However, while there are lots of amazing things that this dog has to offer, as with any breed, there will be some things that you should consider before making your decision. We can understand why you might be set on getting a Giant Schnauzer, but it is really important to do your research and find out everything that there is to know about them before you commit. To help you with this, we have done all of the research, so you don’t have to scroll through the internet for hours at a time. For this article, we have created the ultimate guide to Giant Schnauzer dogs, which will help you to decide if this is the right breed of dog for you. We are going to provide you with all of the information that you will need to know about the breed, and this will all help you to make a more well-informed decision. After all, a dog is for life, and it is important to know what you are getting yourself into. Giant Schnauzer Key Facts There is so much to tell you about Giant Schnauzer dogs, so we are going to start with some of the key things that you will need to know about them, like their lifespan, exercise needs, and more. Average Lifespan Giant Schnauzers will, on average, live for between 12 and 15 years. Minimum Exercise (Per Day) Giant Schnauzers are going to need at least 45 to 60 minutes of exercise and activity daily. This should include a daily walk as well as a purposeful activity and strengthening exercises. Due to their high levels of intelligence, they also need plenty of mental stimulation and enrichment. If you do not meet the daily exercise needs of your Giant Schnauzer, they can develop behavioral issues, which can make them very difficult to handle. You will need to take them on a long daily walk, engage in playtime with them, and ensure that they are getting enough mental stimulation. Something that is really important for you to know is that Giant Schnauzers are one of the dog breeds that are at a higher risk of bloat or GDV (Gastric Dilatation Volvulus ). This is why you should not feed your Giant Schnauzer straight before or after exercise, to minimize the risk of this. You should wait at least one hour, but preferably two hours, before or after exercise before giving them food.. The daily walk is essential for a Giant Schnauzer as it will both allow them to release some of their built up energy and allow them to stimulate the mind with the sights, sounds, and smells that they come across. Coat Length The Giant Schnauzer has a relatively long coat that has a dense and wiry weather resistant double layer. Their coat consists of a soft undercoat and a harsher outer coat, and their faces have a harsh beard and eyebrows that make this breed so recognizable. Their coats are solid black or pepper and salt, and the latter coloring is actually a combination of black and white hairs. At a distance, the pepper and salt coat looks grey. Minimum Cost (Per Month) You can expect to pay a minimum of $90 per month on taking care of your Giant Schnauzer dog. This amount will cover things like food, treatments, insurance, and more. This is one of the more slightly expensive dog breeds to look after, so you will need to ensure that you can afford to add their expenses into your monthly budget. Appearance The Giant Schnauzer is the largest of the three Schnauzer breeds, and they have quite a commanding appearance with a rugged build. Their playful nature often comes out in their appearance sometimes. Something that is interesting to know about these dogs is that every shade of coat will have a dark facial mask that will only emphasise their expressions. The color of the mask will compliment the shade of the body coat. Areas like the eyebrows, whiskers, cheeks, throat, chest, legs and under tail are lighter in color but include "peppering." Size As you might have already guessed from their names, Giant Schnauzers are particularly large dogs, and they will need a lot of space to roam around at home, with a good sized backyard to run around in. Average Height Adult male Giant Schnauzers will usually stand tall between 65 and 70 cm, but adult females are usually between 60 and 65 cm. Average Weight Male Giant Schnauzers are typically heavier than females, weighing between 27 and 48 kg, whereas females will usually weigh between 25 and 34 kg. Temperament The Giant Schnauzer is typically known for their calm and loving temperament that is quite typically of a companion dog. However, they also have the assertiveness, boldness, and energy that is required of a working dog. They will take their responsibilities very seriously, and can be very protective of their home. These dogs are willing to defend their families with a fierceness that can be quite intimidating, and they are territorial dogs that might not be the most trusting when they are around strangers. However, when they feel that they are not needed as a guardian, they will be a playful and affectionate companion. They have high levels of intelligence that can be challenging to an inexperienced trainer, and they require both constant and firm guidance throughout their training. Without this, they are more than capable of thinking for themselves and running the household in the way that they think that it should be. Just like with any other dog, Giant Schnauzers will need early socialization, which is an exposure to many different people, sights, sounds, and experiences when they're young. Socialization will help to ensure that your Giant Schnauzer puppy grows up to be a well-rounded dog. Apartment Living It is not recommended to keep a Giant Schnauzer in an apartment as they are not well suited for living in such an environment. These are large dogs that need a lot of space, and they have high energy levels. This means that they ideally need a fenced backyard where they can safely burn off some of this excess energy. Good for Novice Owners Giant Schnauzers can be great for novice owners that have little or no previous experience with dogs. They are family oriented and friendly dogs that can make great pets as long as they are trained well, so you will need to ensure that you do your research before you get one. However, you should know that they can be challenging at times for first-time dog owners because of their size and determination, so you will really need to make the commitment to training and socializing this breed of dog. Sensivity Level These dogs can be sensitive at times, but not really in a bad way. They can be sensitive to your emotions, and they also don’t like to be scolded. This is why positive reinforcement training works so well for them. Tolerates Being Alone Giant Schnauzers tolerate being left alone well, especially in comparison to other dogs. The only times that they do not react well to being left alone is when they aren’t being provided with enough exercise and stimulation, and this can lead to destructive behavior when you are not around as they try to burn off excess energy. As long as you are providing your Giant Schnauzer with sufficient exercise, then they will do well when left alone as they are not solely dependent on your company. Tolerates Cold Weather Giant Schnauzers can tolerate cold weather, but not to the extreme. They have a double coat and were originally bred to work on German farms, so they have inherited a great tolerance for cold temperatures. Although, if it is extremely cold outside, they are at risk of hypothermia and frostbite. Tolerates Hot Weather Giant Schnauzers are quite tolerant of hot weather, as their double coat and paws helps them to better regulate their temperature. However, they are still at risk of things like sunburn, heat stroke, and dehydration, which is why it is important to provide them with lots of water and shaded areas. Affectionate With Family Giant Schnauzers are very affectionate when it comes to their families, but only some of them will like to cuddle up with you,whereas others will not. They are very loving dogs that love to be in your company when you are home, and they will show their affection for you in lots of different ways. Kid-Friendly It is not recommended to bring a Giant Schnauzer into your home if you have young children because of their size, high levels of energy, and commanding nature. The recommended minimum age for children living with a Giant Schnauzer is 12 and older. This is because they will have the maturity and understanding to properly interact with such a large breed of dog. You should always teach children how to approach and interact with dogs, and you should always supervise any interactions between dogs and young children to prevent any unwanted behavior on both parts. You should also teach your child that they should never approach any dog while they're sleeping or eating or to try to take the dog's food away. Dog Friendly Giant Schnauzers don’t typically get on well with other dogs, especially if they are of the same sex. They can be quite territorial, which doesn’t work well when you bring other dogs into the mix, so they are best suited to single-dog households. You should also know that they should never be trusted alone with cats. Friendly Toward Strangers As well as their aversion towards other dogs, Giant Schnauzers also don’t get along well with strangers at first. It will take a while to earn their trust as they don’t trust new people very easily. Health And Grooming Now that you are aware of everything that you need to know about the appearance and temperament of the Giant Schnauzer, it is time to look at some of their health traits and grooming requirements to help prepare you for the future. Shedding Giant Schnauzers have a dense and wiry double coat that doesn’t shed very much. According to the American Kennel Club, they are a hypoallergenic breed, which is great for those that suffer from allergies to pet hair. However, they are not the easiest of dogs to groom, as maintaining their coat will require regular brushing and trimming. Drooling Giant Schnauzers don’t typically drool much at all. If you find that your dog is drooling excessively, it could be a sign that they have an underlying health condition, so it is definitely worth getting them checked out by a vet. Grooming The double coat of a Giant Schnauzer will need to be brushed at least 3 times a week to prevent mats from forming in their undercoat. You can use either a stiff bristle or slicker brush to do this. You will also need to wash their faces after every meal. Their coats will also usually need to be hand-stripped every 4 to 6 months. This is necessary if you show your dog or want the feel of the proper coat, but they can be clipped instead. However, you should be aware that if you do clip your Schnauzer's coat instead of stripping it, the texture will eventually change.Clipping the coat can also lead to a pepper and salt becoming silver or solid black, depending on the color of their undercoat. General Health Generally, Giant Schnauzers are healthy dogs. Although, just like any other breed of dog, there are some health conditions that they are predisposed to, meaning that they are more likely to develop them. We will leave a list of the most common health issues for Giant Schnauzers below. Common Health Problems Some of the most common health problems when it comes to Giant Schnauzers are: Hip Dysplasia Osteochondrosis Dissecans Autoimmune Thyroiditis Squamous Cell Carcinoma Potential For Weight Gain Giant Schnauzers don’t gain weight too easily, but you will need to keep an eye on their weight, just to be on the safe side. You can keep them in good shape by feeding them twice a day instead of leaving food out all the time, and make sure that you are feeding them a healthy and complete diet. Giant Schnauzer Trainability These dogs will need someone that is able to dedicate a lot of time and effort to their training. When left unchecked, Giant Schnauzers have been known to do things their own way and not listen to a single thing that anybody else tells them. As long as you are dedicated and consistent in their training, you should have too many problems. Easy To Train It can sometimes be helpful to work with an experienced trainer when you are training your Giant Schnauzer, but this is not essential. These dogs typically respond well to training as they love to learn new things. Intelligence Due to the fact that the Giant Schnauzer is so intelligent, they are relatively easy to train as long as you are both firm and consistent. You shouldn’t let their intelligence go to waste, and make sure that you give them tasks to do on a regular basis. Their high intelligence also means that they can easily get bored and destructive when they don’t have anything to do to challenge themselves. This could involve letting them find things for you, carry things, perform tricks, and show off their obedience training. Potential to Bite Giant Schnauzers have been known to show aggression towards people and animals that they are not familiar with, which could lead to biting if they are provoked or feel threatened. This is why you should always introduce new people or animals slowly and in a calm manner. With their families, it is very unlikely that they will bite as they are very loving and affectionate once they get to know you a bit better. Tendency To Bark Or Howl Giant Schnauzers don’t usually bark unless they are bored, which leads them to display frustrated behaviors. They do also hwol sometimes when they are excited. History The Giant Schnauzer was originally bred in Germany to drive cattle, and they later worked in butcher shops and stockyards.Some of them even served as guard dogs at breweries. In the early 1900s, Giant Schnauzers were trained for police work in Berlin and other German cities. Giant Schnauzer Costs Giant Schnauzers are one of the more expensive breeds, and you can expect to pay anywhere between $2100 to $5500 for a Schnauzer puppy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?vxSDtB6a9UlI