Dog Breed Guide

Giant Schnauzer

Profile

Size

Large

Country of origin

Germany

Origin

19th century

Bred for

Herding, Watchdog, Police dog

Height

60 - 70cm (24 - 28in)

Weight

35 - 47kg (77 - 104lb)

Life span

12 - 15 years

The largest of the three Schnauzers. It looks like a scaled-up Standard Schnauzer, with a mustache, beard and thick eyebrows. The wiry coat comes in black and pepper and salt.

Very intelligent and full of energy, it is a hard worker that comes alive when given a job. It is loyal and loving with its family but strongly protective and wary of strangers. It is powerful and sharp-witted, so consistent training from an experienced owner is needed.

It has very high exercise needs, and walks alone are not enough. Give it a good physical and mental workout through dog sports or training. The coat needs regular grooming.

Good to know

The breed arose in Bavaria in southern Germany as a dog that drove cattle to market and guarded farms. Later, in the city, it worked as a guard dog at Munich's breweries, factories, butcher shops and stockyards, and for a long time it was called the Münchener (the Munich dog). It was first shown at a dog show in Munich in 1909.

It was little known outside Bavaria, but its service as a military dog in World War I and World War II made its abilities widely known.

It still works as a police dog and search and rescue dog today and is one of the breeds officially recognized as police dogs in Germany. It is thought to have been bred up in size by crossing the Standard Schnauzer with sheepdogs and black Great Danes, among others.