Giant Schnauzer
Bred in Bavaria to drive cattle and then to guard breweries, and it takes both jobs seriously. The beard is functional and it carries half the dinner home in it.
Photo by Canarian, CC BY-SA 4.0
Overview
The Giant Schnauzer was developed in Bavaria to drive cattle to market and then, when railways ended that trade, to guard breweries, stockyards and butchers' shops. It later became a police and military dog in Germany.
It is the largest of the three schnauzers and it is a working guardian rather than a scaled up pet, which is the distinction that matters most when choosing one.
Temperament
Bold, intelligent and territorial. Giants are devoted to their families and naturally suspicious of strangers, and they are powerful enough that this needs managing rather than admiring.
They are highly trainable and they need a job and an experienced owner. They can be dominant with other dogs and the same sex especially. They are also energetic well into adulthood and they are not a dog that settles for a quiet life.
Care and grooming
A harsh wiry double coat that needs brushing two or three times a week plus hand stripping or clipping every couple of months. The beard needs daily attention.
Hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and toe cancer, which occurs in this breed at a notable rate, are the three to know. Bloat is a real risk. Twelve to fifteen years is good for the size.
Living and exercise
Two hours a day plus training. They excel at protection sport, obedience, agility and tracking.
They want to be with their family and they become difficult if isolated. This is a dog for an experienced handler with the time to work it.
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