By Josie January 26th, 2023
Today we're focusing on the large and strong-willed Giant Schnauzer.
Are they active companions or aggressive watchdogs?
The Giant Schnauzer is a large working dog whose origin dates back to the 17th century in Germany.
They were conceived by crossing the Standard Schnauzer with larger species, such as the Great Dane and Rottweiler.
The main objective of their breeding was to use them as working dogs to herd cattle.
Another important task was to protect these animals from wolves.
They range 27.5 to 32.5 inches in height, and 55 to 85 pounds in weight.
Their fur is wiry and almost always black, although some have white patches.
They have a solid beard and mustache, and often a docked tail.
The Giant Schnauzer is a strong-willed, powerful, and confident breed.
Their ability to sense danger is as good as their loyalty
Due to their protective nature, they may be wary of strangers.
#1 Dental Disease
#2 Bacterial and Viral Infections
#3 Hip Dysplasia
#4 Bloat (Gastric Torsion)
#5 Obesity
They have dense and wiry coats, which makes their maintenance more time-consuming.
Weekly brushing and grooming are essential.
Brushing their teeth on a weekly basis is also a reuqirment since they'r eprone to dental issues.
#1 Start early
Here's some tips for training a Giant Schnauzer effectively:
#2 Use positive reinforcement
#3 Provide mental stimulation
#4 Provide plenty of physical exercise
#5 Be consistent
#6 Let Them Socialize (to make them less wary of strangers)
Black Russian Terrier; they share the same power, size and abilities - albeit the Schnauzer is more intelligent.
Great Dane
Great Dane; they are also large working dogs with high intelligence, but Great Danes are better with small kids.
Airedale Terrier; they diverge when it comes to behavior, but have the same thick and wiry coats and minimal shedding.
#1 They can be aggressive when they sense a threat
#2 Nonfriendly to young children
#3 They can become destructive if understimulated
Are they the doggo for you?
To conclude; Giant Schnauzers make good family pets and amazing companions but need consistent training and socialization from an early age.