Giant Schauzer

All you need to know about the breed

The glorious Giant Schnauzer is a sight to behold. Standing at nearly 28 inches (70cm) at the shoulder and graced with an earnest expression, this dog was used at their start on farms in the German countryside to drive livestock and guard stables—and even used to catch rats in their spare time. With a noble bearing and ever-eager demeanour, they’ve made their way into the hearts of Bavarians as well as dog lovers the world over.

Giant Schnauzers enjoy movement of any kind – whether it’s work or play – and have gladly participated in Schutzhund, the German competition for tracking, obedience, and protection. A huge intellect has helped them excel at it, and their dignified corporeal stature has carried over into less physical competition on the show dog circuit.

No matter what, their main preoccupation is having a job, even if it’s a game of fetch in the yard. The breed is an excellent choice too if you’re sporty. Take them hiking or running, they’re upbeat and always up for it. The Giant Schnauzer will be best matched to lively, on-the-move owners.

The Giant Schnauzer’s temperament is also outstanding. They’re known to be considerate, gentle, and loyal, but size does matter: They are probably best for a household with older children who may not be so easily, and accidentally, knocked down. The breed can be assertive with people or dogs they’re not familiar with so early socialisation is a must for them.

Then there’s the scruffy beard and bushy eyebrows, the Schnauzer breed’s recognisable trait, which looks even better on the Giant Schnauzer. “Schnauze” is German for “muzzle”, the perfect word for a breed whose spirited dark eyes convey the warmth they possess in spades.

The Giant Schnauzer breed originated in Germany in the mid-1800s in the states of Bavaria and Wurttemberg where it had originally been called the Haired Pinscher. Schnauzers are a perpetual favourite in the dog world and a variety of breeds, along with the Standard Schnauzer, were used to develop a larger dog that could drive cattle to market, including the Black Great Dane, Bouvier des Flandres, and German Pinscher.

With the onset of the railroad toward the end of the 1900s, the breed was put to use guarding butcher shops, stockyards, and breweries.

As the 20th century dawned, the Giant Schnauzer found a new role as a police and military dog, their size and muscular frame being a suitable fit. Although the Giant Schnauzer Club of America was founded in 1962, they’re not commonly seen in the United States. The breed was accepted into the American Kennel Club in 1971.