Giant Schnauzer
Breed Profile
The Giant Schnauzer is a working breed of dog, which was given life in the 17th century in Germany. It is the largest of the three breeds of Schnauzer, the other two breeds being the Standard Schnauzer and the Miniature Schnauzer. Originally bred to help on farms by driving livestock to market and watch over the farmer’s property, the breed eventually found its way to the city, where it worked watching over breweries, butchers’ shops, stockyards and factories.
Temperament
Giant Schnauzers are usually a tranquil breed. Due to its breeding, the Giant Schnauzer is known to be reserved, suspicious of strangers and can be very territorial. However, once introduced to people, it can become more accepting of them. It has a penchant for becoming aggressive.
Color & Coat
Coat: They have dense coarse coat that protects them from the weather and from vermin.
Color: Giant Schnauzers come in two color patterns: Solid black, and a color known as pepper and salt, with banded hairs of alternating white and black, appearing gray at a distance.
Health
The Giant Schnauzers are more prone to cancer than most breeds, especially toe cancer which kills many Giants annually even with early detection They are at increased risk of bloat. Epilepsy is all too common in this breed and hip dysplasia is rife.