Giant Schnauzer
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Breed at a glance
- Origin
- Germany
- Weight
- 35–47 kg (75–105 lb) [ 3 ]
- Height
- 60–70 cm (24–28 in) [ 3 ]
- Coat
- dense and wiry
- Colour
- pure black (with black undercoat) pepper-and-salt black-silver
- Other names
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intro
The Giant Schnauzer or Riesenschnauzer is a German breed of dog of Schnauzer type. It is larger than the other two Schnauzer breeds, the Standard Schnauzer and the Miniature Schnauzer . Originally bred to assist on farms by driving livestock to market and guarding the farmer's property, the breed eventually moved into the city, where it worked guarding breweries , butchers' shops , stockyards and factories. It was unknown outside Bavaria until it became popular as a military dog during World War I and World War II . It has a dense coarse coat that protects it from the weather and from vermin. There are three color varieties: pepper and salt, pure black with black undercoat, and black and silver. [ 4 ] Where legal, it is shown with cropped ears and docked tails. Like other schnauzers, it has a distinct beard and eyebrows. Today, the Giant Schnauzer participates in numerous dog sports , including Schutzhund . Another sport that the dog excels in is that of nosework . Due to its alert nature, the dog is also used in police work.
Health
A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy for the Giant Schnauzer of 12.1 years, compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds . [ 20 ] Hip and elbow dysplasia are common. [ 19 ] [ 13 ] The breed is also prone to eye problems such as keratoconjunctivitis sicca , glaucoma , cataracts , multifocal retinal dysplasia , and generalized progressive retinal atrophy . [ 21 ] It is also prone to skin diseases, such as seasonal flank alopecia , vitiligo , and follicular cysts. [ 21 ] Cancer of the skin is common in dark-colored dogs, with the most frequently occurring varieties being melanoma of the limbs and digits, and squamous cell carcinoma of the digit. [ 21 ] Noncancerous skin tumors are also common. [ 21 ] Some Giant Schnauzers develop central diabetes insipidus , autosomal recessive hypothyroidism , selective malabsorption of cobalamin , narcolepsy , cataplexy , and various seizure disorders . [ 13 ] [ 21 ] Some are also sensitive to sulphonamides and gold . [ 21 ] Bone diseases and joint problems are also an issue. [ 22 ] The most common causes of death of the dog in a Kennel Club survey were lymphoma and liver cancer , followed by heart attacks and heart failure . [ 23 ]
History
The origin of the breed name "Schnauzer" is not known, nor is it known when it came into use. [ 5 ] : 482 The German word schnauze means ' snout ', while both schnauz and schnauzbart mean 'walrus moustache'. [ 6 ] The word schnauzer appears in the Bilder und Sagen aus der Schweiz of Jeremias Gotthelf , published in 1842. [ 5 ] : 482 'Schnauz' was a common name for a dog – several dogs with this name were shown in Elberfeld in 1880. [ 7 ] : 149 At the third international dog show of the Verein zur Veredelung der Hunderassen in Hanover in 1879, a dog named 'Schnautzer' took first place in the Rauche Pinscher or Wire-haired Pinscher class. [ 7 ] : 149 Schnauzers originated in southern Germany [ 8 ] and share a common history with the German Pinscher . [ 9 ] Dogs of this type, both rough-haired and smooth-haired, were traditionally kept as carriage dogs or as stable dogs, and so were sometimes known as Stallpinscher ; they were capable ratters . [ 9 ] Both types were known as Deutscher Pinscher, and came from the same lineage; rough-haired and smooth-haired puppies could occur in the same litter. [ 9 ] The rough-haired type, which would later become the Schnauzer, was also known as the Rattler . [ 9 ] [ 10 ] : 152 In 1880 the Pinscher was recorded in the Deutschen Hundestammbuch of the Verein zur Veredelung der Hunderassen , [ 11 ] and the first breed standard was drawn up. [ 5 ] : 482 Various colours were described for the rough-haired type, including iron-grey, silver-grey, grey-yellow, corn-yellow and rust-yellow. [ 5 ] : 482 In 1895 Ludwig Beckmann [ de ] described five varieties of Pinscher – the rough- and smooth-haired Pinscher, the rough- and smooth-haired Miniature Pinscher , and the Affenpinscher . [ 9 ] [ 10 ] : 152 Also in 1895, a breed society , the Pinscherklub, was established for both types, both rough- and smooth-haired. [ 11 ] [ 12 ] Another society, the Schnauzerklub München, was formed in Munich in 1907 by breeders of the Mittelschnauzer. [ 12 ] In 1917, with the sixth edition of the stud-book , the name of the rough-haired breed was officially changed from Rauhaarige Pinscher to Schnauzer. [ 5 ] : 482 In 1918 the Pinscherklub and the Schnauzerklub München merged to form the Pinscher-Schnauzer-Verband, which in 1921 changed its name to the present Pinscher-Schnauzer-Klub 1895 e.V. [ 12 ] The Giant Schnauzer was originally bred as a multipurpose farm dog for guarding property and driving animals to market. [ 13 ] By the turn of the 20th century it was being used as a watchdog at factories, breweries , butcheries , and stockyards throughout Bavaria. [ 1 ] [ 14 ] : 266 The breed was unknown outside Bavaria until it was used as a military dog in World War I and World War II . [ 1 ] [ 14 ] : 266 The first Giant Schnauzers were imported to America in the 1930s, but they remained rare until the 1960s, [ 15 ] when the breed became popular. In 1962, there were 23 new Giant Schnauzers registered with the American Kennel Club ; in 1974 this
Characteristics
Although the Giant Schnauzer is a large and stocky dog, the 'Giant', in its name is not in comparison to other large dog breeds but in comparison to the Standard and Miniature Schnauzers . [ 1 ] The AKC breed standard calls for males to stand from 65 to 70 centimetres (25.5 to 27.5 in) at the withers , and for females to stand from 60 to 65 centimetres (23.5 to 25.5 in) . [ 18 ] Giant Schnauzers are square in shape, [ 19 ] and should resemble a larger version of the Standard Schnauzer . [ 14 ] : 266 The tail is long and the ears are small button ears carried high on the head. [ 13 ] Where it is legal, it is possibly docked and the ears cropped . [ 19 ] The head is about half the length of the dog's back from the withers to the base of the tail. [ 14 ] : 266 The cheeks are flat, but well muscled. [ 14 ] : 266 The coat is dense, wiry, and weather resistant. [ 19 ] [ 18 ] The fur on the dog's face forms a distinct "beard" and eyebrows. [ 14 ] : 266 Its stride is long and crisp. [ 2 ]