Giant Schnauzer Breed description: Character & Co

What is the origin of the Giant Schnauzer?

In the past, Schnauzers were seen throughout Central Europe as companions of carriages. They followed their owners countless kilometres through the country and made sure that none of their belonging would get stolen on the way. While the horses were in their stables in the evenings, the tireless dogs went to hunt for rats and mice. In addition, the ancestors of the breed were used as herding dogs for large herds of cattle. The four-legged friend owes its nickname "Beer-Schnauzer" to its occupation in southern Germany in the 19th century. At that time, the dogs were traveling in and around Munich with brewers who delivered their beer to customers by coach. It was also in the Bavarian capital that Giant Schnauzers were first presented at a dog show in 1909. Four years later, the stud book for the breed was established. Since the Giant Schnauzer was discovered as a military dog during World War I, it has proven its worth as a rescue and police dog. Since 1925, it is officially considered a service dog breed. In the 1930s, it was still the most popular among the Schnauzer breeds, but was replaced by the Miniature Schnauzer after the Second World War.

What are the breed characteristics of Giant Schnauzers?

The breed standard describes the Giant Schnauzer as a "defiant dog of respectable appearance". This hits the nail on the head, because your darling is a real powerhouse and has a lot of temperament. The largest Schnauzer breed wears the typical beard, which gives it a smart appearance. The smart eyes look at you from underneath the strongly pronounced eyebrows. Also typical are the high set triangular ears, which tilt forward. In former times, the tail of the Giant Schnauzer was docked, in Austria this has been forbidden since 2005. The tail is of medium length and is carried sabre or sickle shaped.