The giant schnauzer is the largest variety of this breed of dog. The schnauzer without dogs of German origin that were bred as working dogs. They are animals that were created during the XNUMXth century approximately. They are a popular breed and highly sought after today, which is why today we decided to tell you a little about them, their history and the health that characterizes them.
history of the giant schnauzer
The appearance of giant schnauzer dog It ate during the XNUMXth century in Germany, specifically in Swabia and Württemberg. During that time these canines were considered to be a variation of the German Pinscher that had a much thicker and somewhat harsh coat. People believed that the type of hair that the giant schnauzers had helped them better cope with the winter climates of Germany and also prevented insects that landed on them from biting them.
There is no exact evidence showing the origins of this breed, but it is presumed that it came from a great variety of combinations between different breeds, among them would be the German shepherds, the boxer, the schnauzer itself and it is even presumed that the Great dane, because its large size can only be inherited from this giant breed of dog that was even popular at the time.
Function
When these dogs were created, one of the main tasks they were given was that of a farm dog, since their main tasks consisted of herding cattle or other farm animals, in addition to being caretakers, since they were the ones who They were careful that no predator entered the farm to kill the other animals. During the arrival of the XNUMXth century these dogs began to be used as guardians, since now their job was to take care of different types of properties, houses, factories, businesses and more.
This breed of dog could only be found within the territories of Bavaria. During the First and Second World Wars these dogs were trained and used as military canines, it was there that the giant schnauzer began to be known by some other European countries.
Today these animals can be seen as members of police squads just like the German Shepherd dog breed. They can also be seen in agility, obedience and exhibition competitions. When this breed is exhibited, its score will not depend so much on its appearance but rather on the jobs that the dog can do, this is because it is a breed specially created for jobs.
Giant Schnauzer Popularity
During the 1930s, the giant schnauzer set foot on American territory, however, they remained a little-known breed. It was not until the 60s that they became popular not only in the US but also in other Latin American countries.
Description of the giant schnauzer
This breed of dog is especially known for being the largest of all the schnauzers. Although these are considered one of the Large dog breeds The word "giant" that accompanies the name of its breed does not refer to its being as large as the Great Dane, but rather to the fact that among the schnauzers it can be considered a giant.
In addition to their physical appearance, many people decide to have these dogs due to their territorial temperament, as they are excellent caregivers. Although you have to have a lot of control over them since they can be extremely suspicious of strangers, this can even make them aggressive if they are not educated correctly.
Appearance
This breed can weigh between 30 and 45 kilograms and have a height of between 50 and 70 centimeters. These dogs have a physical appearance almost identical to that of the standard schnauzer, so if it were not for their marked difference in size, they could be confused.
These dogs have small ears that can usually be seen on their heads, however, most breeders and owners of these dogs tend to have them cut off, of course, this is enhanced legally by a specialized veterinary doctor or surgeon in doing it. The head usually has a standard size for dogs of the same size.
They have abundant, thick and slightly hard fur that protects them from the cold and from animals that can bite them. One of the physical characteristics that people mostly notice is that these dogs have a unique “beard” and quite bushy “eyebrows” on their faces that makes them look between funny and adorable. The walk of this breed is distinguished by being a constant trot that is carried out in a firm and lively manner.
The hair color of the schnauzer can come in two different shades, the one that has a black coat in its entirety and the one that is called "salt and pepper", this type of coat is distinguished by having a mixture of white, gray and black that can be seen all over its body without any definite pattern. There are breeders of the breed who claim that black Giant Schnauzers tend to be a bit more temperamental than what are called "salt and pepper", the reason why they believe this has not been confirmed.
Temperament
These dogs were created to be protective, that is why they are often seen being extremely cautious when they are in front of people or animals unknown to them, in addition to that they are also territorial, so they could get into fights with other dogs or animals if they invade their territory. Despite this, these dogs can easily adapt to new situations and to an environment filled with different environments and people.
Like other breeds of guard dogs, giant schnauzers can adopt aggressive behavior, this is because their protective function comes to light. To avoid future conflicts of aggressiveness and accidents, these dogs should be trained from a young age to obey and it is also recommended that, even as puppies, they begin to socialize with other dogs, especially if you plan to take them to dog parks or have pets. other pets apart from him.
These are dogs with great intelligence, they can quickly learn the orders and behaviors that are taught to them, however, they must be constantly stimulated and exercised so that the mimes do not feel bored, being energetic and very active dogs, They should create a daily exercise routine that helps them drain excess energy. Giant schnauzers are ideal for living in families with children, as they get along very well with them and often play together.
Care
The care that must be taken with these dogs has to be constant, because their coat, being so dense, can maintain accumulations of small leftover food or dirt. The specimens of this breed that are entered in contests must be groomed using a special technique called "stripping", this is based on using the fingers to take and gently pull the dog's fur and thus be able to remove all the dead hairs. that are attached to them. This technique should be repeated every two to four weeks.
Yes, on the contrary, the dog will only be a pet that will not participate in any type of contest, it does not need additional care of its fur other than being trimmed from time to time to prevent it from getting dirty or dirty. entangle
giant schnauzer health
This breed of dog can enjoy very good health, however, like almost all breeds, they prune some pathologies that are more common among their specimens. These can be:
- Eye conditions (dry eye, glaucoma, cataracts and retina problems).
- They may suffer from some skin diseases that affect their well-being.
- Dogs with dark fur tend to be more prone to cancer, especially on their toes.
- They may have the presence of benign tumors.
According to studies carried out on the giant schnauzer, these dogs can have a life expectancy of around 10 years, this means that among dogs of similar sizes it is the one with the shortest lifespan, since the studies affirm that the others can reach to live between 11 and 12 years.
These same investigations tell us that the main cause of death of this breed is due to cancer and heart-related problems, so if you have one of these dogs, it is recommended that you take it to the vet often to do tests that rule out the presence of some of these pathologies that can affect your health and your life.