The Giant Schnauzer is a member of the working group in Britain and the United States. They were originally used for cattle herding; today they are companion dogs. In Europe they are used for police work and in security. They are a large sized dog that appears almost square.
The breed is sturdy and muscular with an alert outlook. Hair on the eyebrows, moustache and legs is longer than elsewhere, giving them a very distinctive appearance. A rectangular head and the body length equals the height at the withers.
The Giant Schnauzer is an intelligent dog that is easily trained, although it does need consistent training, as they can be quite stubborn. As puppies they do require lots of socialisation and training. They are used widely in Europe for police and security work.
The head should be strong, being flat between the ears. They should have a powerful blunt muzzle and a strong jaw with a perfect scissor bite. The eyes should be of medium size, dark and oval, with arched bushy eyebrows. The ears should be V shaped and high set. The neck should be relatively long, strong and slightly arched. The chest should be deep and broad, and the topline strong and straight, slightly higher at the shoulder than the back end. The body length should be the same as the height at the withers. The front legs should appear straight when viewed from all angles, the back legs should be well muscled. The feet should be compact, round and short. The tail is customarily docked to 2 joints, high set and carried slightly above the topline. The coat should be harsh and wiry with a dense undercoat. White Schnauzers are rarely seen in the show ring.
A Schnauzer type dog has been represented in art and sculptures as early as the 1400's. The Giant Schnauzer evolved from the Standard Schnauzer. It originates from southern Germany and the nearby regions of Switzerland and France. Originally it was used as a cattle herder in the 15th century until the railroads were developed. In the 19th century the Giants became popular in the towns as guard dogs. During the world wars this dog was used for police and war work, resulting in the breed being nearly wiped out. They were first shown in 1909 and first appeared in America at this time. They have never really been popular dogs but they have many endearing qualities.
For a full description of the Breed Standard please visit the Kennel Club
