When we’re out and about, we hear the same comments again and again:
“What breed are they?”
“I didn’t know they came in a giant size!”
“Wow, they are huge dogs!”
“I’ve only ever seen the smaller ones before.”
Despite being far less common in the UK than people imagine, Giant Schnauzers attract a lot of admiration. I’ve never understood why more people don’t own them, they’re loyal, loving protectors who guard your home and make wonderful companions. They’re faithful, alert, strong?willed, and absolutely trainable as long as you’re consistent and firm and once you've been owned by one, life is never the same.
If you’re considering getting a Giant Schnauzer, it’s important to think carefully about what owning one truly involves. First and foremost, they are big dogs and they need space. Their tail alone can clear a table if they’re in a tight room, they can knock things over, including small children. You don’t need a mansion or acres of land, but you do need to consider the reality of a fully grown, 50kg, clumsy, excitable Giant Schnauzer before you commit to owning one. Vet procedures are also usually more expensive for larger breeds, as is insurance, so that’s other factors to keep in mind.
They’re often described as suitable for people with allergies, which can give the impression that their coat is low?maintenance, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. They need regular brushing, and their beard collects debris, food, and dirt like a magnet. If you plan to have them clipped or hand?stripped, be prepared for ongoing grooming that takes time and can also be costly, learning to clip them at home can be cheaper but takes a lot of time and patience. Proper coat care is essential to keep them healthy and to make sure nothing unpleasant is hiding in there. Their coats can vary, there are two main types of coat, a wiry more resistant coat and another more 'fluffy' coat, in my opinion the wiry coat is much easier to manage, the 'fluffy' coat is thicker and if not kept on top of can quickly change your dog into a woolly mammoth, full of matts. Giant schnauzers are double coated and keeping their coat in good condition takes a lot of dedication.
Most Giant Schnauzers adore water. If there’s a stream or river on your walk, they’ll happily launch themselves straight into it, so be ready to intervene unless you want them returning home smelling like the local bog. And when they drink, their beards soak up half the bowl, which then gets redeposited all over your floors. A mop becomes a permanent part of your household and you will constantly be mopping the floor. Never expect to have a perfectly clean home if you own a giant schnauzer!
Exercise is absolutely vital. These dogs are built to work, and they need to run, explore, and burn off energy, especially when younger and fitter. Long walks, runs, and activities that keep them engaged are essential. They also need “jobs” to keep their minds busy. These don’t have to be complicated: hiding a favourite toy for them to find, teaching a new command, or using food puzzles can all help. Some people get them to carry items in a backpack. Others enjoy agility, tracking, or nose work. Whatever you choose, mental stimulation is key. Without it, they’ll create their own entertainment, digging up plants, chewing beds, or redesigning your home in their own special way. Give them interesting things to do and they’ll be content, loyal, and full of love. A bored giant schnauzer can be a nightmare and as they change into their 'teenage years' we see an increase in them being given up for re-homing, where the owners weren't quite prepared for how much work owning a giant can be.
They’re not usually very food?motivated, which can make training quite a challenge. With patience and consistency they’ll get there, but be prepared for stubborn moments and setbacks, these dogs think for themselves and if there's nothing in it for them, they won't bother.
Giant Schnauzers are fiercely loyal and very territorial. They make excellent guard dogs, but if you want them to be friendly and confident around people, early socialisation is essential. Without it, they can become unfriendly or overly enthusiastic when greeting familiar faces. With proper socialisation, they thrive and can be both kind and gentle, but this can take a lot of work to get there, these dogs frequently suffer from separation anxiety, they do not generally like being alone, they want to be part of the pack, so be prepared for them to want to accompany you everywhere.
They’re often called “Velcro dogs”, and it’s true, they want to be wherever you are. They’ll follow you from room to room, including the bathroom, and happily sit on your lap while you watch TV, completely unconcerned about weighing up to 50kg. They simply want to be close to you and it's not always great to be sat on, especially as in their heads they think they're tiny lap dogs and can squeeze into a tiny space, in reality they are not! A sense of humour is essential for owning a giant schnauzer, they don't take life too seriously, they are fun and at times very silly, you'll need to be prepared that all training will not go to plan.
If you’ve taken all of this on board and still feel a Giant Schnauzer is the dog for you, you’ll be rewarded with a loyal, loving, full?of?character companion who will never be boring and will change your life forever.
“What breed are they?”
“I didn’t know they came in a giant size!”
“Wow, they are huge dogs!”
“I’ve only ever seen the smaller ones before.”
Despite being far less common in the UK than people imagine, Giant Schnauzers attract a lot of admiration. I’ve never understood why more people don’t own them, they’re loyal, loving protectors who guard your home and make wonderful companions. They’re faithful, alert, strong?willed, and absolutely trainable as long as you’re consistent and firm and once you've been owned by one, life is never the same.
If you’re considering getting a Giant Schnauzer, it’s important to think carefully about what owning one truly involves. First and foremost, they are big dogs and they need space. Their tail alone can clear a table if they’re in a tight room, they can knock things over, including small children. You don’t need a mansion or acres of land, but you do need to consider the reality of a fully grown, 50kg, clumsy, excitable Giant Schnauzer before you commit to owning one. Vet procedures are also usually more expensive for larger breeds, as is insurance, so that’s other factors to keep in mind.
They’re often described as suitable for people with allergies, which can give the impression that their coat is low?maintenance, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. They need regular brushing, and their beard collects debris, food, and dirt like a magnet. If you plan to have them clipped or hand?stripped, be prepared for ongoing grooming that takes time and can also be costly, learning to clip them at home can be cheaper but takes a lot of time and patience. Proper coat care is essential to keep them healthy and to make sure nothing unpleasant is hiding in there. Their coats can vary, there are two main types of coat, a wiry more resistant coat and another more 'fluffy' coat, in my opinion the wiry coat is much easier to manage, the 'fluffy' coat is thicker and if not kept on top of can quickly change your dog into a woolly mammoth, full of matts. Giant schnauzers are double coated and keeping their coat in good condition takes a lot of dedication.
Most Giant Schnauzers adore water. If there’s a stream or river on your walk, they’ll happily launch themselves straight into it, so be ready to intervene unless you want them returning home smelling like the local bog. And when they drink, their beards soak up half the bowl, which then gets redeposited all over your floors. A mop becomes a permanent part of your household and you will constantly be mopping the floor. Never expect to have a perfectly clean home if you own a giant schnauzer!
Exercise is absolutely vital. These dogs are built to work, and they need to run, explore, and burn off energy, especially when younger and fitter. Long walks, runs, and activities that keep them engaged are essential. They also need “jobs” to keep their minds busy. These don’t have to be complicated: hiding a favourite toy for them to find, teaching a new command, or using food puzzles can all help. Some people get them to carry items in a backpack. Others enjoy agility, tracking, or nose work. Whatever you choose, mental stimulation is key. Without it, they’ll create their own entertainment, digging up plants, chewing beds, or redesigning your home in their own special way. Give them interesting things to do and they’ll be content, loyal, and full of love. A bored giant schnauzer can be a nightmare and as they change into their 'teenage years' we see an increase in them being given up for re-homing, where the owners weren't quite prepared for how much work owning a giant can be.
They’re not usually very food?motivated, which can make training quite a challenge. With patience and consistency they’ll get there, but be prepared for stubborn moments and setbacks, these dogs think for themselves and if there's nothing in it for them, they won't bother.
Giant Schnauzers are fiercely loyal and very territorial. They make excellent guard dogs, but if you want them to be friendly and confident around people, early socialisation is essential. Without it, they can become unfriendly or overly enthusiastic when greeting familiar faces. With proper socialisation, they thrive and can be both kind and gentle, but this can take a lot of work to get there, these dogs frequently suffer from separation anxiety, they do not generally like being alone, they want to be part of the pack, so be prepared for them to want to accompany you everywhere.
They’re often called “Velcro dogs”, and it’s true, they want to be wherever you are. They’ll follow you from room to room, including the bathroom, and happily sit on your lap while you watch TV, completely unconcerned about weighing up to 50kg. They simply want to be close to you and it's not always great to be sat on, especially as in their heads they think they're tiny lap dogs and can squeeze into a tiny space, in reality they are not! A sense of humour is essential for owning a giant schnauzer, they don't take life too seriously, they are fun and at times very silly, you'll need to be prepared that all training will not go to plan.
If you’ve taken all of this on board and still feel a Giant Schnauzer is the dog for you, you’ll be rewarded with a loyal, loving, full?of?character companion who will never be boring and will change your life forever.