Dog breed

Giant Schnauzer

The Giant Schnauzer is the largest of the three schnauzers: a German working dog with a wiry black or pepper-and-salt coat, a beard and bushy eyebrows. Under the FCI standard, it stands 60–70 cm at the shoulder and weighs 35–47 kg. It once drove cattle and today works in police service, protection sports and as a home guardian. It needs an experienced owner, lots of exercise and regular hand-stripping.

FCI Group II · Molossers, pinschers and schnauzers · standard no. 181

Weight: 35–47 kg
Height: 60–70 cm
Lifespan: 10–13 years
Origin: Germany

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Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Kkrzysiu o2 assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The FCI standard highlights the Giant's good-natured, balanced character and unwavering loyalty to its owner, along with high intelligence, stamina and resilience. The AKC gives the breed top marks for energy, playfulness and alertness, but only 2 for openness to strangers. In practice, it's a dog that's warm and funny at home and watchful and suspicious beyond the fence. It needs a job: a bored Giant will invent its own, such as guarding the fence against every passerby. It is smart but also stubborn and quickly tests how much it can get away with, so training needs consistency from day one. It usually gets along with the children in its own home, though it can be too rough in play. Its attitude toward other animals varies, and it usually chases off neighborhood cats.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Giant Schnauzer for?

The Giant Schnauzer is a dog for an experienced, active person who wants a partner for sports and work, has time for daily training and likes dogs with character. It does best in a house with a yard, but living inside with the family. We don't recommend it as a first dog, for people who are away all day, or for anyone unwilling to pay for regular coat care.

Pros

outstanding working and sport dog
alert guardian
low shedding
weatherproof

Challenges

very high physical and mental needs
stubborn, needs an experienced owner
wary of strangers
needs hand-stripping or clipping

Size and looks

Size and looks: Giant Schnauzer
Height at the withers	males 60–70 cm, females 60–70 cm
Weight	males 35–47 kg, females 35–47 kg
Lifespan	10–13 years
Coat	wire
Colors	black, pepper and salt
Country of origin	Germany
Classification	Group II: Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs
Also known as	Riesenschnauzer, Giant

Care and exercise

90–150minof exercise a day

4/5grooming needs

2/5shedding

A Giant needs more exercise than most large dogs. The Kennel Club recommends more than two hours a day, and the AKC stresses that the breed makes a great companion for running, cycling, hiking and even skijoring. Mental work matters just as much: obedience, tracking, protection sports, nosework. For the first few months, a puppy should exercise briefly, with no long runs. The wiry double coat sheds little but doesn't look after itself: it needs weekly brushing and hand-stripping or clipping every few months. Wipe the beard after meals and drinks, since it collects food and water. Check the ears regularly and brush the teeth several times a week. Feed a good-quality food for active large-breed dogs, adjusting portions to the workload.

How much should the Giant Schnauzer eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The AKC describes the Giant Schnauzer as a generally healthy breed and gives a lifespan of 10–13 years. In the British McMillan et al. (2024) study, the median was 12.1 years. Breeders should screen for hip dysplasia, eye diseases and autoimmune thyroiditis, which leads to hypothyroidism. As with any active, large dog, avoid overloading the joints while it's growing and keep it lean. When buying a puppy, ask for the parents' hip X-rays and eye exam results.

hip dysplasiaThe AKC lists it among the conditions breeders screen for.
eye diseasesBreeding dogs should have an eye exam.
autoimmune thyroiditisLeads to hypothyroidism; requires blood tests and ongoing veterinary care.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

hip and elbow X-rays (HD/ED)
eye exam (ECVO)
thyroid testing

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

According to the FCI standard, the Giant Schnauzer was originally a cattle-driving dog in southern Germany. The AKC places the breed's beginnings in the mid-19th century in Bavaria and Württemberg, where drovers wanted a bigger, stronger dog and crossed Standard Schnauzers with other breeds, including the Great Dane. Giants also guarded farms, shops and inns. When the railroad replaced cattle drives, breeders came to value their working abilities. The breed has had its own stud book since 1913, and in 1925 it was officially recognized in Germany as a working dog. Police schools began training it before World War I. The FCI gave it final recognition in 1955.

Fun facts

The German name, Riesenschnauzer, literally means “giant schnauzer.”
The AKC points out that the Miniature, Standard and Giant Schnauzer are three separate breeds, even though they look alike.
The FCI standard allows only two colors: solid black with a black undercoat, and pepper and salt.
Under the FCI standard, a dog more than 4 cm outside the height limits is disqualified.

Frequently asked questions

Do Giant Schnauzers shed?

Very little, because the wiry coat holds on to dead hair, which is removed by stripping or brushing. The AKC rates the breed's shedding 2 on a 1–5 scale. The trade-off is regular grooming: weekly brushing and stripping or clipping every few months.

How much does a Giant Schnauzer weigh?

The FCI standard gives 35–47 kg at 60–70 cm at the shoulder for both males and females. The AKC gives higher figures, up to 43 kg for males in American lines. The UK Kennel Club sets different heights: males 65–70 cm, females 60–65 cm.

Is a Giant Schnauzer good with kids?

It can be, if the adults have experience with large, energetic dogs and train it consistently. It can be protective of the children in its own home, but it is strong and fast in play. The AKC rates it 3 out of 5 for being good with young children.

How much exercise does a Giant Schnauzer need?

A lot. The Kennel Club recommends more than two hours a day, ideally combining walks, running and tasks that make it think, such as tracking or obedience. An under-exercised Giant barks, destroys things and can be hard to handle.

How long does a Giant Schnauzer live?

The typical lifespan of the Giant Schnauzer is 10–13 years. Genetics, weight, exercise and regular preventive vet care all make a difference.