The Breed Standard

Breed Standard: A description of the ideal dog of each recognized breed, to serve as an ideal against which dogs are judged at shows, originally laid down by a parent breed club and accepted officially by national or international bodies.

The Giant Schnauzer is a larger and more powerful version of the Standard Schnauzer, and he should, as the breed standard says, "be a bold and valiant figure of a dog." Great intelligence and loyalty make him a stellar worker and companion.
A well-bred Giant Schnauzer closely resembles the Standard Schnauzer, only bigger. As their name suggests, Giants are imposing. A male might stand as high as 27.5 inches at the shoulder and weigh 95 pounds. The muscular, substantial body is, as the breed's fanciers put it, a "bold and valiant figure of a dog." The double coat is either solid black or "pepper and salt." Familiar characteristics of the Mini, Standard, and Giant are a harsh beard and eyebrows, accentuating a keen, sagacious expression.

The Giant Schnauzer was developed in the Bavarian Alps sometime in the mid-1800s. These rugged working dogs, bred up from the Standard Schnauzer, were used to drive cattle from farm to market. They also served as formidable guard dogs for farmers, merchants, and innkeepers. After railroads rendered cattle drives obsolete, Giants found work as European police and military K-9s. In America, Giants gained renown as eye-catching show dogs, obedience champions, and courageous guardians of home and family.

The Giant Schnauzer is a breed of dog developed in the 17th century in Germany. It is the largest of the three breeds of Schnauzer the other two breeds being the Standard Schnauzer and the Miniature Schnauzer. Numerous breeds were used in its development, including the black Great Dane the Bouvier des Flandres
. Originally bred to assist on farms by
driving the herd to market and guarding the farmer's property, the breed eventually moved into the city, where it worked guarding breweries, butchers' shops, stockyards, and factories. It was unknown outside of Bavaria until it became popular as a military dog during World War I and
World War II.

They have a dense coarse coat that protects them from the weather and from vermin. Giant Schnauzers come in three color varieties: pepper and salt, pure black with black undercoat, and black and silver.Where legal, they are shown with cropped ears and docked tails. Like other schnauzers, they have a distinct beard and eyebrows. Today, the Giant Schnauzer participates in numerous dog sports , including
Schutzhund . Another sport that the dog excels in is that of nosework.
Due to its alert nature, the dog is also used in police work.