Working Dog
Germany for droving cattle.
11 to 12 years
Salt-and-pepper, black, or black-and-tan.
Harsh and wiry coat with no tendency towards softness.
Regular and moderate exercise.
Loyal and protective. May be aggressive with strangers or other animals and if left alone outdoors will instinctively hunt rodents. Makes an excellent watchdog.
Gentle and friendly with children
Coat needs to be stripped twice a year to remove dead hairs.

25.5 - 27.5 23.5 - 25.5
66 - 78 66 - 78
May suffer from hip dysplasia and other orthopedic problems, as well as from eye diseases.
Adapts well to urban living but requires plenty of exercise.


The name for this breed comes from the German word for muzzle, schnauze, a reference to the distinctive mustache of the breed. The giant schnauzer, largest and most recent of the three Schnauzer breeds, was developed by Bavarian cattlemen who wanted a cattle dog like the standard schnauzer but larger. To produce such a dog, the standard schnauzer was crossed with various working dogs and, later, with the black Great Dane. The giant schnauzer is a robust dog with a wiry coat. It is salt-and-pepper, black, or black-and-tan. Originally a cattle dog, it was later used as a butcher's dog and a brewery guard. Since the beginning of the 19th century, it has been used extensively in German police work.