The Giant Schnauzer: A Working War Dog
The Schnauzer, as you might expect from the name, is definitely of German origin. The German word “Schnauzer” means “muzzle”. Today in Germany there are three recognized schnauzers, giant, standard and miniature. Among the characteristics that all three schnauzers have in common is the distinctive look of the head, which has a beard and mustache and heavy eyebrows of hair above the eyes. The body structure is quite square in appearance. The coat is “hairy” and coarse, a typical terrier type coat that is stripped as it will not shed naturally. The most common colors are salt and pepper or black. The goals of all three dogs are quite different.
Paintings depict the standard schnauzer as early as 1842. The standard is considered the “base” of both the miniature and giant. The Giant Schnauzer is believed to have been bred from the Standard Schnauzer by crossing the Standard with some of the larger breeds of the day, such as the Great Dane and perhaps the Bouvier de Flanders, a hunting dog. The Giant Schnauzer is designed to perform the functions of a guard and sled dog. The breed served a useful purpose at the farmers market, guarding the produce carts in addition to pulling the carts to market. Dogs were also used as livestock guards.
The height of the male is 25 to 27 inches, and the height of the female is 23 to 25 inches. The American Kennel Club standard notes that dogs that are too large “lack the agility and maneuverability” of a working dog and cannot perform the work for which they are designed. The Giant Schnauzer needs to have a certain strength and power, what is often called “drive” from the hindquarters, to pull a cart and so has a good angulation in the rear, with strong straight front legs and a “well laid back” shoulder. with an almost right angle at the shoulder, also a need for stride length and a powerful pull. The Giant Schnauzer is a large dog that is still used today as a general livestock guard on many German farms, in addition to being a much-loved family watchdog and pet. The breed gained popularity after the First World War.
The dog was used as a military dog during the war, where its strong working abilities were much admired. During war, the dog often served as a courier dog, often braving enemy fire to travel to its destination carrying the orders of the day. It is still used in the world today in some places as a military dog, bomb detector and search and rescue dog. The typical personality of this large dog is friendliness and willingness to work for people. This is a breed that does not accept harsh punishment. The Giant Schnauzer will do anything for its master, with an extreme sense of loyalty and protection. Positive training will reap big rewards with a Giant Schnauzer.
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