Giant Schnauzer advice for first time owner

The Giant Schnauzer is an example of working breed of dog and has a dense, coarse coat that protects them against the elements and vermin. The Giant Schnauzer is the largest of the three breeds.
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Jenny10
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Giant Schnauzer advice for first time owner

Post by Jenny10 »

Good Afternoon

I would be very greatful if you could help me with advice on the Giant Schnauzer.

I have never owned my own dog before and am in love with the Giant Schnauzer, every time I see one in the park/town or at crufts I melt inside and light up. my auntie had owned tow so I was brought up around them and understand the breed as I also studied the breed for Five years reading hundreds of books meeting as many GS'S as I can. the thing is I was talking to a local Giant Schnauzer owner and she said that Giant Schnauzer are not first dogs because they are very challenging and have a few issues that a newbie would not be able to cope with like there potential to become aggressive and because of there gurding nature and that if it goes wrong it can be dangerous with a giant Schnauzer.

What do you think do you agree. Or do you think GS can make great first dog?

The Giant Schnauzer owner recommended a Labrador Retriever for first time owners but I just can't help how I feel when I see the Giant Schnauzer , I plan on going to training class's and even getting a one to one trainer to help me with him\her being my first Dog so that I can prevent issues rather than fix and I understand there guarding nature as I was brought up around them and my parents had German Shepherds so am use to guarding breeds.

The only thing I am a little worried about is how vocal they are only because I suffer with tinnitus https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tinnitus" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and exposure to loud noises for a long time can cause it be get worse. Now my aunties giants don't bark much only at people knocking on the door or a bird in the garden. This I could live with or more my condition could handle. I just want to know if with proper training can you train a Giant to be quite on command like once she\he has barked to alert me at something that once I say quite he\she will be quite?

I am a very active person enjoying hikes and country walk on a regular basis and work from home so have plenty of time for training and socialisation.


Many thanks
Jenny
pastylover
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Re: Giant Schnauzer advice for first time owner

Post by pastylover »

Hello Jenny

Since the Giant is a unique breed with characteristics all of its own, it frankly doesn't make much difference whether it is a first or tenth dog, with the proviso that I wouldn't recommend starting out with a male, for the reasons set out in the posts at the top of this section. Owning a fairly placid breed like a Lab would NOT prepare anyone for a Giant!

What matters is that the new owner has a) thoroughly researched the breed so they fully understand what they are taking on and b) the confidence and time to commit to raising a powerful, highly intelligent, sometimes stubborn, demanding clown. From what you have written you seem to qualify.

We are on the fourth in a series of Giant bitches, the first from a puppy, two taken on as adolescents and one as an adult. Both the adolescents were very challenging, the first because her original owners had not set firm boundaries and the current one because she had little human socialisation for her first 14 months. I mention this because both are essential for a well mannered confident Giant. They also need plenty of mental stimulation as well as exercise and enjoy learning new things.

It's true that the guarding instinct is strong in the Giant, especially if they come from a working line, and that can sometimes be mistaken for aggression. The important thing is for the dog to have confidence that you are in control of whatever situation they are in, so that they don't need to be. Their loyalty to their human is very strong and if they feel you are threatened, they are likely to attack to protect you.

As to vocality, they will certainly let you know when someone comes to the house or when something excites them, but otherwise I haven't found them particularly prone to barking. You can certainly train a dog to be quiet on command. You first need to train them to "speak" on command and once they have learned that you can go on to teach them "quiet". A good trainer will help you with that.

As with any puppy, temperament is the most important quality and never more so than in the Giant. You seem to have taken plenty of time to think about the breed so if you decide to take the plunge, put the same effort into finding a good breeder and be prepared to wait for the right puppy.

Best of luck

Peter
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shipwreck1964
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Dog #1: Otto
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Re: Giant Schnauzer advice for first time owner

Post by shipwreck1964 »

Hi Jenny,

Nothing much to add to what Peter stated above. We have a 2 and 1/2 year old male Giant Schnauzer still intact. They do make great dogs but you do need to put in a lot of hard work to help them mature in to a well mannered Adult Dog. Though Otto is 2 and 1/5 he s still a bit puppy and will be not fully mature until he is around 3 and 1/2 to 4 year old. This is not a dog that you can ignore, they are super smart and full of energy and demand your attention. They need a lot of stimulation both physical and mental to keep them from getting bored.

The most important thing you can do with a Giant is to socialise him/her from a young age. What I mean by this is getting him used to not just other dogs but humans, other animals, noises, pushbikes, bins umbrellas etc anything that you can think of he/she may encounter. This is an ongoing process but so important when the dog is a puppy and taking its first steps in the world. Just take it slowly and try not cram every experience all in one day. It is no coincidence that a lot of dog are given up by owners during the adolescence stage which in Giants goes from around 6 months of age through to around the age of 2. Give or take a couple of months. This stage is very challenging, more so in a breed like a Giant Schnauzer. They are headstrong and will push you t the limit, testing the boundaries. But be patient and consistent with your training and socialising and you will end up with a stunning well mannered dog.

With regards to the barking. Otto is a good watch dog and will notify you when there is someone at the door. It is in their DNA. But aside from that he does not bark for no reason. He is friendly with other dogs, though occasionally he will posture/try to dominate another intact male. But this is just a natural instinct in male dogs per se. But being a Giant and being as confident as he is, he will try it on. You just have to be aware of the tell tale signs and step in and all will be good.

In short they are a beautiful dog, a lot of hard work but so worth it. We would not be without him and he is a loving addition to the family.

Good Luck in you decision.

Steve
RainyDayz
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Re: Giant Schnauzer advice for first time owner

Post by RainyDayz »

Hi Jenny,
all the above rings true especially the instinct to guard and protect which can present as hotile to some people's minds and they are BIG dogs in terms of sheer presence -handsome, muscular and definite -so mistaken hostility could be an issue. A bitch is an easier option than a male for sheer strength handling. You have to be able to hold when they decide they don't want to be held whatever you say and 35kg+ with a determined stubborn mind driving it is quite a weight ( I have two, one on each side when I walk, I could lift weights for UK).

My male does not guard; he lets the bitch do that and only rouses himself if he thinks there really really is someone at the door or if the gardener next door is pootling about (they both hate the gardener!). The male is the laziest dog I've ever met and I've had 6 giants and 4 other breeds over the years though this is my first bitch.

At the point of decision reason fails us somenone once said - a bishop I think- so if you love the breed then all you need to consider if if you love it enough to challenge your own behaviour and be up to the mark which may mean saying no to all sorts of things (like space on the bed, clean floors, money to spend on other thing, not being able to watch animal programmes on TV cos the dogs attack the telly, car that doesn't smell....)
Rainydayz
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Re: Giant Schnauzer advice for first time owner

Post by Oscar 12345 »

Hmm, saw this another forum. Perhaps things aren't quite as we have been led to believe!!

Good Afternoon

I would be very greatful if you could help me with advice on the Dalmatian.

I have never owned my own dog before and am in love with the Dalmatian, every time I see one in the park/town or at crufts I melt inside and light up. my auntie had owned tow so I was brought up around them and understand the breed as I also studied the breed for Five years reading hundreds of books meeting as many dal'S as I can. the thing is I was talking to a local Dalmatian owner and she said that Dalmatians are hyper, highly strung and neurotic and are the dog version of a psyco and have a few issues that a newbie would not be able to cope with like there potential to become aggressive and that if it goes wrong it can be dangerous with a Dalmatian. And that they need 4-5 hrs of exercise a day and there still mad after that?

What do you think do you agree. Are Dalmatians aggressive and neurotic? As iv not read this when researching the breed?

The Dalmatian owner recommended a Labrador Retriever because there more stable in temperament and that they are not as hyper as the Dalmatian but I just can't help how I feel when I see the Dalmatian , I plan on going to training class's and even getting a one to one dog behaviourist to help me with him\her being my first Dog so that I can prevent issues rather than fix.

I can provide 2hrs of physical exercise a day including off lead exercise and tons of mental exercise 4x a week and then the other 3x a week is unlimited exercise and a mixture of long ( and I mean very long ) walks in the country or bike rides where the dog runs alongside my bike, I also enjoy runs so would take my dog with me twice a week on a 45min run. I'd also like to do agility which I think a Dalmatian would like. Basically I'm a very active person:smile:. I won't be doing long country walks and bike rides in the same day it will either be a long country walk where we will be out all day and then another day will be a run and bike ride in the same day. But as I say this is for 3 days a week and the other 4 days would be 2hrs physical exercise and lots of mental exercise. Would a Dalmatian be happy with this?

Many thanks
Jenny
Man cannot survive with wine alone...
we also need a schnauzer.
Fergus
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Re: Giant Schnauzer advice for first time owner

Post by Fergus »

Yes, her email address is visible but not real.
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CutePup
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Re: Giant Schnauzer advice for first time owner

Post by CutePup »

Could be she’s looking into different breeds and trying to get advice on her favs to choose what to get and just didn’t want to write out the same backstory over and over and just copy and pasted and only changed the parts that were her specific questions she has for the different breeds. But still wanted to show her background and study into the breeds. Js it’s a weird thing to be a hoax over cuz what would they gain other then people taking time to give educated answers ?
Jenny10
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Re: Giant Schnauzer advice for first time owner

Post by Jenny10 »

First of all my email address is real, secondly the Dalmatian post is my sister's were both in the same boat trying to pick which breeds are for us , she has narrowed it down to three breeds were I'm only interested in one breed the Giant schnauzer. As her situation is similar to mine I let her copy my post from here.

To those who have given advice thank you very much and I will be going to crufts this year with my sister.
SZimmer
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Re: Giant Schnauzer advice for first time owner

Post by SZimmer »

Hello guys!
I found this forum few dsys ago and decided to join to know more about the Giants.
Few time ago I was focused to buy a Doberman (I have a pug male and a Yorkshire female) so when my handler's son arrived from US (he was there in a season like junior handler while my handler stayed working here in Brazil) and say me: you must have to know the Giant Schnauzer. He lived there with a handler that shows Giants and say about they are amazing. Like I have a daughter with 9 years old and planning a new kid soon, he knows I'm worried about my others dogs and kids safety comes first. What got my attention more than a Giant beauty was when he said that Giants are not temperamental as Dobermans.

Friends, what do you can tell me more about this amazing breed? I'm reading a lot about the breed but my biggest concern is if i will be able to leave the giant living alone with my other dogs or if there will always be supervision? My dogs live inside the house and are like a son for us ... the pug is super calm, the yorkie is more agitated and troublemaker.
In this case, what would be better: a giant male or female?
Thank you for your attention and I will wait for your opinions

Regards
Sam
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Re: Giant Schnauzer advice for first time owner

Post by zeta1454 »

Hi Sam and welcome to the Forum :)

Do have a browse through the topics in this Giant Schnauzer section as you may find some useful tips to help you decide. There are not many Giant Schnauzer owners on the Forum compared to miniature schnauzer families but hopefully someone with experience may be able to help with your question.

As I understand it, Giant Schnauzers can be very hard work especially compared to a pug and a Yorkie and obviously they are very much bigger and stronger. As with all dogs, the better quality breeder you find for your puppy - that is someone who raises their pups well with socialising and enrichment, the less likely you are to have problems of any kind whether with a male or female GS. You will need to put in a lot a training and socialisation yourself and, if you are planning a new human addition to the family, it is probably not the right time to be thinking about adding a puppy.

Try to find some really good breeders of Giant Schnauzers where you can visit and get a good idea of how they raise their dogs and what advice they can offer you. Many breeders are happy to discuss their breeding and how they raise their pups as well as giving advice on the demands and temperament of the Giant Schnauzer from extensive knowledge. The more you find out now, the better you will be prepared when the time is right to add a dog of whatever breed to your family.

Giant Schnauzers are a beautiful breed but they are not for everyone and you do not want to rush into getting one if you have a new baby on the way :)
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. ~Roger Caras

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Riesen16
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Re: Giant Schnauzer advice for first time owner

Post by Riesen16 »

Enya, Giant Schnauzer Pepper Salt is our dog for the retirement!! I fell in love with her little face as a puppy on Workingdog.eu. We have had numerous dogs and have competed in trials with them: Landseer, Berger de Brie, Fila Brasileiro, 2x German Shepherds, and now Enya. Giant Schnauzers are very often "rough and tumble" dogs. They are no more difficult to train than other dogs. With any dog it is important to ensure from day one, that you are the boss and the puppy understands this.

It is rather difficult to explain in writing, but we once had a teacher at school who entered the classroom, greeted us and commenced with the lesson. She had a natural way of taking charge and we obeyed her from the word go.

Puppies need a firm hand FROM THE WORD GO but once you have established a relationship where you lay down the rules and the puppy obeys, you are on the road to success.
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Riesen16
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Re: Giant Schnauzer advice for first time owner

Post by Riesen16 »

Enya, Giant Schnauzer Pepper Salt is our dog for the retirement!! I fell in love with her little face as a puppy on Workingdog.eu. We have had numerous dogs and have competed in trials with them: Landseer, Berger de Brie, Fila Brasileiro, 2x German Shepherds, and now Enya. Giant Schnauzers are very often "rough and tumble" dogs. They are no more difficult to train than other dogs. With any dog it is important to ensure from day one, that you are the boss and the puppy understands this.

It is rather difficult to explain in writing, but we once had a teacher at school who entered the classroom, greeted us and commenced with the lesson. She had a natural way of taking charge and we obeyed her from the word go.

Puppies need a firm hand FROM THE WORD GO but once you have established a relationship where you lay down the rules and the puppy obeys, you are on the road to success.
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Jacksons_Pet
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Re: Giant Schnauzer advice for first time owner

Post by Jacksons_Pet »

Hi Sam,

It's a long while since I've been on here as we lost our GS 6 years ago, and somehow advice feels less relevant without a giant around to validate it. However in the absence of any of the regulars, I will say this: A giant schnauzer needs to be your sole focus for a year or more if you're adding them to your household. They are not an animal to be taken lightly, and demand fairness from their owner. I'm now a scent hound owner, but will go back to giants one day. Read through the threads on here. Every post will be true for each individual's experience of the breed, look at these as a whole to get an idea of what a giant might mean for your family. At the moment I'd be in agreement with Zeta, if you're thinking a new baby might be joining your family--now is not the time to be thinking of adding a giant schnauzer. They are BIG dogs, and aren't a great combination with small humans - as much because of their size as anything else. Revisit the idea in a few years, but for now I'd try to meet some for yourself and talk to people who live with them. They may be perfect for you, but most people would find they're not the dog they want.
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