The Giant Schnauzer: A Working War Dog
The Schnauzer, as one would expect from the name, is definitely of German origin. The German word “schnauzer” means “muzzle.” In Germany today there are three recognized Schnauzers, the Giant, the Standard and the Miniature. Among the characteristics that all three Schnauzers have in common is the distinctive appearance of the head, which has a beard and mustache and thick eyebrows of hair over the eyes. The body structure is quite boxy in appearance. The coat is “wire-haired” and wiry, a typical terrier coat type that sheds as it will not shed naturally. The colors salt and pepper or black are the most common. The purposes of the three dogs are quite different.
The paintings depict the standard Schnauzer as early as 1842. The standard is considered the “base stock” for both the miniature and the 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 time, such as the Great Dane and perhaps the Bouvier des Flandres, a herding dog. The giant schnauzer was intended to fill the role of both a herding dog and a draft dog. The breed served a useful purpose at the farmer’s market by guarding carts of produce in addition to pulling carts to market. Dogs were also used as guardians of livestock.
The height of the male is 25 to 27 inches and 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 job for which they were intended. The Giant Schnauzer must possess a certain amount of strength and power, often called “pulling” from the hindquarters to pull a cart, and therefore have good angulation to the rear, with strong front legs and straight lines and a “well relaxed” shoulder. , with almost a right angle at the shoulder, also a must for length of stride and powerful traction. The Giant Schnauzer is a large dog that is still used today as a general livestock guardian on many German farms, as well as being a well-loved family guardian and pet. The breed gained popularity after World War I.
The dog was used as a military dog during the war, where its strong working abilities were highly admired. During the war, the dog often served as a messenger dog, often braving enemy fire to travel to its destination with the orders of the day. He is still used in the world today in some places as a military dog, bomb sniffer, and search and rescue dog. The typical personality of this large dog is one of friendliness and a willingness to work for people. This is a breed that does not accept harsh punishment. A Giant Schnauzer will do anything for his master, with an extreme sense of loyalty and protection. Positive training will reap big rewards with a Giant Schnauzer.
