Texas Giant Schnauzers

Texas Giant Schnauzers

Passionate Giant Schnauzer Breeder in Burkett

About the Breed

Giant schnauzers are an impressive, large and powerful dog that is virtually non-shedding and, if bathed regularly, does not have a 'doggy odor' thus making them an ideal dog for allergy sufferers.


Giant schnauzers are intelligent, versatile working dogs, reliable, brave, loyal, bold, vigorous and deeply loyal to their owner. They are easy to train, responding best to firm, calm consistency with a positive attitude and rewarding good behavior. Giant schnauzers make excellent family pets if they are well-trained and given regular exercise by a strict owner. They can be reserved with strangers, often to the point of being aloof. They can make good guard dogs and are known to be extremely trustworthy and loyal family dog. 



Traditionally, a giant schnauzer's coat is hand stripped, which involves pulling the old, dead coat out by hand or with a stripping knife. All show dogs are hand-shaved in order to maintain the coarse coat typical of the breed. Pet giant schnauzers need to be brushed a couple of times a week and the beard needs attention to avoid matting. A pet giant schnauzer will greatly benefit from a trip to the groomers a few times a year for a good schnauzer clip. Clipping softens the coat and, hence, shows that dogs are not clipped. I clip my dogs at home but if I have a dog that I am wanting to show, I will strip out the coat instead. Learning to clip a giant schnauzer is not particularly difficult; it is just a little time consuming. It is best to accustom your puppy to clippers at an early age and clipping should be a breeze.

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There are two distinct types of coat, from the European or German hard (coarse) coat, which is the correct type of coat for the show ring, to the profuse soft coat, typically referred to as the American coat and with every variation in between. While many pet owners prefer the profuse soft coat, which can look quite glamorous, the soft coat will attract every burr and grass seed around. A soft coat requires much more grooming than a harsh coat. A hard or coarse coat is much easier to care for; it doesn't attract dirt and burrs like a soft coat and the dirt and burrs brush out of a harsh coat with ease. A hard coat is almost a self-cleaning coat; the dirt just seems to drop out of a wet coat, as opposed to a soft and fluffy coat. The hard coat has sparse leg furnishings and a much harsher texture to the feel. The soft coat is soft, fluffy and has profuse hair on the legs.

 

I personally prefer the medium-to-hard coat. The ideal giant schnauzer coat has a good, harsh texture on the body and softer leg furnishings. The softer leg furnishings allow me to sculpt the legs by scissoring, which gives the show ring a nice look.

 

Even a coarse-coated giant schnauzer's coat will become softer if the dog is clipped but a soft coat will not become coarser even if the dog is never clipped and always hand stripped. You may have some coarser hair growing along the back but generally, a soft coat will always be a soft coat.

 

The AKC recognizes two colored giant schnauzer. The most common color is black. And gaining some popularity is the pepper and salt. See the Breed Standard Page for information on the correct color and markings for the show ring.

 

Black and silver is not an accepted color by AKC; hence, you cannot show a black and silver giant schnauzer; however, it is a relatively rare color and can be very striking.



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AKC Breed Standards

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  • General Description

    The Giant Schnauzer should resemble, as nearly as possible, in general appearance, a larger and more powerful version of the Standard Schnauzer and, on the whole, a bold and valiant figure of a dog. Robust, strongly built, nearly square in proportion of body length to height at withers, active, sturdy, and well muscled. Temperament, which combines spirit and alertness with intelligence and reliability, He is composed, watchful, courageous, easily trained, deeply loyal to family, playful, amiable in repose, and a commanding figure when aroused. The sound, reliable temperament, rugged build, and dense, weather-resistant wiry coat make for one of the most useful, powerful, and enduring working breeds.

  • Head

    Strong, rectangular in appearance, and elongated, narrowing slightly from the ears to the eyes and again from the eyes to the tip of the nose. The total length of the head is about one-half the length of the back (within the set-on of the tail). The head matches the sex and substance of the dog. The top line of the muzzle is parallel to the top line of the skull; there is a slight stop, which is accentuated by the eyebrows. Skull (Occiput to Stop) Moderately broad between the ears; the occiput is not too prominent. Top of skull flat; skin unwrinkled. Cheeks: flat, but with well-developed chewing muscles; there is no "cheekiness" to disturb the rectangular head appearance (with beard). Muzzle: strong and well filled under the eyes, both parallel and equal in length to the topskull, ending in a moderately blunt wedge. The nose is large, black, and full. The lips are tight, not overlapping, and black in color. Bite: a full complement of sound white teeth (6/6 incisors, 2/2 canines, 8/8 premolars, and 4/6 molars) with a scissors bite. The upper and lower jaws are powerful and well formed. Disqualifying Faults: overshot or undershot. Ears: When cropped, they are identical in shape and length with pointed tips. They are in balance with the head and are not exaggerated in length. They are set high on the skull and carried perpendicularly at the inner edges, with as little bell as possible along the other edges. When uncropped, the ears are V-shaped button ears of medium length and thickness, set high and carried rather high and close to the head. Eyes: medium size, dark brown, and deep-set. They are oval in appearance and keen in expression, with lids fitting tightly. Vision is not impaired nor are eyes hidden by too long eyebrows. Neck: strong and well arched, of moderate length, blending cleanly into the shoulders, and with the skin fitting tightly at the throat, in harmony with the dog's weight and build.

  • Body

    Compact, substantial, short-coupled, and strong, with great power and agility. The height at the highest point of the withers equals the body length from the breastbone to the point of the rump. The loin section is well-developed and as short as possible for a compact build.

  • Forequarters

    The forequarters have flat, somewhat sloping shoulders and high withers. Forelegs are straight and vertical when viewed from all sides, with strong pasterns and good bone. They are separated by a fairly deep brisket, which precludes a pinched front. The elbows are set close to the body and point directly backward. Chest: medium in width, ribs well sprung but with no tendency toward a barrel chest; oval in cross-section; deep through the brisket. The breastbone is plainly discernible, with a strong forechest; the brisket descends at least to the elbows and ascends gradually toward the rear with the belly moderately drawn up. The ribs spread gradually from the first rib so as to allow space for the elbows to move close to the body. Shoulders: The sloping shoulder blades (scapulae) are strongly muscled yet flat. They are well laid back so that, from the side, the rounded upper ends are in a nearly vertical line above the elbows. They slope well forward to the point where they join the upper arm (humerus), forming, as nearly as possible, a right angle. Such an angulation permits the maximum forward extension of the forelegs without binding or effort. Both shoulder blades and upper arm are long, permitting depth of chest at the brisket.

  • Back

    Short, straight, strong, and firm.

  • Tail

    The tail is set moderately high and carried high in excitement. It should be docked to the second or not more than the third joint (approximately one and one-half to about three inches long at maturity).

  • Hindquarters

    The hindquarters are strongly muscled, in balance with the forequarters; the upper thighs are slanting and well bent at the stifles, with the second thighs (tibiae) approximately parallel to an extension of the upper neckline. The legs from the hock joint to the feet are short, perpendicular to the ground while the dog is standing naturally, and from the rear parallel to each other. The hindquarters do not appear overbuilt or higher than the shoulders. Crops are full and slightly rounded. Feet: well-arched, compact, and catlike, turning neither in nor out, with thick, tough pads and dark nails. Dewclaws, if any, on hind legs should be removed; on the forelegs, they may be removed.

  • Gait

    The trot is the gait at which movement is judged. Free, balanced and vigorous, with good reach in the forequarters and good driving power in the hindquarters. The rear and front legs are thrown neither in nor out. When moving at a fast trot, a properly built dog will single-track. The back remains strong, firm, and flat.

  • Coat

    Hard, wiry, and very dense; composed of a soft undercoat and a harsh outer coat that, when seen against the grain, stands slightly up off the back, lying neither smooth nor flat. Coarse hair on top of the head; a harsh beard and eyebrows—the Schnauzer hallmark.

  • Color

    Solid black or pepper and salt. Black—a truly pure black. A small white spot on the breast is permitted; any other markings are disqualifying faults. Pepper and salt—outer coat of a combination of banded hairs (white with black and black with white) and some black and white hairs, appearing gray from a short distance. Ideally, it should have an intensely pigmented medium gray shade with "peppering" evenly distributed throughout the coat and a gray undercoat. Acceptable: all shades of pepper and salt, from dark iron-gray to silver-gray. Every shade of coat has a dark facial mask to emphasize the expression; the color of the mask harmonizes with the shade of the body coat. Eyebrows, whiskers, cheeks, throat, chest, legs, and undertail are lighter in color but include "peppering." Markings are disqualifying faults.

  • Height

    The height at the withers of the male is 25½ to 27½ inches, and of the female, 23½ to 25½ inches, with the mediums being desired. Size alone should never take precedence over type, balance, soundness, and temperament. It should be noted that too small dogs generally lack the power and too large dogs lack the agility and maneuverability desired in a working dog.

  • Faults

    The foregoing description is that of the ideal Giant Schnauzer. Any deviation from the above-described dog must be penalized to the extent of the deviation.


    The judge shall dismiss from the ring any shy or vicious Giant Schnauzer.


    • Shyness: A dog shall be judged fundamentally shy if, refusing to stand for examination, it repeatedly shrinks away from the judge; if it fears unduly any approach from the rear; if it shies to a marked degree at sudden and unusual noises.
    • Viciousness: A dog that attacks or attempts to attack either the judge or its handler is definitely vicious. An aggressive or belligerent attitude towards other dogs shall not be deemed vicious.

    Disqualifications

    • Overshot or undershot.
    • Markings other than specified.

Giant Schnauzer Puppies

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