Giant Schnauzer Care

The Giant Schnauzer, as the largest of the three Schnauzer types, is not actually a "giant" dog. This breed's intelligence and its activity level, though, are both tremendous. Still, aside from its frequent exercise requirements, Giant Schnauzer care isn't terribly time-consuming. Below you'll find plenty of details on maintaining a Giant Schnauzer: puppy care and development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more. For answers to all your questions about owning a Giant Schnauzer, read on!

Giant Schnauzers are intelligent, athletic, and active, and will thus need a great deal of exercise each day. These dogs are also independent thinkers, so they'll do best with activities that stimulate them mentally as well as physically. A couple of long walks, plus an extended period of play, will be great for these dogs on a daily basis.

But specifically how much exercise does a Giant Schnauzer need each day? In short, quite a lot. The typical adult Giant Schnauzer, depending on its age and overall activity level, will do well with at least 90 minutes of proper physical activity every day. You can begin exercising your Giant Schnauzer puppy at three months of age by taking it on short (5- to 10-minute) walks,then increasing the walks' length and frequency as the puppy grows.

Some things to keep in mind when exercising your Giant Schnauzer: first, puppies younger than nine months old shouldn't participate in activities that include a lot of jumping, running, and navigating of stairs, as doing so can injure their still-developing joints and bones. And regardless of age, a Giant Schnauzer will need to be leashed in public. These dogs can be defensive and aggressive with strange people and animals, so they'll need to be carefully controlled when you're out and about. Even when you're exercising in your own yard, the area will need to be well-secured with a high fence; Giant Schnauzers have strong prey drives and high tendencies to wander, so a fence will keep them from chasing after interesting-looking critters or just wandering off in general.

Precautions aside, it's vital that you give your Giant Schnauzer some exercise every single day. These dogs are active and quite task-oriented, so a bored or restless dog of this breed will become disobedient and will likely create its own "task"--namely, tearing everything in the house to shreds. Consistent exercise, then, is good for the dog's peace of mind--and your own as well. Here are a few exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 30-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch: A Giant Schnauzer will chase a ball or stick for hours
• Tug-of-War: Great indoor, rainy-day activity; use a rope or old towel
• Canine Sports: Giant Schnauzers excel in a variety of competitions including obedience, carting, and agility trials
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity; bonus if you can choose a remote area where the dog can be off-leash

When indoors, it's a good idea to give your Giant Schnauzer access to one or more balls or chew-toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also recommended that you establish a consistent exercise schedule for your Giant Schnauzer, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

The amount of care needed for these dogs in terms of shedding and drooling is low to moderate overall. Giant Schnauzer shedding, while not profuse, happens more than many people may think; drooling is basically a non-issue.

Giant Schnauzers have wiry double coats with a soft, dense undercoat that does shed a bit year-round. Unlike the Miniature or Standard Schnauzer, both of which are basically considered hypoallergenic, the Giant does shed a little from its undercoat simply by virtue of its large size. Owners say weekly brushing with a slicker brush, and clipping or hand-stripping the coat every few months, will minimize the shedding--but owners will still need to vacuum the floors and use lint rollers on clothes and furniture once in a while.

And a Giant Schnauzer may drool a bit in anticipation of food, but little otherwise. If your Giant Schnauzer is drooling excessively, it may be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care might be needed.

As a large, active breed, a Giant Schnauzer's diet is the primary key to keeping a dog of this breed happy, healthy, and long-living. Giant Schnauzer food will need to have plenty of animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy, vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health, and omega fatty acids for coat and skin wellness. The most popular and sensible food choice for these dogs is premium dry food, because it contains balanced amounts of the above-listed ingredients; Royal Canin Maxi and Fromm Large Breed Adult Gold are two recommended brands. These high-quality foods, while more expensive and difficult to obtain, provide the balanced nutrition your Giant Schnauzer will need in the long term. Cheap, generic foods are not recommended for these dogs, because they contain mostly empty, "filler" ingredients that simply won't sustain your dog--and may even shorten its lifespan.

And just how much food will your Giant Schnauzer need each day? The typical adult Giant Schnauzer, depending on its age, size, and activity level, will need about four cups of premium dry food per day, divided into two meals. Puppies will need a bit less: again depending on its age, a Giant Schnauzer pup will need about 2½ cups per day, divided into three meals (not two) until six months old. For more info on feeding a Giant Schnauzer from puppyhood through maturity, see the following chart:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by first mixing in just a little adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week, with each meal add a bit more adult food to the mixture, until the dog is eating it entirely.

If possible, try and stick to the above-listed portions; while your Giant Schnauzer could probably eat a lot more, constantly overfeeding these dogs can result in obesity--and a fat Giant Schnauzer will have joint, breathing, and digestive issues, not to mention a shorter lifespan. You can control your dog's weight in several ways: by establishing consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in its bowl all the time, thereby allowing the dog to eat anytime it wants. It's better to put your Giant Schnauzer's bowl down only at mealtimes, then pick it up 20 minutes or so after the dog begins eating.

If you're worried your Giant Schnauzer is overweight, give the dog this simple test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time. And just as with humans, the "eat less, move more" principle applies to canine weight loss. Reduce your Giant Schnauzer's daily food consumption by one-fourth, and add an extra walk or play period to its daily exercise schedule.

This breed can adapt to a wide range of temperatures. They should not, however, be exposed to hot or extremely cold temperatures for long. Moderate to cold should be within their range of tolerance. Their dense, wiry double coat should protect them at this temperature range and during harsh weather.