Riesenschnauzer – Giant Schnauzer

Few races have been more creative in the development of new breeds of dogs than the Germans. They have proved their wits in fixing type. An example of their prolific ventures is the Schnauzer family, as the breed is not only brought to physical conformation and devoted psychological development but has been bred in three different sizes. The Giant Schnauzer known as Riesenschnauzer. It is important to note that the Giant, Standard and Miniature are three distinct breeds of Schnauzers and are judged separately.

History:

The Riesenschnauzer, indigenous to Germany can trace his origin back to 1492, when portrayed in a painting by artist Durer, and is also depicted in “Nachtwachter-Brunnen”, the statue of a night watchman erected in Stuttgart, Wurttemburg- Germany, in 1620. These instances are significant as they indicate the antiquity of the type of dog perfected in that period and still retained today. In early days the word “pinscher” was used to explain terrier type dogs in Germany; these were black, tan or fawn. But later on there was a division of the term into rough and smooth-coated pinschers. It is thought that the grey Spitz and the old type of poodle was introduced and gave the salt-and-pepper colour which is a feature of today’ Schnauzer. Known as Wire Haired Pinschers, these dogs were to be found herding cattle, or making themselves generally functional as guards and ratters. They were never designed as terriers and do not have the terrier temperament.

All Schnauzers had their lineage in the neighbouring kingdoms of Wurttemburg and Bavaria. These are the agricultural territories where the raising of sheep, cattle and other livestock has been a major livelihood for years. Since railroads were not known, domestic animals had to be driven to the markets, which meant that dogs were indispensable in helping the shepherds.

The first attempts were to produce a drover’s dogs on terrier lines, with a wiry coat. There is also slight reason to believe that Rienschnauzer is closely related to the Bouvier des Flandres, which originated in the adjoining areas. For many years the Riesenschnauzer was called the Munchener, and Max von Stephanitz (the father of the breed German Shepherd Dog) places his origins in Swabia, south of Bavaria.

The breed was first exhibited in 1879, and a breed standard was drafted in the following year, but it was not until some years later that the German Pinscher Club was divided into the Pinscher and Schnauzer Clubs, the German word Schnauzer meaning muzzle or snout. At the Munich Dog Show in 1909 there was an entry of 30 black dogs cataloged as “Russian Bear Schnauzers”. Shortly after this the Munich Schnauzer Club was formed, and the breed was classified in Germany as working dogs.

Essentials of the Breed:

The Giant Schnauzer in general appearance and conformation resembles a larger and more powerful version of the Standard Schnauzer. A body nearly squared in proportion. The breed has the characteristic beard of the other Schnauzers. His coat is hard, wiry and dense. The colours are black, pepper and salt, and black and tan. The head is rectangular in shape. It differs from that of the Standard Schnauzer in that it is about one third the length of the back, whereas of the miniature dog is one-half the back length. The tail is docked at the third joint. The chest is deep, with a visible breastbone, and a depth to the elbow. The ears are erect if cropped, and form a “V” if un-cropped. The height is 60 to 70 cm for both sexes and the weight varies from 35 to 47 kg.

Character:

In Germany the Giant Schnauzer is recognized for his great intelligence and working ability and several can usually be found at obedience and working trials. These trials include scent discrimination and “man-work” which means tracking down a man and attacking on command which is part of the advanced training given to any guarding breed. He is a very easy dog to keep and has proven clean and tidy in his house breaking habits. The Giant Schnauzer has a very good life span and anyone interested in keeping them can look forward to a happy companionship with their dog for as long as even 17 years.

Tags: breeds of dogs, dog breed, dog breeds, Giant Schnauzer, Munchener, Riesenschnauzer, schnauzers, terrier type, Wurttemburg