jak

I have recently been really obsessed with Giant Schnauzers, they just seem so cool. I would really love to have one, one day. Does anyone have any personal experience with them?
I am sure, as with any dog, with the necessary training, they will be a great dog.
But what are they usually like?

BTW, here are some pics of ones I love

Sean

Giant Schnauzers are great dogs, bit more working guard dog then Poodles. They've never been really popular, so they're still mainly bred with guarding, police work, schutzhund, etc in mind, similar in temperament to Bouviers. sort of a militant Bouvier. Also look at Black Russian Terriers for a similar breed.

jak

Yes, I saw a litter that is in our tiny wee country, quite unusual for a rare breed like them
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living...-254132865.htm
I don't like them as much as the Giant Schnauzers, but I'm just going by looks, so I can't really know until I meet them.
I just don't like the whole hair over the face thing, but on Giant Schnauzers I do because it's just enough
I tend to like dogs that have similar physiques, like Standard Poodles, Dobermanns, Giant Schnauzers, the lean square look. But not so much squashed in faces, but some are okay, but I would never have one.

WonderPup

I really like them, only met one with behavior issues and that was very much due to his owners and him being understimulated at home. All the rest of the ones I've been around have been big happy dogs, strong, higher energy types. There is a breeder here in the area I know as well as another kennel club memeber who has one she's is showing and doing really well with. I've groomed several pets as well and have had them in training classes. I like them.

flyingduster

I've only ever handled a few, all of them I absolutly LOVE, even the nutty one that trys to take the clippers out of my hand all the time... lol. He's just SOOOO cool, that even though he's an idiot to groom a bit, I still love him. That's not common for me, usually if they're idiots I don't like 'em! lol. I only do one (lil) giant girl now, but she's still a fav.

I do really like them. I'm not *totally* sure I could own one, but they're certainly up there.

jak

That's what I thought (and hoped too), that they are lovely dogs, just the bad experience with them has been due to being untrained.
It really annoys me when people don't train their dogs, it is almost unfair to the dog sometimes.

Marian

It isn't almost unfair to the dog, it's completely unfair.

I think Giant Schnauzers are beautiful dogs, but I really love the Bouvier look more. Saw one at the vets office one time and was stunned. I also love the Briard.

flyingduster

Just was thinking about it last night, and I have to say the one BIG drawback for me is the almost constantly wet slobbery beard. Giant schnauzers pant a lot, they're known for it, and that's why their faces are actually *supposed* to be trimmed slightly different to the minis (you shave right to the corner of their mouth, not just the whisker) cos the giants are always panting and with the hair left out to the whisker like on minis gives them big chipmunk cheeks. lol! Hence it's shaved way in close on them... I've seen the exact same look on all the bouviers I've seen too.

They're gorgeous, but I dunno if I'd want to have that wet mush about all the time. lol!

Harley_chik

I don't have any personal experience w/ them but they were originally my first choice. The fact that they are big terriers and have a high prey drive turned me off. I ran across a GS rescue site that said "they will kill your cat" at the top of the home page. I have four cats, so of course that scared me. I think it's important to remember that they are a big terrier, they have prey drive, can be stubborn and might be dog aggressive. I haven't ruled them out for the future, but I don't know if I'm cut out for terrier ownership either. I also know you have to be very careful about who you buy from. I was told by the Poodle breeder I've talking w/ that there are a lot of them w/ temperment issues around here. She said she's had more than one snap at her at shows.

I really like the BRTs, they have a lot of GS qualities but have more working breeds (mainly Rottweilers) in their background which would be more compatable for me. I've seen a few at shows and one of the guys that was showing them explained to the spectators that they are bred to hunt "the biggest rats of all; humans." I thought that was funny and very true.

I wonder how bad the slobber really would be. I have a Maltese that doesn't make a mess at all and Rottweiler who leaves huge puddles in the kitchen every time he takes a drink. The hair doesn't seem to make as much difference as muzzle structure does. (Harley has droopy jowls)

KPoos

I think as with GSDs it takes a certain kind of owner to own one of these very large prey driven dogs. They want to work, need to work, and they need an owner that's got that constant air of authority about them so they don't test their position in the pack. I could never own one personally. I have too much anxiety and that can certainly be felt and manipulated by certain breeds of dogs.