Bouvier des Flandres vs Giant Schnauzer

A Bouvier des Flandres
Photo: Svenska Mässan from Sweden
A Giant Schnauzer
Photo: Original uploader was Der Schnauzer at fr.wikipedia

Side by side

Bouvier des Flandres
Giant Schnauzer
Adult weight
Males 35–40 kg (77–88 lb); females 27–35 kg (60–77 lb)1
35–47 kg (77–104 lb)2
Lifespan
Median 11.3 years3
Median 12.1 years3
Fully grown
12 months, both sexes4
13 months, both sexes4
Group
Sheepdogs & cattledogs1
Pinschers & molossoids2
Coat
Wire or harsh coat1
Wire or harsh coat2
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
Plenty
A moderate amount
Health
Lymph node cancer (more likely)5
Toe melanoma (far more likely); Skin melanoma (much more likely)6
Class
Watchdog
Watchdog

Which suits you

Size
The Giant Schnauzer is a little larger on average: about 41 kg (90 lb) as an adult, against 34 kg (76 lb) for the Bouvier des Flandres.
Exercise
Plan for plenty of exercise with the Bouvier des Flandres, and a moderate amount with the Giant Schnauzer.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Bouvier des Flandres: affectionate on its own terms; Giant Schnauzer: likes its own space) and on intelligence (Bouvier des Flandres: learns readily, likes games; Giant Schnauzer: needs daily brain work).
Alike
Both are rated the same on loyalty: sticks close to its people.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Bouvier des Flandres
Sheepdogs & cattledogs · Large

Bouviers are calm, steady and watchful, with a strong protective streak and a reserved manner towards strangers.

Giant Schnauzer
Pinschers & molossoids · Large

In temperament the Giant Schnauzer is bold, alert and strongly territorial, reserved with strangers and devoted to its household.

The Bouvier des Flandres page →The Giant Schnauzer page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Bouvier des Flandres
Giant Schnauzer
Activity
Differs
A good daily walk and play
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Differs
Learns readily, likes games
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Needs an experienced owner
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Bouvier des Flandres
Giant Schnauzer
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
Likes its own space
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Bouvier des Flandres
Giant Schnauzer
Sensitivity
Differs
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Average
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Chases; needs managing
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour7. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home8,9.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Giant Schnauzer grows to the heavier adult, about 41 kg against the Bouvier des Flandres's 34 kg.
Bouvier des Flandres
Giant Schnauzer
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More comparisons

Compare the Bouvier des Flandres with
Black Russian Terrier vs Giant SchnauzerGiant Schnauzer vs Standard SchnauzerAiredale Terrier vs Giant SchnauzerBouvier des Flandres vs BriardBlack Russian Terrier vs Bouvier des FlandresBouvier des Flandres vs German ShepherdAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·