Giant Schnauzer vs Standard Schnauzer

A Giant Schnauzer
Photo: Original uploader was Der Schnauzer at fr.wikipedia
A Standard Schnauzer
Photo: Standardschnauzer1

Side by side

Giant Schnauzer
Standard Schnauzer
Adult weight
35–47 kg (77–104 lb)1
14–20 kg (31–44 lb)2
Lifespan
Median 12.1 years3
Median 13 years3
Fully grown
13 months, both sexes4
11 months, both sexes4
Group
Pinschers & molossoids1
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
A moderate amount
Health
Toe melanoma (far more likely); Skin melanoma (much more likely)5
No sourced figure
Class
Watchdog
Watchdog

Which suits you

Size
The Giant Schnauzer is much larger: about 41 kg (90 lb) as an adult, against 17 kg (37 lb) for the Standard Schnauzer.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Giant Schnauzer: likes its own space; Standard Schnauzer: affectionate on its own terms).
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

Giant Schnauzer
Pinschers & molossoids · Large

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

Standard Schnauzer
Pinschers & molossoids · Medium

The breed is alert, intelligent and energetic, with a strong instinct to guard home and family. It tends to be reserved with strangers but devoted to its own people.

The Giant Schnauzer page →The Standard Schnauzer page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Giant Schnauzer
Standard Schnauzer
Activity
Needs lots of exercise
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Needs daily brain work
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Needs an experienced owner
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Giant Schnauzer
Standard Schnauzer
Affection
Differs
Likes its own space
Affectionate on its own terms
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
Giant Schnauzer
Standard Schnauzer
Sensitivity
Average
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 behaviour6. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home7,8.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Giant Schnauzer grows to the heavier adult, about 41 kg against the Standard Schnauzer's 17 kg.
Giant Schnauzer
Standard Schnauzer
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More comparisons

Compare the Giant Schnauzer with
Miniature Schnauzer vs Standard SchnauzerSoft Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Standard SchnauzerBlack Russian Terrier vs Giant SchnauzerAiredale Terrier vs Standard SchnauzerKerry Blue Terrier vs Standard SchnauzerBouvier des Flandres vs Giant SchnauzerAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·