First ask yourself these questions:
These are some of the things to consider before purchasing a puppy. I am hoping that my
experience with this whole process into the great world of Giant Schnauzer will help others who
have the same questions and do not know where to start.
Future Champion or Couch Potato? First you must decide what role do you expect the dog to play in your relationship. Is your new puppy destined to be a champion like his ancestors or someone to cuddle with on the sofa or a jogging companion? Show and breeding quality Giants will cost more initially and usually have conditions attached to their placement. Breeders work hard trying to create through breeding dogs that exemplify the standard and want those who they deem show-quality to be shown and bred properly as to not hurt the breed itself. So you will not only have the cost of purchasing a show Giant but the upcoming show expenses to think about also. Whether you get you pup from a responsible breeder or the guy down the street, they start at $500 for pets and go up for show/breeding prospects. Show breeders take the same care for their pet quality pups as they do for their future champions, so TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT!! Remember, doing your homework not only on the breed but the BREEDER can possibly save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in the long run.
First start with the American Kennel Club. They have listings for national breed clubs who can help point the way to someone in your locality. Also look in dog magazines, and check out internet sites. Remember, just because someone has a website, that does not mean they know what they are doing with the dogs! RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!! Remember the points mentioned above and do not be afraid to ask questions of the breeder!! Reputable breeders will not mind at all and it will make you look better! Backyard breeders will resent your questions and will not have answers for you either.
A Giant Schnauzer is a working breed and needs space to run and play. A fenced in yard is the best way I found to keep your puppy safe and away from harm. Also, since they are a working breed, they can have what is known as "harder" temperaments. This means that unlike a toy Poodle, your Giant will throughout his or her life test you. He or she will always be looking to take over if he feels you are not living up to your role as "Pack Leader"!! So this is not a do-it-once-and-we're-done sort of dog--training is a life-long thing and a great way to continually cement your relationship with your dog. Exercise Hopefully you have a fenced yard as this is a BIG PLUS when getting any larger breed of dog.
Since puppies are still babies, you do not need to "exercise" him. Forced exercise such as long
walks are bad for their bones which are not yet calcified and able to take the strain. Puppies get
all the exercise they need by running around and playing. If you work and your puppy is confined
most of the day, remember that all his normal puppy exuberance has been bottled up waiting for
you to come home to release him....He will be a wild man for a bit before settling down again. All
this is normal.
Gender is a matter of personal preference. Most people assume that females will make a better pet because they are generally smaller and are thought to be calmer. In my (this is Kim talking here)experience, males are much more calm and loving and you don't have to deal with the periodic "heats" or seasons. It is also less costly to neuter a male than it is to spay a female.
Now puppy or juvenile/adult? There are Giant Schnauzer rescue dogs that need homes too. This
is a great way to get a dog without having to deal with the potty-training or the chewing stages.
Sometimes they are even already obedience trained or more!
br wp="br1"> You may want to consider this option. Xena started out in a crate, but she quickly out-grew it and we have not used one since. I am a daycare provider and am home all day so we really didn't feel that one was needed. It is a thing to consider before getting your puppy if you are gone at work. This may be a good thing to get because just like a baby everything goes into their mouths!! They are just like infants when they start teething, they need things to chew on and if they are left alone everything will become a pacifier. It may be your favorite pillow, couch, chair or any thing they can get their little mouth on. Kid toys are the best, those Barbie legs are a favorite. This would be a good reason to crate your puppy while you are gone (and get the kids to keep their toys picked up). When thinking about getting a doggie bed, make sure it is big enough for the puppy when it gets to be adult size or you may end up buying another. Food & Water dishes With food dishes you should make sure they are heavy enough that the dog cannot tip them over and a good tip is to get only stainless steel. Not only are they easier to clean, non-breakable, but they are much more sanitary all the way around. You will never go wrong with stainless steel. Also get ones that are big enough...I would recommend the 2 quart size. It may look awfully big when your Giant is a pup, but they grow fast! Collars Collars are a personal preference item. I like the adjustable ones myself. That way when your Giant hits a growth spurt, you can let some out on the adjustable collars instead of buying another one! My sister with Boxers has had to buy 2 collars in a weeks time for her pups because they had a growth spurt--she bought adjustables the next time! Leashes Most training centers use a leather leash or a Flexi-lead leash for training, but you can use
whatever works best for you.
Giants are a wire-haired breed and therefore do require some regular grooming(either stripping or clipping) to keep them looking and feeling their best. You can learn to do this yourself or take your Giant to the groomers periodically. If you choose to do it yourself, you can ask the groomer to show you how (for a fee of course). I am working on a grooming page to help out those who want to know what equipment to get and how to go about doing it yourself. One last note on grooming, remember it is just hair and it DOES grow back!!
I have found that the Giant Schnauzer is a very loving and loyal dog. I have a lot of younger children in my home so I have taken the time to show the children how to pet the dog properly and respect the dog and in turn the dog is expected to do the same. The Schnauzer is quite the watch dog when it comes to the kids. When they are outside, she is always aware of them and others around. In all I think a Giant Schnauzer is a great dog around kids as long as everyone knows the rules.
With getting along with other animals you may have a struggle. But as long as you have socialize the other pet in the home, they will get along fine- unlike my Pomeranian. She is not a social dog and stays out of Xena's way!! I learned a good lesson, socializing your puppy even if he or she is the only pet is a critical thing to do !! Dog Food Good nutrition is important for the health and longevity of your Giant Schnauzer whether you
plan to show him or not. There are many of varieties of dry and canned foods available The
nutritional value of these food vary so compare the manufacturer's labels. It is best to ask the
breeder what they use or their opinion on the dog foods available and keep your new puppy on his
or her regular diet for a week or so before even considering changing it. With all the upsets of
leaving the familiar home with his momma and littermates, the last thing you and he want to deal
with is an upset tummy!
Feeding Your Puppy Puppies like little babies eat more than once a day. I like to spread my feedings out into three equal parts, with water available at all time. Your breeder should give you some guidelines on your puppy's feeding schedule and amounts...and check the puppy food bag too. My Boxer breeding sister's rule of thumb is to fill the puppy up. Give it a cup or two of food and when he leaves it, pick it up. Just decrease the next meal by the approximate amount that he left in his dish at the previous meal time. You cannot over feed a puppy regular dog food like you can an adult.
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