Giant Schnauzer vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed Comparison

Giant Schnauzer vs German Wirehaired Pointer - Breed ComparisonBoth German Wirehaired Pointer and Giant Schnauzer are originated from Germany. Both German Wirehaired Pointer and Giant Schnauzer are having almost same height. German Wirehaired Pointer may weigh 16 kg / 35 pounds lesser than Giant Schnauzer. Both German Wirehaired Pointer and Giant Schnauzer has almost same life span. Both German Wirehaired Pointer and Giant Schnauzer has almost same litter size. Both German Wirehaired Pointer and Giant Schnauzer requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Working dog
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Germany
Germany
Height Male:
60 - 68 cm
23 - 27 inches
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
Height Female:
57 - 68 cm
22 - 27 inches
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
Weight Male:
27 - 32 kg
59 - 71 pounds
25 - 48 kg
55 - 106 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
25 - 48 kg
55 - 106 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 13 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 10
5 - 8
Size:
Large
Large
Other Names:
Deutsch Drahthaar, Drahthaar
Riesenschnauzer
Colors Available:
black flecked , Liver and white
Black, salt and pepper grey color
Coat:
Straight, wiry, harsh
Medium length, wiry and hard
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

german wirehaired pointerMedium to large sized, the German Wirehaired Pointer is a griffon type dog breed hailing from Germany and developed for hunting purposes in the 19th century.

Known as the Drahthaar in Germany, the dog is a mix of griffon, Deutscher Stichelhaar, German Shorthaired Pointer, Deutscher Kurzhaar as well as the Pudelpointer.

He was imported into the United States in the 1920s, and it was in 1953 that the German Drahthaar Club of America was formed.

giant schnauzerAs a working dog breed, the Giant Schnauzer, known also as the Riesenschnauzer, hails from Germany.

It is believed that the first Giant Schnauzers emerged in Bavaria in the 17th century already. It is the largest of the 3 Schnauzer dogs – Miniature, Standard and Giant. There are quite a few breeds which have been used in its development – Bouvier des Flandres, Great Dane and the German Pinscher among other.

The dog was bred to work on farms and also used as a military dog during the World Wars.

Description

german wirehaired pointer puppy - descriptionWell muscled, this is a medium to large sized dog standing at between 57 and 68cm in height and weighing between 27 and 32kg.

He has a weather resistant wiry coat which is of medium length and which is wiry and harsh. Coat color is liver and white as well as black flecked.The undercoat provides insulation against the cold.

He has quite a bit of facial hair in terms of eyebrows, beard and whiskers.He has webbed feet, typical of German Pointers. His tail is docked to about two-fifths of its natural length, but these days it is often left long.

Temperament:

Lively, playful, affectionate and intelligent, the German Wirehaired Pointer is easy to teach. He becomes wonderfully obedient with training and socialization and responds well to instructions to sit, come and stay.

He is an active dog and likes to be involved in the activities that his human family are involved in. He becomes bored and frustrated when he doesn’t get the exercise and attention he craves.

He isn’t suited to life in the city where the premises are small as he needs plenty of vigorous exercise every day. They do well in the country where they have plenty of place to run and where their hunting skills come into action.

giant schnauzer puppy - descriptionWith a thick, medium length double coat to protect him from the weather, the Giant Schnauzer’s coat is essentially wiry and hard and in solid black or in a greyish salt and pepper color.

The dogs have always traditionally had their ears and tails docked at the 2nd or 3rd joint to set them apart in looks, but these days both the ears and tail are left.

The tail is always held high. He has dark eyes. Like all Schnauzers, they have that distinct beard and eyebrows. The dog is large and well built and stands at 60 to 70cm in height and weighs anything between 25 and 48kg.

Temperament:

Intelligent, strong willed and energetic, the Giant Schnauzer is actually a quiet dog who doesn’t respond too well to strangers, being reserved around them.

He has a natural guarding and territorial instinct. When he is trained and socialized he makes a wonderful pet, responding well to a firm, consistent owner.

He loves his human family, and as a stable, reliable kind of dog, whether you’ve got children in the home, pets or elderly people, you can rely on your Giant Schnauzer to be a dependable, gentle pet at all the right times, being playful and energetic at other times.

Characteristics

german wirehaired pointer dog - characteristicsGerman Wirehaired Pointers make awesome pets as they’re lively, playful, social and loving. They particularly suit living in a home where the people are active, outdoor types.

They make superb jogging- or cycling companions and will thrive on sharing these activities with a family member. He is a dog who has a need to be loved and included in all that his family gets up to. He wants lots of pats and stroking to show him that you care.

Give him the love and care he craves and you’re guaranteed to have the most wonderful loving pet.

giant schnauzer dog - characteristicsThe Giant Schnauzer has many excellent characteristics which make it such a great pet. He is composed, alert, intelligent, loving and loyal to his human family.

He is also playful, being happiest when roped into everything going on in the family. He has a solid, balanced nature, is robust and hypoallergenic.

He is powerful and needs a good dose of exercise and will love to join you on your cycle- and hiking trips. Good with children and pets in the home, this is a dog breed that will make a splendid, reliable pet.

Health Problems

german wirehaired pointer puppies - health problemsGerman Wirehairs are generally healthy, and when you look after them well they can reach 12, 13 or 14 years of age. Also, if both German Wirehaired Pointer parents have certificates proving they were tested and cleared of hip dysplasia, hereditary eye diseases and blood-clotting disease, then your pet will have less risk of developing these conditions.

Your pet isn’t likely to get sick, but like all breeds of dogs, they're prone to certain diseases and conditions. Hip Dysplasia is something that can be noticed when your pet is still a puppy.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a heritable condition where the thigh bone doesn't fit properly into the hip joint. Your dog can battle with pain so that he no longer wants to play, he battles to get up after lying down and he may even begin to show signs of lameness. Arthritis can develop too.

Cataracts:

You’ll notice cloudiness on the eye lens that can grow over time. Not all cataracts impair vision, although there are some instances where vision loss is experienced. Cataracts can sometimes be surgically removed with good results.

giant schnauzer puppies - health problemsA healthy Schnauzer can reach 10 – 12 years of age, but even so, they are a dog breed prone to high rates of hip- and elbow dysplasia, hereditary eye disease and thyroid disease.

Blood-clotting diseases and epilepsy are also concerns with Giant Schnauzers as well as bloat. As with all deep-chested breeds, Giant Schnauzers are more at risk with this gastrointestinal syndrome known as bloat and which can be life threatening.

It is your right to ask the breeder about the medical history of your puppy’s parents.

Caring The Pet

german wirehaired pointer dogs - caringYour German Wirehaired Pointer isn’t a heavy shedder so brushing his coat twice a week will be ideal for him to rid the coat of loose hairs.

Diet:

Your German Wirehaired Pointer is an active dog and this has to be taken into account when looking at diet. He will require a diet with quality protein. You’ve also got to look at things such as whether your dog is neutered or spayed as they require less calories. On the other hand there are dogs that will require more calories because of their activity levels.

Make sure your German Wirehaired Pointer eats a top quality dog food. Add in some homemade food such as cooked brown rice, chicken and vegetables from time to time as well as some raw meat. You have to constantly remember that your dog’s health depends on the nutrition you provide.

giant schnauzer dogs - caringHe is a particularly low shedding dog and so brushing him twice a week will suffice. He loves the closeness with his human family during these grooming sessions.

If you don’t know how to groom yourself, the Giant Schnauzers coat will require hand-stripping or clipping. If you want to keep your dog with that typical Schnauzer look, a visit to a professional groomer will be required as they will also tidy the hair around each paw as well.

Now that the ears are no longer cropped, he has fairly short floppy ears and it will be necessary to ensure that dampness, ear wax and dirt don’t build up to cause ear infections.

The teeth must also be brushed 2 or 3 times a week otherwise plaque buildup can cause dental disease as well as lead to other more serious diseases such as kidney- and heart disease.

Diet:

If you’re a new dog owner, it can be hard to know which dog food to buy and which ingredients to look out for. Nutrition is of vital importance, and bad ingredients can make your dog sick and shorten his life.

A mix of the best commercially manufactured kibble mixed with home-made food full of the right balance of vitamins and minerals will be important as well as including some raw meat into the diet.

If in any kind of doubt about how to feed a large, energetic dog breed like this Giant Schnauzer, speak to your vet.

Exercise:

As a big, energetic dog, the Giant Schnauzer needs to live on a property where there is a garden. He will be requiring some hectic exercise every day.

Comparison with other breeds

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  8. Giant Schnauzer vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Giant Schnauzer vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Giant Schnauzer vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Giant Schnauzer vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
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  26. German Wirehaired Pointer vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  28. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. German Wirehaired Pointer vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. German Wirehaired Pointer vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. German Wirehaired Pointer vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. German Wirehaired Pointer vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison