Giant Schnauzer vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) - Breed Comparison

Giant Schnauzer vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) - Breed ComparisonBelgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) is originated from Belgium but Giant Schnauzer is originated from Germany. Both Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) and Giant Schnauzer are having almost same height. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) may weigh 18 kg / 39 pounds lesser than Giant Schnauzer. Both Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) and Giant Schnauzer has almost same life span. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) may have more litter size than Giant Schnauzer. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) requires Low Maintenance. But Giant Schnauzer requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Working dog
undefined
Belgium
Germany
Height Male:
60 - 66 cm
23 - 26 inches
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
Height Female:
56 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 30 kg
55 - 67 pounds
25 - 48 kg
55 - 106 pounds
Weight Female:
20 - 30 kg
44 - 67 pounds
25 - 48 kg
55 - 106 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 11
5 - 8
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Belgian Laekenois, Belgian Shepherd Dog
Riesenschnauzer
Colors Available:
Fawn, Black & Tan, Brownish red
Black, salt and pepper grey color
Coat:
Rough, medium length
Medium length, wiry and hard
Shedding:
Minimal, Seasonal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, 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:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

belgian shepherd dog laekenoisThe Laekenois, from a variety of 4 Belgian Shepherds, and one of the rarest, is a working- or herding breed of dog which originated in Belgium. It is believed to have been around since the Middle Ages. The intelligent dog was also used for sending messages during the 1st World War. In most countries, all 4 of the dogs are considered the same breed with different varieties in coat types, but there are some instances where they are recognized as separate breeds.

An interesting aspect of these dogs is that until the advent of dog shows in the 1900s, the 4 varieties were intermixed, and today purebred Laekenois can sometimes give birth to smooth-coated puppies which can be registered as Malinois.

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

Temperament

belgian shepherd dog laekenois puppy - descriptionThe Laekenois is a highly talented dog, highly energetic and extremely intelligent. He will make a superb family pet with owners who are firm and fair with him. The dog is bright, obedient, protective and somewhat territorial. He’ll guard what he believes is his as he is instinctively protective.

He will get on well with children in the home, and he can also be socialized to get on well with other pets in the home. Of course, the way an owner treats the dog, and any other dog for that matter, brings out different temperaments in a dog. To get the best from him he should be trained and socialized from an early age. He will need plenty of exercise if you don’t want him becoming destructive from sheer boredom.

Looks

The body is well proportioned, muscular and sturdy. He has an alert, intelligent face with erect ears, bright brown eyes and the nose black. The hair is dense on the long tail, but with no feathering like with the other breeds. The most common color is fawn with a reddish undertone. The chest is deep and the legs strong and straight. The Laekenois's medium length rough, wire coat can include colors from fawn to brownish and black in between.

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

belgian shepherd dog laekenois dog - characteristicsThe Belgian Laekenois is an energetic herding breed dog, and even though he will do well in an apartment if he is sufficiently exercised, big gardens and farms would be first choice for him. Wherever you offer him a home, make sure to exercise him regularly and give him plenty of attention, as he loves his human family.

He’ll make an exceptional watchdog and because he is so intelligent, he learns easily, responding readily to his owner’s instruction. He’ll protect his human family with his life. Social, lively, attractive and bright, anybody who has owned a Laekenois will vouch for his loyalty and devotion, making him a splendid 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

belgian shepherd dog laekenois puppies - health problemsThe lifespan of the Belgian Laekenois is between 10 and 14 years of age, and he is a pretty robust breed, not prone to getting sick easily. However, as with most other dog breeds, he is predisposed to some concerning health conditions.

Epilepsy

A frightening health issue in Belgian Shepherds is inherited epilepsy. It occurs in all four varieties. Your dog will have uncontrollable shaking that can last a few minutes. There are many causes of seizures but it is mostly an inherited disorder.

Eye disorders

The most common eye disease is cataracts.

Hip Dysplasia

This is an inherited disease that causes the joints to develop improperly. He may even have difficulty getting up from lying down.

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

Grooming

belgian shepherd dog laekenois dogs - caringThe long, double coat of your Laekenois will need to be trimmed about twice a year otherwise he could look dirty and unkempt. Certainly with the coat he has, you will need to brush him at least twice a week to get rid of all those loose hairs.

Feeding

He is a well muscled, athletic, energetic dog and his food, whether home-made or commercially manufactured, needs to be a high-quality food high in protein and packed full of minerals and vitamins. If you’re not sure about food type, speak to your vet, because as a dog expert, they will advise you on food appropriate to this dog breed and his energy needs. Whether you own a male or female Laekenois, feeding should be such that weight for an adult is maintained around 25–30kg.

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

  1. Giant Schnauzer vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Giant Schnauzer vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Giant Schnauzer vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Giant Schnauzer vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Giant Schnauzer vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Giant Schnauzer vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Giant Schnauzer vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  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
  12. Giant Schnauzer vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Giant Schnauzer vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Giant Schnauzer vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Giant Schnauzer vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Giant Schnauzer vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Giant Schnauzer vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Giant Schnauzer vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Giant Schnauzer vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Giant Schnauzer vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Giant Schnauzer vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Giant Schnauzer vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Giant Schnauzer vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Giant Schnauzer vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Giant Schnauzer vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison