THE GIANT SCHNAUZER
Breed Standard - According to the FCI
OriginGermany
Original Valid Standard     FCI-Standard N° 181
Date of Publication 21 February 2006
Utilization   Working (Utility) and Companion Dog
Classification FCI        Group 2Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid breeds - Swiss Mountain and
   Cattle Dogs and other breeds
   Section 1Pinscher and Schnauzer type
   With Working Trial
Brief Historical SummaryOriginally, the Giant Schnauzer was used in the region of Southern Germany to
  protect cattle on the drive to higher pastures.  Around the turn of the century
determined breeders  realized that he had outstanding working capabilities and particularly valuable traits in
character.  He was used in Bavaria to protect the beer carts and the farms. Since 1913, the breed has been
registered in stud books, and in 1925 the Giant Schnauzer has officially been recognised as a working dog.

General AppearanceLarge, powerful, stocky rather than slim.  A larger, powerful image of the Standard
    Schnauzer.  A fearlessly protective dog, prepared for defense, whose appearance
commands respect.

Proportions * Square build in which height at the withers is nearly equal to the body length
* The length of the head (measured from the tip of the nose to the occiput) corresponds to half the
   length of the topline (measured from the withers to the set-on of the tail).

TemperamentTypical characteristics of this dog are his good natured, even temperament and incorruptible
loyalty towards his master.  He has highly developed sense organs, intelligence, tainability, strength, endurance,
speed, resistance to weather and diseases.  His inborn ability to bear strain and his self-assurance make him
best suited for being a companion, sporting, utility, and working dog.

HEAD
Cranial Region:Skull:  Strong, long, without markedly protruding occiput.  The head should be in keeping with
  the dog's force.  The forehead is flat, without wrinkling and parallel to the bridge of the
  nose.
Stop:  Appears well defined due to the brows.
Facial Region:Nose:  Well developed nose leather with large nostrils, always black
Muzzle:  Ending in a blunt wedge.  Bridge of nose is straight.
Lips:  Black, smooth and tight-fitting to the jaws.  Corners of lips are closed.
Jaws/ Teeth:  Strong upper and lower jaw.  The complete scissor bite (42 pure white teeth,
according to the dentition formula), is strongly developed and firmly closing.  The chewing
muscles are strongly developed, but the cheeks must not interfere with the rectangular
shape of the head (with the beard).
Eyes:  Medium sized, oval, facing forward, dark with lively expression.  Eyelids close fitting.
Ears:  Drop ears, set high, V-shaped with inner edges lying close to the cheeks, evenly
carried, turned forward towards temples.  Folds parallel, should not be above the top of the
skull.

NECKThe strong, muscular neck is nobly arched, blending smoothly into the withers. Strongly set on, slim, nobly
   curved, corresponding to the dog's force.  Throat skin tight-fitting without folds.

BODY
Topline:Slightly sloping from withers towards rear.
Withers:Forming the highest point in topline.
Back:Strong, short and taut.
Loins:Short, strong, and deep.  The distance from the last rib to the hip is short to make the dog appear
   compact.
Croup:Slightly rounded, imperceptibly blending into tail set on.
Chest:Moderately broad, oval in diameter, reaching to the elbows.  The forechest is distinctly marked by
    the point of the sternum.
Underline/ Belly:Flanks not too tucked up, forming a well curved line with the underside of the ribcage.

TAILNatural in large parts of Europe, but especially in the homeland of the Pinscher-Schnauzer breeds where
  it is against the law to dock tails without medical indication since 1998.  In the USA, the tail is still
  commonly docked behind the 2nd link.

LIMBS
Forequarters:Seen from the front, the front legs are strong, straight, and not close together.  Seen from
the side, the forearms are straight.
Shoulders:  The shoulder blade lies close against the rib cage and is well muscled on both
sides of the shoulder bone, protruding over the points of thoracic vertebrae.  As sloping as
     possible and well laid back, forming an angle of approximately 50° to the horizontal.
Upper Arm:  Lying close to the body, strong and well muscled, forming an angle of 95° to
105° to the shoulder blade.
Elbows:  Close fitting, turning neither in nor out.
Forearm:  Viewed from all sides, completely straight, strongly developed and well muscled.
Carpel Joint:  Strong, firm, barely standing out against the structure of the forearm.
Pastern:  Seen from the front, vertical.  Seen from the side, slightly sloping towards the
ground, strong and slightly springy.
Forefeet:  Short and round, toes well-knit and arched (cat foot) with short, dark nails and
     resistant pads.
Hindquarters:Standing obliquely when seen from the side, standing parallel but not close together when
seen from the rear.
Upper Thigh:  Moderately long, broad and strongly muscled.
Stifle:  Turning neither in nor out.
Lower Thigh:  Long and strong, running into a strong hock.
Hocks:  Very well angulated, strong, firm, turning neither in nor out.
Metatarsus:  Short, vertical to the ground.
Hind feet:  Toes short, arched and well-knit.  Nails short and black.

GAIT/ MOVEMENT:Flexible, elegant, agile, free and ground covering.  The front legs swinging as far forward
                                         as possible, the hind legs, ground covering and springy, provide the necessary drive.  The
front legs of one side and the hind leg on the other side move forward at the same time.  The back, the
ligaments and the joints are firm.

SKIN:Tight fitting over the whole body.

COAT:
Hair:The coat should be wiry, harsh and dense.  It consists of a dense undercoat and a not too short top
   coat, lying close to the body.   The top coat is rought and sufficiently long to allow the checking of its
texture; it is neither bristly nor wavy.  Hair on the limbs tends to be less harsh.  Coat short on forehead
and ears.  Typical characteristics are the not too soft beard on the muzzle and the bushy eyebrows which
slightly shade the eyes.

Color:Pure black with black undercoat or pepper and salt.   When breeding Pepper and Salt, the aim is a
    medium shading with evenly distributed, well pigmented, pepper coloring and grey undercoat.  The
shades from dark iron grey to silver grey are all permitted.  In all color variations there must be a dark
mask, which should adapt harmoniously to the respective color, empahsizing the expression.  Distinct light
markings on head, chest and limbs are undesirable.

SIZE AND WEIGHT:
Height at withers:Dogs and bitches:60 to 70cm
Weight:Dogs and bitches:35 to 47kg

FAULTS:Any departure from the foregoing points should be a fault and the seriousness with which the fault
    should be regarded, should be in exact proportion to its degree.
Particularily:
* Head altogether too small or too short
* Heavy or round skull
* Wrinkles on forehead
* Short, pointed or narrow muzzle
* Pincer bite
* Strongly protuding cheeks or cheek bones
* Light, too large or round eyes.
* Low set, too long or unevenly carried ears.
* Throatiness
* Dewlap, narrow crest of neck
* Too long, tucked up or soft back
* Roach back
* Croup falling away
* Tail set inclined towards head
* Long feet
* Pacing movement
* Too short, too long, soft, wavy, shaggy, silky, white or spotted coat or mixed colors
* Brown undercoat
* In Pepper and Salt:  a black trace on the back or black saddle
* Over- or undersize up to 2cm
Severe Faults:
* Clumsy or light build.  Too low or too high on leg.
* Inverse sexual type (i.e. doggy bitch)
* Elbows turning out
* Straight or open hocked hindlegs
* Hocks turned inwards
* Over- or undersize by more than 2cm, but less than 4cm
Disqualifying Faults:
* Shy, agressive, vicious, exaggeratedly suspicious or nervous behavior
* Malformation of any kind.
* Lack of breed type
* Faulty mouth, such as over- or undershot or wry mouth
* Severe faults in individual parts, such as faults in structure, coat and color
* Over- or undersize by more than 4cm
* Males showing only one testicle.  Males should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into
  the scrotum.
* Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioral abnormalities shall be disqualified.

Translation by Mrs. C. Seidler