Entries in behavior (2)
What's a Snoodle?
Thanks, Nicola, for writing in and providing great info on Snoodles. I am really surprised their behaviors are so much like Giant Schnauzers!
Reader Comments (1)
01.3.2008 | 
Nicola Wright
26 NOV 2006
I’ve been hearing about this new trend with mixing Poodle and different dog breeds. Honestly, I don’t understand the Chihuahua and Poodle mix … But I’ll try to keep an open mind until I see one.
I’ve heard about the Schnauzer-Poodle mix and recently met one online at Dogster. Elvis is from New Zealand, and he’s just as lovely as can be!
I love the story behind the name Elvis. From his Dogster profile,
“Elvis got his name because of a text from my mum, who had just got out of hospital (she called it jail). So of course, dog with funny hair, good pelvic wriggle and the jail-house rock all equal “Elvis” …”
Read more about Elvis at Dogster.com.
k.
in giant schnauzers, dogs, behavior, advice, how to decide, pets, giant schnauzer traits, snoodle traits, information, designer dogs
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giant schnauzers, what difficult to raise?
It’s a dog! It’s a bear! No, it’s a flying giant schnauzer!
Photo by Amy Welker. East Catching Air. Trinity River 2006
Obviously, I didn’t read the following prior to rushing East and West home from the kennel…
The Giant Schnauzer is a working breed with a terrier temperament. Historically, they were specifically bred to guard herds against prey, protect their families and used as draft dogs to pull carts and small wagons. Add the terrier temperament and you have a large dog who is very prey driven. They will chase any fast-moving critter, burrow and dig, and bark furiously, to annoy that prey out of its safe haven. When the prey is frightened out of safety it usually loses it life.
The very characteristics that make a Giant Schnauzer a champion are the same characteristics that make it unsuitable for many families. They bark, they are relentless when they want something. (Prey, food, a sock, a Barbie Doll’s head, food off your counter tops, you get the idea) They are extremely territorial, they often don’t get along very well with other dogs, especially dogs of the same sex. And according to many sources, they will kill your cat. It may seem like the dog and cat get along beautifully, but there are many stories of owners coming home to find their cat slaughtered by their Giant.
Giants also need enormous amounts of exercise. The most common phrase echoed around the country from breeders and trainers is “A tired Giant is a good Giant.” An hour a day of running, playing chasing, swimming, digging is the bare minimum. Ask any self-respecting Giant himself, and he will tell you three hours is more like it. Do you as a family have this much time to devote to just playing with your pet? Do you have a fenced yard to keep playtime safe? If you don’t have time to play, your Giant puppy will invent his own fun; shredding your furniture, digging craters in your yard, chewing every sock, shoe and toy he can find laying around.
Are you prepared for a 70-100 pound dog to live in your house as a family member? Giants do NOT make good “yard/outside” dogs. They can bark loud enough to wake the dead when they are unhappy….and they WILL let you know if they are unhappy or NEED you to do something. They are relentless and and very demanding of your time.
11.15.2006 | Julie
I am sorry to hear about your giant schnauzer East. How is he now? Do you know that there is a group of people who meet once a month with giant schnauzers up in your area and many times they go to Pt Isabel?
11.16.2006 | kristine
11.17.2006 |
Larry and NoraCome join us and bring your Giants. (You can come without them, if you prefer, but we (the humans and the dogs) would really like to meet them!) Our next stroll is this Sunday, Nov. 19.
It’s a yahoo group, NCalGiantFun@Yahoo.com. Look us over, read our messages, look at the photos, check us out.
k.
in dogs, puppies, trinity river, giant schnauzer rescue, behavior
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Anyway, the background article on Giant Schnauzer’s could be the same for the Giant Schnoodle. They need loads of love, affection and EXERCISE. I run my boy as much as possible, at the least an hour a day and this is not nearly enough.
We now have an 20 month old daughter, who also demands a lot of attention and time. Elvis is very good with her, but size and playfulness are a concern, so I always watch the two of them together.
He’s knocked over a couple of children due to exuberence and vast size, rather than malevolence.
I’d say if you have the time, no children and love dogs, this cross or “designer” breed is great. I have put a lot of time into training and establishing who’s the alpha in the house (that’s me). But I must say, he’s still given to having a bout of deafness when the swallows are flying in the fields… he loves to chase them.