Giant Schnauzer vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison

As 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.

Airedale terrier got its name from a small river Aire in Leeds area in Great Britain. First information about Airedale terrier originates back in 1850. This breed was used as otter hunters. Airedale terrier was invented by mixing Otterhound, old English terrier, and a white bull-terrier. Airedale was used primarily for hunting otters, deer, or wild boars. Not just that, Airedale was a very good guard dog. During the war, this breed was used for delivery and it showed a lot of courage. One Airedale terrier even received a medal for its bravery in World War I. Today it is used as an official dog of National Police of Britain.

With 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.

Average height of Airedale terrier is approximately 56-61cm, while their average weight is 20-29kg. Females are slightly smaller than male dogs. A lifespan of an Airedale terrier variates and depends on the health of the dog but the average lifespan of this breed is 10-12. Litter Size of the Airedale terrier is approximately 8-9 puppies. Other Names Waterside Terrier, Bingley Terrier, King of Terriers

The 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.

Airedale terrier is an amazing and playful dog. They are very intelligent, hard-working, and athletic dogs. This breed has a lot of energy and stamina, so regular activity is a must for this breed. They are independent thinkers which can be challenging sometimes, but overall, if they have enough activity they are amazing and goofy pets.

It is not recommendable to leave your dog for a long period of time because it will get bored, and when it’s bored, they tend to become destructive. You don’t want to see destroyed home when you come back from work.

Airedale terrier is great watchdog too. They will protect family if it is necessary, but overall they are very friendly. They are very sensitive and gentle with kids. Also, with a proper socialization of the dog, they are very friendly towards another animal too.

Basically, the temperament of your Airedale terrier depends on training, socialization, and genes. If you properly train your dog, with good socialization you won’t be having any problems.

A 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.

Airedale terrier is generally a very healthy dog, but as almost any breed, they can have some health issues. Hip dysplasia, cancer, and allergies can cause problems with this breed. You have to be very careful when choosing a perfect dog for you. Examine the family tree to avoid the possible genetic flaws.

Airedale terrier will be a healthy dog if you take a proper care, and with regular vet checks, there shouldn’t be any problems.

He 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.

Feeding Airedale

Airedale feeding depends on how much daily activity has. Overall, for an average Airedale 1.5-2.5 cups of high-quality dry food, divided into a 2 meals is recommendable. It is better than leaving the whole food out all the time. Then again, if your dog is not very active or active more than an average dog, feeding should be organized for your dog’s needs.

Feeding the Airedale puppy

Airedale puppies should eat more than an adult dog. 3-5 meals per day are an optimal measure. Puppies need more meals per day for better development. Also, giving your puppy minerals and vitamins would improve overall health when it is fully grown dog.

Grooming Airedale Terrier

Airedale has a very interesting coat. The coat has two layers, topcoat which is strong, and undercoat which is soft. They do not shed a lot, but twice a year they shed more than the rest of the time. It is not very hard to groom Airedale terrier. Brushing is recommended once or twice a week. You can also bath your Airedale but not very often. Airedale doesn’t require trimming, but some owners decide to do that. It is up to you if you want to trim your dog.