MyDogBreeds
Giant Schnauzer is originated from Germany but American Cocker Spaniel is originated from United States. Giant Schnauzer may grow 30 cm / 12 inches higher than American Cocker Spaniel. Giant Schnauzer may weigh 34 kg / 75 pounds more than American Cocker Spaniel. Giant Schnauzer may live 3 years less than American Cocker Spaniel. Both Giant Schnauzer and American Cocker Spaniel has almost same litter size. Both Giant Schnauzer and American Cocker Spaniel requires Moderate maintenance.
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.
Descended from the English Cocker Spaniel when the latter were brought to the United States in the late 1800s. American hunters wanted a smaller dog for bird hunting, so they crossed them with smaller spaniel breeds. The English and the American Cockers were considered the same breed until 1935 when the American Kennel Club officially separated them into 2 distinct breeds. After this the American Cocker’s popularity increased dramatically.
To this day they are one of the most popular breeds in the U.S. Recently their popularity has spread back to England. The American Cocker Spaniel has evolved from a hunting dog life to a very popular family pet.
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.
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.
The American Cocker spaniel is a sturdy dog of medium size. The have a rounded head with a broad and deep muzzle. The jaw is even and square while the teeth have a scissors bite. The American Cocker has round eyes that are almost always dark with the exception of the Merle who can have blue colored eyes. They have long ears and a docked tail in the U.S. Docking is illegal in most of Europe. The American Cocker bred for field hunts have shorter coats than those bred for show. Grooming is essential for this longhaired breed. It is especially important for the eyes and ears to be kept clean.
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.
This is a gentle, happy dog. They are high energy, high spirited, friendly dogs who like people and other animals alike. They are happy to be with you and want to please you. He can find a home in the country and in the city alike. He is inquisitive and easy to train.
But be warned they can be stubborn and hard to housebreak. They can be shy and need a lot of socialization as a pup. They can take over a household if you are not the strong pack leader they need. They have a tendency to urinate when excited and must live inside with the family. They are far too social to be left outside. An unhappy, unstable cocker can be into resource guarding of things, spaces and people. They can bark obsessively or be hyperactive. They must have a loving home with the family.
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.
Perhaps the least of the American Cocker Spaniel’s health concerns are the tendency to overeat and become obese. The more serious concerns include glaucoma, cataracts, dysplasia, allergies, Cherry eye, lip fold pyoderma, liver disease, cardiomyopathy, and congestive heart failure (CHF).
The most serious health issue the breed faces is IMHA or Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia which can be deadly. In fact, it is almost always fatal and comes on quickly. With this condition the dog can bleed out internally and there is little that veterinary medicine can do.
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.
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.
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.
The American Cocker Spaniel breed requires attention to detail and making sure your puppy gets enough and your adult doesn’t get too much. Feed the pups twice a day until they reach the age of 4 months and then cut them back to the adult dose of once a day at supper time. Feed from a cup to a cup and a half.
not previously mentioned include Ectropion and Entropion, Prolapse of the nicititans gland, gastric torsion and elbow dysplasia. Have your puppy tested for eye diseases and any issues with the knee and hip. These are social dogs and will not do well alone outside. They need to live inside.
The American Cockers love to play and need a lot of exercise. Nice long walks, games of fetch or even agility will keep your Cocker happy. have plenty of stamina and need regular exercise. They also enjoy a good hunt.