Giant Schnauzer vs Briard - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Giant Schnauzer vs Briard - Breed ComparisonGiant Schnauzer is originated from Germany but Briard is originated from France. Both Giant Schnauzer and Briard are having almost same height. Giant Schnauzer may weigh 8 kg / 18 pounds more than Briard. Both Giant Schnauzer and Briard has same life span. Both Giant Schnauzer and Briard has almost same litter size. Giant Schnauzer requires Moderate maintenance. But Briard requires High maintenance

History

giant schnauzer - historyAs 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.

briard - historyThrough myth and legend, the Briard is thought to be a very ancient dog. A French herding breed, a Briard type of dog appears in writings as early as the end of the 14th century. According to legends the Briard was owned by Napoleon, Charlemagne, Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson. As a cross between the Barbet and the Beauceron, the Briard came into popularity following its appearance in a Paris dog show in 1863. Bred originally to guard and herd sheep, these intelligent, independent dogs were often left on their own. Because they both guarded and herded, their size and structure as well as their personalities were different from other dogs that worked sheep. Those that herded only were fast, agile and smaller. Those that only guarded were heavier, bigger and stronger. The Briard was in-between these two types of breeds. He was well suited to any kind of farm work and guarded the crops from the sheep’s desire to eat them. They moved the sheep from one grazing area to another and then to their holding area at night. No humans had to assist the Briard in this work once they were trained.

During World War 1, the Briards were drafted into service as messengers, sentries and search dogs for lost or injured soldiers. In that time frame the breed served almost to the point of extinction. Breeding programs following the war brought them back. Today the Briard is a home companion, a police dog, as well as both military and civilian search and rescue dogs.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Herding dogs
Origin:
Germany
France
Height Male:
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
61 - 69 cm
24 - 28 inches
Height Female:
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
58 - 65 cm
22 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 48 kg
55 - 106 pounds
30 - 40 kg
66 - 89 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 48 kg
55 - 106 pounds
25 - 35 kg
55 - 78 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 8
8 - 10
Size:
Large dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Riesenschnauzer
Berger de Brie Berger Briard
Colors Available:
Black, salt and pepper grey color
Uniform black, fawn, grey or blue.
Coat:
Medium length, wiry and hard
Double, wavy, long, fine
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Courageous, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Stubborn, Sweet
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
High maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Description

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.

briard puppy - descriptionThe Briard is a powerful, intelligent and independent working dog. They have a straight topline and their height is almost the same as their length. They have long, large, rectangular heads with wide muzzles. Their noses are also square and jet black while their side set, large eyes can be black-brown or black. Their ears have traditionally been cropped but with more countries outlawing it, they can now have natural ears set high on the head. They have a tail that is feathered and low-cut. The feet of a Briard are round, compact and large.

The Briard is a double coated breed with a long beard and mustache. Their hair completely covers the head and the eyes so that they are not seen. They have prominent eyebrows as well.

Characteristics

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.

briard dog - characteristicsAs mentioned previously the Briard is intelligent and independent. They are also loyal, rugged, protective and bond intensely with their humans. They are often aloof when it comes to strangers or even when new furniture is introduced into the household. They have to learn that anything new into the family environment is friendly and good. They are great with children and susceptible to separation anxiety because of their deep affection for their people. Socialization for puppies is a must. This will let them know that people and children, other dogs in general are not harmful to their families. They have great memories and once they learn something – right or wrong – it is almost impossible to change it. They were bred to be independent thinkers who acted on their own conclusions. This is still true of the breed today, making them appear to be stubborn.

They are great watchdogs, fearless and brave; willing to learn, eager to make you happy. They are basically gentle but that always runs up against their protective nature. A strong alpha leader is needed to handle this hard-working dog.

Health Problems

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.

briard puppies - health problemsBeing a large breed, the Briard shares many of the same health concerns as other large breeds. They have a few of their own as well. Typical issues for a Briard might include:

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia – bones don’t fit into joints.

Stationary Night Blindness – Congenital limited vision in the dark.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy/Degeneration –degeneration of the photoreceptors and retina.

Hypothyroidism – disorder of the thyroid.

Bloat (Gastric Torsion) – Stomach is distended and twists.

Cancer – Number 1 killer of all dogs.

Von Willebrand’s Disease – Blood clotting disorder.

Caring The Pet

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.

Feeding

briard dogs - caringIt is best to feed the Briard smaller meals 2-3 times a day to prevent bloat. Feed 3-4 cups total for the day of a dry dog food that is high quality and made for large breeds.

Health issues

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia – Can cause painful arthritis and lameness

Stationary Night Blindness – Congenital limited vision in the dark can vary from slight difficulty moving to complete inability to see in the dark.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy/Degeneration – Can lead to night blindness, limited or total blindness. Puppies with the disease can be blind before their first birthday.

Hypothyroidism – disorder of the thyroid.

Bloat (Gastric Torsion) – Stomach is distended and twists. Fatal if not treated quickly. Caused by eating a large meal quickly and either exercise immediately or drink a large amount of water right after eating.

Cancer – Number 1 killer of all dogs. Various types.

Von Willebrand’s Disease – Blood clotting disorder leads to excessive bleeding. There is no cure, but it is manageable.

Exercise and games

The Briard is a working dog and as such needs a job. They excel at agility, flyball, herding, obedience, confirmation and tracking. They need exercise and make excellent service dogs for people with disabilities and therapy dogs for those in emotional need.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Samoyed vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  2. Great Pyrenees vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  3. Presa Canario vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  4. Labrador Husky vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  5. Giant Schnauzer vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  6. Giant Schnauzer vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  7. Giant Schnauzer vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  8. Giant Schnauzer vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  9. Giant Schnauzer vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  10. Giant Schnauzer vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  11. Giant Schnauzer vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  12. Giant Schnauzer vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  13. Giant Schnauzer vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  14. Giant Schnauzer vs Argentine Dogo - Breed Comparison
  15. Giant Schnauzer vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  16. Giant Schnauzer vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  17. Giant Schnauzer vs Bandog - Breed Comparison
  18. Giant Schnauzer vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison
  19. Giant Schnauzer vs Dogo Cubano - Breed Comparison
  20. Giant Schnauzer vs Dogo Sardesco - Breed Comparison
  21. Giant Schnauzer vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  22. Giant Schnauzer vs Central Asian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  23. Giant Schnauzer vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  24. Giant Schnauzer vs German Longhaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  25. Giant Schnauzer vs Alano Espanol - Breed Comparison
  26. Old English Sheepdog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  27. Briard vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Briard vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  29. Briard vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  30. Briard vs Bouvier des Flandres - Breed Comparison
  31. Rough Collie vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  32. East German Shepherd vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  33. Saarlooswolfhond vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  34. Estrela Mountain Dog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  35. Huntaway vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  36. Czechoslovakian Wolfdog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  37. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  38. South Russian Ovcharka vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  39. Mioritic Sheepdog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  40. Samoyed vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  41. Labradoodle vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  42. Mixed vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  43. Dogue De Bordeaux vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  44. German Shorthaired Pointer vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  45. Great Pyrenees vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  46. Presa Canario vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  47. Labrador Husky vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  48. Perro de Presa Canario vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  49. Chesapeake Bay Retriever vs Briard - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds