Indian Pariah Dog vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison

The Indian pariah, known also as the Indi-dog or In-dog, is an ancient dog breed common throughout India as well as Bangladesh.

A breed standard does exist for the dog with the Indian Kennel Club and the dog has also been recognized by the Primitive and Aboriginal Dog Society.

A great dog enthusiast, Indian environmentalist, M Krishnan, has written about this ancient dog breed, telling about its wonderful temperament and its hardy constitution.

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.

The Indian Pariah dog is a medium sized, lanky looking dog with the males and females standing at 46cm to 64cm in height and weighing roughly between 15 to 30kg.

These dogs aren't big eaters so they tend to be lean and muscular. This is a double coated dog with the hair being coarse and fawn in colour or reddish brown.

He has fairly large, erect ears and brown eyes. He has a long tail which is held down but when he is excited it is held high and over the back, curling at the tip. There is sometimes white around the face and chest.

Temperament:

The Pariah dog is a social dog but he is somewhat timid, even though they make excellent watch dogs, being territorial around their human family. Being territorial, he can have an aggressive side to him so it is wise to have him trained and socialized as then he is obedient and capable of getting on well with children in the home.

These dogs are also very intelligent and therefore easily trained. He is an active dog and likes to be kept busy, wanting to be participating in the activities of his human family.

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.

The Indian Pariah dog is just an ordinary dog looking to be a superb companion for you. These are dogs with no airs and graces and in fact they have lots of positive attributes about them.

They are just your ordinary, social dogs who are able to form strong, loyal friendships with their human owners. He is a faithful dog breed and he has had a long association with humans dating back to thousands of years. He is healthy and cheerful and he is just waiting for you to give him a chance so that he can show you what a cheerful, playful, devoted, wonderful friend he can be to you too.

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 dog which can live to between 13 and 15 years of age when he is treated well.

These Indian Pariahs are a natural dog breed, and to this end they are free of genetic health concerns such as hip dysplasia which is a very common ailment with nearly all dogs.

Remember that every dog stands a good chance of picking up some life-threatening illnesses if not vaccinated against them. Some of these diseases to be concerned about are canine distemper and parvo-virus. Rabies, kennel cough and parasites such as fleas and ticks can also pose a real danger to your pet.

The Pariah has been around for a very long time and today he is a robust, low maintenance pet that isn't going to cost you a lot of money .

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.

This is a low maintenance dog who also happens to shed little. A brush once or twice a week will be sufficient and it will keep the fur shiny and healthy.

General Care:

Your puppy will need to be vaccinated at 6 weeks of age. There are some veterinary clinics in India that offer free vaccine shots. Your puppy will be dewormed too. Make sure he has a nice dry, warm place to sleep, and for during the day, ensure that there is a shady spot for him too.

Diet:

It's always a good idea to try and feed your puppy the best food there is. If you visit a veterinary clinic, find out what the most appropriate food would be for your puppy and how often you should feed him during the day.

If you feed your adult Indian Pariah dog kibble and you're able to, try and add in some home-made food too such as cooked chicken or rice. Some raw meat added in from time to time will also do your dog the world of good. Make sure there is always a bowl of cool, clean water standing by.

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.