Giant Schnauzer Club

A Giant Schnauzer is a breed that requires a lot of consideration to determine whether your circumstances meet with their requirements. We have provided a lot of information that may help with your consideration of the breed.

• Activities & Sports
• Breed Characteristics
• Breed History
• Funny Facts
• FAQs

It may also be useful to come along to one of our events where you will meet owners and breeders, and of course Giant Schnauzers.

Puppy farmers produce large volumes of dogs with little regard for the health and welfare of the puppies they produce, or the dogs they use for breeding. Their main goal is making money, puppies and dogs are often kept in very poor conditions and may also be sold from another premises. Before you hand over any money, ensure that you’re absolutely convinced that you’re dealing with a responsible breeder. Make sure that you ask all the questions you need in order to feel satisfied that the breeder is trustworthy.

In addition ‘Lucy’s Law’ came into effect April 2020 which bans the third-party sale of puppies, the legislation means that anyone seeking to acquire a puppy in England must now buy directly from a breeder or a rescue centre.

Avoid buying puppies from any of the following:

❌ Puppy dealers – they buy or acquire puppies and sell them on, often masquerading as the breeder. If an advert lists more than one breed of puppy for sale, then the person placing it is probably – but not always – a dealer. Ask to see the mother and puppies, and if they make an excuse about why the mother cannot be seen, do not buy a puppy from them. Never buy a dog from the back of a van at a motorway service station or from a car park at an airport, as this is how many dealers operate.

❌ Directly from adverts – buying a puppy directly from an advert without first meeting the breeder, seeing the puppy or viewing the environment they were raised will not allow you to make the checks that help  determine if the breeder is a responsible breeder or a puppy farmer. Always search the internet for the phone number given on the advert to see if they are selling multiple litters or different breeds – this would suggest that they are puppy farmers. Be wary of adverts stating puppies “ready to go”.

❌ Pet shops prevent puppies from being exposed to essential experiences that allow them to adapt to home life. Without these experiences, many dogs will grow up to have behavioural problems as they get older. Also, many of these puppies will come from puppy farmers who have little regard for the future of the dogs they produce. Pet shops are inappropriate environments for puppies to be kept or sold.

❌ Do not pick up the puppy from anywhere else other than the breeder’s house or premises.

❌ Do not buy from a breeder who appears to have poor knowledge of the breed.

❌ Avoid breeders who do not ask questions about whether your lifestyle and home are suitable for their puppy. A good breeder will want to ensure their puppy is going to a good home.

✅ The Giant Schnauzer Club secretary keeps a list of breeders who are members of the Club, contact the secretary for an up to date list.

✅ Kennel Club Assured Breeders have been inspected by the Kennel Club, and are continually monitored to ensure that they maintain a high level of standards. Find a Kennel Club Assured Giant Schnauzer Breeder.

✅ Anyone breeding 3 or more litters in a 12 month period will require a dog breeding license, or less than 3 litters if breeding dogs and advertising a business of selling dogs. Licensed breeders are inspected every 3 years and receive a star rating from one to five.

✅ Be prepared to be put on a waiting list – it’s worth waiting for a healthy puppy and it’s a good sign if a breeder has people waiting for their pups.

✅ The puppies sire and dam should be eye tested as unaffected for Hereditary Cataracts within the last 12 months, ask to see copies of health test certificates. The breeder should explain any other comments that may be present on the eye test certificate. Alternatively health results can be found on the Kennel Club Health Test Results Finder.

✅ It’s important to look into the health of the pup’s parents, to be aware of any potential health issues. It is recommended that both parents are hip scored around or below the current breed average, 14. There is also a recommendation that adults are DNA tested for 2 different types of progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) i.e. prcd-PRA and PRA5, in addition to dilated cardiomyopathy – DCM.

✅ Puppies should be eye tested (litter screened) before leaving the breeder, and a copy of the litter screen provided. Any comments noted on the litter screen should be discussed by the breeder.

✅ Always visit the breeder, meet their dogs and pup’s mother, which will give an idea how puppies may turn out. Ask any questions you have and see what conditions your puppy has been brought up in. The mother of the puppies and any relatives should appear happy and healthy.

✅ Ensure the environment is clean, with comfortable bedding, food and clean water, and that all the breeders dogs look healthy, clean and well.

✅ The breeder should be happy to show you any paperwork, e.g. certificates from The Kennel Club, vaccination information, health tests, screening scheme certificates, puppy vet check record.

✅ Ideally see and handle all of the puppies in the litter, they should all appear happy, healthy and inquisitive.

✅ Always trust your instincts

• Do not buy a puppy if you feel pressured to buy
• Do not buy if you have any doubts about the breeder
• Don’t rush any decisions

Once you have visited the breeder, it’s important that you don’t make a snap decision. Ensure that the breeder is happy for you to have plenty of time to make up your mind about buying the puppy. Any breeder that pressurises you into buying a puppy may be looking to make a quick profit and should be avoided.

✅ Puppies should not leave the breeder until at least 8 weeks old.

✅ Puppies should have a contract of sale provided by the breeder, and Kennel Club registration document signed and handed over at the point of sale.

✅ Puppies should have been wormed regularly, and had a vet check before leaving the breeder.