Prepare to Bring Your New Giant Schnauzer Puppy Home

Crates

These are an excellent training tool for crate training and house training. A Giant Schnauzer puppy on a regular schedule will help you to create good habits. A crate will also make a nice spot for your puppy to call their own. Make it fun so they can associate their crate with all good things, rather than an area of punishment. You want them to love it. Crates can also help in times of travel to keep your pet safe and secure.

No puppy or dog should ever be crated for long periods of time. Your puppy should be let out every couple of hours even if that means hiring a dog sitter, dog walker or enrolling in doggie-day-care. Your Giant Schnauzer puppy will need plenty of exercise, mental stimulation and socialization which can hardly be done from crate.

• Midwest Lifestages 30-inch wire dog crate: Good starter size for puppies.
• Midwest Lifestages 42-inch wire dog crate with a divider panel: A good size until puppy is around 5 months old.
• Midwest Lifestages 48-inch and 54-inch wire crate(s): Appropriate adult size and generally depends on whether your Giant Schnauzer is a male or female.

If you are interested in purchasing one crate, the larger crates here include the adjustable divider to size right during house training. 

For help with Crate sizing and info, Read more here

Crate Liners & Bedding

For puppies, bedding that is washable and will hold up through chewing phases are ideal. It is a good idea to have an extra one on hand in case there is a need to wash while your puppy is house training.

By keeping it basic for younger puppies, has worked out best for us here but, for young adults up to senior Giant Schnauzers the best beds have been  Kuranda Dog Beds, Big Barker and K9 Ballistics, all built specifically for large breeds. It is important to get them up and off of hard floor surfaces to help support their large bone structure.  

Collars, Leashes and Harnesses

At 8-weeks the right sized collars measure approximately 10-16 inches. When walking your dog be sure you have a durable collar and not the breakaway style. Whether you use a collar and leash or a front clip harness, it’s crucial to train your puppy to walk on a “loose leash”. There is a lot happening in the throat area that you don’t want to cause any damage to. Back clip harnesses encourage pulling like sled dogs, therefore we don’t recommend this type of harness. We also discourage the use of retractable leashes for safety reasons. If you are having trouble walking without pulling, the Halti Head Collars have been successfully used by many Giant Schnauzer owners. If you find you are still having trouble, get with a professional trainer in your area.

Training and Treats

Your giant schnauzer is going to need a lot of consistent training. For those who are food motivated, treat training is a quick way to get your puppy’s attention and makes the reward fun for them.

DO NOT buy rawhides- these are unsafe and have been shown to be full of harmful toxic chemicals and can cause choking or get lodged in the intestinal tract. You would be better off using a KONG extreme and stuffing it with something like all-natural peanut butter or other tasty treats safe for your pet. Always use supervision. Giant Schnauzers are known to destroy the indestructible

We prefer protein treats for our own puppies and adult dogs but, there are times it is hard to steer away from carb type treats. At the very least, it is better to keep your Giant Schnauzer on the lean side (not skinny but, LEAN). They have a lot of growing to do and will not be developed enough to support added weight until the growth plates have closed (2-years-old).

Food and Dental Care

Food and Water Bowls- Stainless steel no-tip and non-skid food and water bowls are preferred. Otherwise, your puppy will be pushing their food bowl around the kitchen without any good traction to support them. Plastic bowls are not recommended for several reasons, mainly because they trap bacteria that spreads to your Giant Schnauzer’s beard causing acne or other unsightly and uncomfortable bumps around their lip and chin areas. Many plastics also contain toxic material that a lot of dogs are sensitive to.

Dripless water bowls– Everyone loves their Giant Schnauzer partially due to their impressive good looks and they are known for having that amazing beard.  A Giant’s favorite thing to do is take an enormous drink of water and venture over as much of your furniture as possible before setting that very wet beard on your lap. Did I mention I’m pretty sure that beard holds a gallon of water!?! Kidding BUT, many owners have found the Slobber Stopper to be of great benefit by reducing the amount of water scattered around your home and you. Size medium or large are generally recommended for an adult.

Slow feeders- like the Our Pets Durapet Slow Feeder can help encourage your puppy to slow down if they are eating too quickly. If you have a puppy/dog that eats too fast it is very important to get them to slow down. Bloat is a serious condition that mostly, but not always, can affect deep chested large breed dogs. 

Dental care– Just like people, dogs need regular brushing and dental care to keep them healthy. Brushing daily is ideal but, even a few times a week is better than no brushing at all. We use an enzymatic cleaner formulated for dogs and a dog toothbrush.  Done regularly, they don’t seem to mind too much. We like the C.E.T Vanilla Mint  for our Giant Schnauzers.

Grooming

Grooming your puppy is one of the best things you can do to bond and build a trusting relationship with your Giant and it can be rewarding for the both of you. Maintaining your Giant Schnauzer’s coat, ears and nails are part of caring for their physical health. When adding toys and treats to your list, do not forget some essential grooming supplies. Here are a few basics to help you get started.