Country/Date of Origin: Germany/1400s
Schnauzers come in three sizes: Miniature, Standard and Giant. The two extremes are believed to have sprung from the middle or standard size, which is at least five hundred years old.
Butchers looking for a dog with strong guarding and droving instincts, and a large size, took the standard schnauzer and crossed it with the black Great Dane and got the required attributes. The big dog was seldom seen outside its native Bavaria until the twentieth century. Then it came into prominence due to its work as a police and military dog. It was not until 1977 that the Giant Schnauzers were admitted to an American Kennel Club show ring.