Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer

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Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer

33-58 lbs

18-24"

United States

Kerry Blue Terrier

Giant Schnauzer

The Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer is a mix between a Kerry Blue Terrier and a Giant Schnauzer. Common colors of the parent breeds are black, salt and pepper, silver, blue, slate blue and grey. A Giant Schnauzer has wiry, hard and dense coat which is easier to maintain while the Kerry Blue Terrier’s is soft, dense and wavy. Neither of the parent breeds shed much so the Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer is unlikely to either. The Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer is likely to be playful and energetic like the parent breeds. It is likely to be a good dog for a family but could also be used as a working dog in the police or military.

Purpose
​Companion pet, working dog


Date of Origin
Unknown


Ancestry
Giant Schnauzer, Kerry Blue Terrier

Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer Health

Average Size

Height: 20-26 inches Weight: 35-60 lbs

Height: 18-24 inches Weight: 33-58 lbs

Major Concerns

Patellar Luxation
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Hip Dysplasia
Bloat
Cancer

Minor Concerns

Entropion
Hypothyroidism
Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Shoulder Osteochondrosis
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (Dry Eye)

Occasional Diagnoses

Cataracts
Skin Fold Dermatitis
Otitis Interna and Media

Occasional Tests

X-Rays
Physical Examination
Blood Work
Ophthalmic Exam

Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer Breed History

The Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer is a combination of a Giant Schnauzer and a Kerry Blue Terrier. The Giant Schnauzer was developed in Germany as one of the three distinct Schnauzer breeds, Miniature, Standard and Giant. The Giant Schnauzer is thought to have been created by crossing the Standard Schnauzer with the black Great Dane and possibly the Bouvier des Flandres. They were bred as farm dogs and later used as guard dogs, often in breweries. In Germany they were used by the police and as military dogs in both world wars and are still used as working dogs today. Giant Schnauzers first arrived in America in the 1930s and were registered by the American Kennel Club in 1930. The Giant Schnauzer Club of America was founded in 1962. Also known as the Irish Blue Terrier, the Kerry Blue Terrier comes from County Kerry, in Ireland where they have been pure-bred for over a hundred years. They were working dogs and were bred as farm dogs to hunt small game and kill rats. They were also used to herd sheep and cattle. They became known as “Blue Devil” during early dog shows when they had to catch rabbits and bring a badger to bay and today are still quite aggressive with other dogs. The breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1924. Irish nationalist leader Michael Collins owned a Kerry Blue named Convict 224 and in the early 1900s shortly before he died, he introduced legislation to name the breed the National Dog of Ireland.

Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer Breed Appearance

The Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer is a mix between a Kerry Blue Terrier and a Giant Schnauzer. Common colors of the parent breeds include black, salt and pepper, silver, blue, slate blue and grey. A Giant Schnauzer has a wiry, hard and dense coat while the Kerry Blue’s is soft, wavy and dense. The Giant Schnauzer has a large, muscular body with a distinct beard and eyebrows. They have oval shaped eyes which are dark brown and deep-set and tails that are usually docked. Kerry Blue Terriers are also muscular and sturdy with a long head, flat skull, and deep chest. They have small dark eyes and their tails are normally docked. Your hybrid will have a dense coat that may vary between hard and soft. He will have dark eyes which may be framed with brows. The Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer will have an agile gait and a purpose to him as he walks.

Eye Color Possibilities

Brown

Nose Color Possibilities

Black

Coat Color Possibilities

Black

Silver

Blue

Gray

Coat Length

Short Medium Long

Coat Density

Sparse Normal Dense

Coat Texture

Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer Breed Maintenance

The Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer is likely to need moderate maintenance but does not shed that much. Both parent breeds are hypoallergenic so are good for those who suffer from allergies. The Giant Schnauzer needs trimming around the eyebrows, beard and on the body while the Kerry Blue also needs trimming which might be best left to a professional groomer. Your hybrid will need a daily brush to prevent matting but will be quite odor free and only need baths when absolutely necessary. Try to brush your dog’s teeth daily to prevent any dental issues and check ears for dirt. If necessary wipe them gently with damp cotton wool. Nails also need to be checked to see if they need clipping.

Brushes for Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer

Pin Brush

Slicker Brush

Dematter

Nail Clipper

Brushing Frequency

Daily Weekly Monthly

Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer Temperament

A Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer is likely to take on many of the traits of their parent breeds so is likely to be a great family pet which may be better in a home with older children. The Giant Schnauzer is very protective of his family and wary of strangers but is a playful, energetic dog. They are very intelligent dogs but will need early socialization as they can be aggressive with other dogs and cats. When it comes to training, the Giant Schnauzer needs a firm, confident handler. The Kerry Blue is also energetic and a breed that needs lots of exercise, early socialization and consistent training. They don’t get on well with other dogs but are good with children. They don’t like to spend a lot of time on their own otherwise they can become bored and are likely to dig or bark. They are good watchdogs and can also be protective of their family and don’t trust strangers. Your hybrid may do best in a home where he is number one and only, however, he may adjust to animal roommates if introduced to them when he is young.

Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer Activity Requirements

The Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer will need quite a bit of exercise to keep fit and happy. A Giant Schnauzer needs a least one hour of strenuous exercise every day and can become very destructive if he doesn’t get enough. The Kerry Blue Terrier also needs a lot of exercise, otherwise can become bored and dig and bark. Both parent breeds can be aggressive with other dogs so best to keep your Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer on a lead when out in public. They will also chase other animals if given a chance so need to be monitored. But both parent breeds love to play so the Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer is also likely to. This hybrid prefers it when it is cooler so don’t walk them in the heat of the day and they would prefer a home with a yard, rather than trying to adapt to apartment living.

Activity Level

Low
Medium
High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
10 miles

Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes

Similar Maintenance Breeds to Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer

Similarly Sized Breeds to Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer

Giant Kerry Blue Schnauzer Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3 cups
Daily Cost
$1.50 - $1.90
Monthly Cost
$39.00 - $52.00

Written by Loreziel Ortega

Published: 10/24/2017, edited: 02/24/2021

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