Giant Ratzer

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Giant Ratzer

11-50 lbs

10-22"

United States

Giant Schnauzer

Rat Terrier

The Giant Ratzer is a mix between a Rat Terrier and a Giant Schnauzer, one a small breed and the other large, so your pet may vary depending on which parent breed is more dominant. Common colors of the parent breeds are black, salt and pepper, white, tan, chocolate, blue, grey, lemon, and apricot. The Rat Terrier can be bi-or tri-colored so a Giant Ratzer could be too, and their coats are smooth compared to the Giant Schnauzer which has a wiry, hard and dense coat. Your pet is likely to need moderate maintenance and won’t shed too much. A Giant Schnauzer is energetic and intelligent and needs regular exercise as does the Rat Terrier. Though the Giant Schnauzer may be unsure of himself around children, the Rat Terrier is quite comfortable. Supervision around youngsters will be needed even once you know which personality your Giant Ratzer displays.

Purpose
​Companion pet, working dog


Date of Origin
Unknown


Ancestry
Giant Schnauzer, Rat Terrier

Giant Ratzer Health

Average Size

Height: 12-24 inches Weight: 12-55 lbs

Height: 10-22 inches Weight: 11-50 lbs

Major Concerns

Patellar Luxation
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Hip Dysplasia
Bloat
Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

Minor Concerns

Demodectic Mange
Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Shoulder Osteochondrosis

Occasional Diagnoses

Allergies

Occasional Tests

X-Rays
Physical Examination
Blood Work
Ophthalmic Exam

Giant Ratzer Breed History

The Giant Ratzer is a combination of a Giant Schnauzer and a Rat 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. Often found working in breweries as guard dogs, they were also bred as farm dogs. 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. Not surprisingly, the Rat Terrier was bred for catching rats and other small vermin mostly on farms. It is an American breed and was developed from Fox Terriers, Old English White Terriers, Manchester Terriers, Bull Terriers and was later crossed with Beagles, Whippets, and Italian Greyhounds among others. Some believe President Theodore Roosevelt named the breed when his dog sorted out the rat problem in the White House. The Teddy Roosevelt Terrier is also known as the short-legged Rat Terrier. Today, the Rat Terrier is a companion pet but also a working dog used as service dogs in hospices and as police dogs. In 1972, the first hairless Rat Terrier was born. The hairless Rat Terrier is known as the American Hairless Terrier and is either miniature or standard. There is also a larger strain, called the Decker or Decker Giant, named after breeder Milton Decker. The Rat Terrier was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2013.

Giant Ratzer Breed Appearance

The Giant Ratzer is a mix between a Rat Terrier and a Giant Schnauzer. Common colors of the parent breeds include black, salt and pepper, white, tan, chocolate, blue, grey, lemon and apricot. The Giant Ratzer can be bi-or tri-colored with a coat that is smooth or he may inherit a wiry, hard and dense coat; it all depends which parental genes are prominent. The Giant Ratzer typically has a large, muscular body and may have the distinct beard and eyebrows of his parent. They have oval shaped eyes which are either hazel or dark brown and deep-set. The ears are generally erect and most often, in countries where the practise is permitted, the tail is docked.

Eye Color Possibilities

Hazel

Brown

Nose Color Possibilities

Black

Coat Color Possibilities

Black

White

Brown

Blue

Gray

Coat Length

Short Medium Long

Coat Density

Sparse Normal Dense

Coat Texture

Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Giant Ratzer Breed Maintenance

The Giant Ratzer is likely to need moderate maintenance like both the parent breeds. The Giant Schnauzer is hypoallergenic but the Rat Terrier isn’t, so the amount of shedding will depend on who your pet most takes after. The Giant Schnauzer needs trimming around the eyebrows, beard and on the body while the Rat Terrier will look good with a weekly brush with a soft brush or a rubber mitt to remove any loose hair. A Giant Ratzer is not likely to shed much and will only need a bath when absolutely necessary. Try to brush your dog’s teeth daily to prevent any dental issues and check ears for dirt or moisture. If necessary, wipe them gently with damp cotton wool. Nails also need to be checked to see if they need clipping.

Brushes for Giant Ratzer

Pin Brush

Slicker Brush

Dematter

Nail Clipper

Brushing Frequency

Daily Weekly Monthly

Giant Ratzer Temperament

A Giant Ratzer is likely to take on many of the traits of their parent breeds so should be a great family pet, though 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. Rat Terriers are friendly, energetic dogs which are easy to train but like most terriers will need to be socialized early. The Rat Terrier can be stubborn and loves to dig, so plenty of mental and physical stimulation is needed to prevent any bad habits from forming. The Giant Ratzer can be a bit wary of strangers but are good with children they know as long as respect is taught to both parties. This hybrid loves their owners and tend to pick up on their moods.

Giant Ratzer Activity Requirements

The Giant Ratzer 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. They love going for runs or long walks but need to be on a leash as do Rat Terriers so they don’t chase other dogs. Rat Terriers are very energetic despite their size and also need a lot of exercise but can be very stubborn. They love ball games and will be happy to go for long walks. Depending on the size of your pet they may adapt to apartment living as long as they are taken out regularly for exercise. The Rat Terrier doesn’t enjoy the cold, while the Giant Schnauzer prefers it when it is cooler. Attention will need to be paid to how the climate is affecting your Giant Ratzer; depending on his coat and temperament, outdoor time will need to work around the weather.

Activity Level

Low
Medium
High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
10 miles

Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes

Similar Maintenance Breeds to Giant Ratzer

Similarly Sized Breeds to Giant Ratzer

Giant Ratzer Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3 cups
Daily Cost
$1.20 - $1.90
Monthly Cost
$34.00 - $52.00

Written by Loreziel Ortega

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

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