Giant Schnoodle Dog Breed: Info, Pictures, Care Guide & More

Say hello to the Giant Schnoodle! The name (originating from its parent breeds—the Poodle and the Giant Schnauzer) may be a bit silly, but you’ll find these sweet pups are incredibly bright and a blast to have around.

Breed Overview

These gentle giants are highly energetic and love to play, making them great for families with children. They’re also the type to forget their size and crawl into your lap while you binge-watch that latest Netflix show making them a fabulous fit for the cuddlers in your home. Plus, they’re hypoallergenic, so if you’ve had trouble finding a pet suited for family members with allergies, these dogs might be your perfect fit.

Giant Schnoodle Characteristics

Giant Schnoodle Puppies

If you’ve decided that a Giant Schnoodle is the right dog for you, unfortunately, they aren’t easy to find. These fluffy fellas are a designer breed, so you’ll most likely be going to a breeder. You’ll want to be sure you’re shopping with a reputable breeder, however, or you’ll end up running into expensive health problems down the road.

There might be a chance you may be able to adopt a Giant Schnoodle, but just be aware that this route may mean ending up waiting months to adopt. When you do welcome a Giant Shnoodle into your home, you can expect an affectionate, smart, and loving dog.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Giant Schnoodle

Giant Schnoodles take the best characteristics from their parents – the Poodle and the Giant Schnauzer – which makes them a combination of loyal, cuddly, highly intelligent, and happy. They’ll want to be actively involved in your life and may follow you around the house as you do chores. They’ll also want you to make plenty of time for cuddles.

One fabulous trait they have is the ability to read social situations. They can distinguish what kind of play is required for different people, so they’ll be gentler with kids while playing a bit more roughly with an adult.

When it comes to their family, Giant Schnoodles are incredibly affectionate. Still, they may end up favoring one specific member of the family just a touch more than the rest. When it comes to strangers, they tend to be more “bark now, trust later,” though. So, keep in mind that they’ll be wary of new people until that person has proven themselves trustworthy.

These dogs are also terribly bright, so you’ll have an easier time training them (although they can be stubborn, so you may run into the occasional obstacle). The negative side of being so intelligent? They can become easily bored, and if left on their own with nothing to do, they may become destructive. This is one pet you’ll need to engage with plenty of play and toys.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

Giant Schnoodles make for great family pets due to their friendly and protective nature. They’re particularly good with children, especially if the dog has been socialized from a young age. Plus, they can be silly and goofy, making them highly entertaining. They’ll also be gentler with little kids since they’re aware your toddler can’t play as roughly as you can. That said, you should always be careful with children around larger pets, not leaving the two together unattended.

Another upside of the Giant Schnoodle is its hypoallergenic nature. If you have family members who suffer from allergies or related issues, you’ll probably do well with this dog.

Due to their extremely energetic nature, they do require lots of exercise and interaction – approximately 60 minutes a day is recommended – so if you and your family are extremely busy, on-the-go people, they may not be your best bet.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?  

Because Giant Schnoodles aren’t aggressive, they tend to get along with other animals in the household. Again, early socialization is integral in fostering good relationships.

They may tend to be hesitant at first around other pets, but given time to warm up, all of your animals should become good friends. When it comes to other dogs, you may find your Giant Schnoodle has a bit of a toy-sharing problem. Overall, though, there shouldn’t be any trouble.

They can also get along just fine with cats (although your cat might have an issue if the dog stays true to its family trait of being a herder!).

Things to Know When Owning a Giant Schnoodle:

Like every potential pet, the Giant Schnoodle has specific requirements you should be well-informed about before adopting.

Food & Diet Requirements

Giant Schnoodles may love food and want to eat their weight in it, but the “giant” in their name doesn’t mean they actually get to eat like one! While you’ll likely shell out around $75 a month for dog food for this breed, you’ll only be giving them around four cups of food a day. The cost will come more from the fact that these dogs need food of high quality.

High-quality foods will contain healthy carbs, plus more meat-based protein than plant-based (look for real meat as one of the first few ingredients). The food you buy doesn’t have to be the most expensive, but neither should it be the cheapest thing out there that’s stuffed with filler ingredients.

Because the Giant Schnoodle is part Poodle, they may develop digestive issues – especially later in life – so foods with added probiotics can also be helpful.

Exercise

This breed of dog is highly energetic, so you’ll need to be prepared to give up at least one hour or more of each day to exercise them. You won’t just be exercising their body though – you’ll also need to exercise their mind! Because of their bright nature, tiring them out physically and mentally is required.

You can keep your dog happy physically with a number of different activities such as daily walks or chasing a ball. Keep them mentally engaged with more difficult play such as puzzle toys, exploring new areas on your walks, or even setting up an obstacle course. The trick is to switch things up so they don’t get bored. You’ll also need to remain engaged with any play yourself – if you’re bored, they’ll get bored.

The good news? As your pup gets older, they’ll eventually get more relaxed and will need less extensive exercise.

Training

Both the Giant Schnoodle’s parents, the Poodle and the Giant Schnauzer, are intelligent dogs making their pups sharp as well. This can make training go a bit easier; however, the Giant Schnoodle’s tendency towards the stubborn side is where you may run into slight problems. They’ll need firm guidance to keep them on track during training. Use treats for positive reinforcement since they enjoy food so much, and be sure you’re keeping them mentally strong by engaging in different kinds of activities. If you’re not sure you’ll do well with training a puppy, you can always seek the help of a professional trainer.

Grooming ✂️

As far as grooming goes, these dogs are pretty low maintenance. Brush their fur a couple of times a week to help keep them tangle-free and bathe them about once a month. Give them a quick ear cleaning weekly (especially if they have poodle-style ears) with a wet cloth plus an appropriate ear cleaner. Brush their teeth at least three times a week to maintain dental hygiene and, finally, trim their nails every few weeks.

Health and Conditions 🏥

If bred well, the Giant Schnoodle should be generally healthy. As with all animals, they risk inheriting certain conditions from either of their parent breeds. The most common conditions below are merely possibilities that may occur.

Male vs Female

When it comes to gender in this breed, there isn’t a lot of difference. The biggest will be the size of the dog as males tend to weigh several pounds more than females and stand a couple of inches taller as well. When it comes to temperament, both male and female Giant Schnoodles will be playful, loyal, and smart to a fault.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Giant Schnoodle

1. The Schnoodle was specifically developed to be a low-dander dog

Like most designer dogs these got their start back in the 1980s. Breeders decided they wanted to develop a family dog that was low dander and wouldn’t shed a lot, thus the Schnoodle was born.

2. Giant Schnoodles may be introverts

While the Giant Schnoodle is a highly social creature, some of these pups tend to get tired quickly. Like many an introvert, this means they’ll do better in short-term social situations rather than extended situations like an all-day family reunion. Every dog is different, of course, even those from the same breed, so yours might end up being the life of the party!

3. Giant Schnoodles love to swim

Believe it or not, poodles were meant to be water retrievers, and their offspring got that gene. Giant Schnoodles tend to be quite fond of the water and enjoy swimming.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a fun-loving, affectionate dog who knows how to play well with children and has the bonus of being hypoallergenic, the Giant Schnoodle could be your new best friend!

However, if you have don’t have a lot of time in your life to devote to a pet, this guy probably isn’t for you due to the need for lots of exercise and constant mental engagement. This breed needs significant time with its owner to fully enjoy life.

If you have the time to dedicate to this pup though, you’ll be looking at years of loyalty and silly fun.

• See Also: How Much Does a Schnoodle Cost?

Featured Image Credit to: Nicole Klein, Shutterstock