The Giant Schnauzer is a very athletic dog and therefore needs lots of exercise and stimulation. If they do not receive enough stimulation daily, they will literally bounce off of the walls and will be extremely difficult to manage. They have a great need to expend their excess energy daily or they will not be able to settle in for the night.

The Giant Schnauzer needs as much exercise as possible. They should receive it at a minimum of two times daily. This should be more than just a play session in the back yard. They need to walk or run a minimum of two miles per day. They need and love a play session where they can just run freely.

It would be wise to engage your Giant Schnauzer in some various doggie sports. They love the competition and this provides another form of exercise for them. They are decidedly competitive and possess a natural talent for many of the doggie sports available.

They are very good at agility competitions. Agility is simply an obstacle course that the dog will run through at the direction of the handler without being touched by the handler. The Giant Schnauzer loves the stimulation and challenge that the various jumps provide. It is great for them both physically as well as mentally.

Another sport in which the Giant Schnauzer will excel in is the sport of Schutzhund. This sport was developed in Germany in the early 1900's. Very few dogs can successfully compete in such a sport, but the Giant Schnauzer is a natural competitor in this area. The test consists of three separate components and the dog must pass each component in order to go on. The dog must pass in the areas of tracking, obedience and finally in protection work. This area is similar to the training of a police dog. The Giant Schnauzer is innate in this as they are used for police work in Germany.

Carting is a favorite sport for the Giant Schnauzer. Carting is sometimes referred to as "dryland mushing". A cart is simply hooked up to a dog who is wearing a harness. The dog then pulls the cart from one location to another. The cart could have various items in it such as supplies, firewood, farm items or even a person! This sport offers both discipline and exercise opportunities for the Giant Schnauzer. The Giant Schnauzer is a working breed of dog and will be happier when it is given a job to do. This makes carting a perfect sport for this dog!

This dog needs to be taken out to participate in athletic activities. If you don't want to participate in the doggie sports, you should consider hiking or running with your dog. You could take your dog biking or swimming with you. The most important thing is that you get the Giant Schnauzer out and active! If you do not have the inclination to provide various activities for the Giant Schnauzer, you should consider a different breed of canine.

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