The Giant Schnauzer is also known as the Russian Bear Schnauzer, the Munich Schnauzer and the Riesenschnauzer. It comes from a cross between the Standard Schnauzer, Bouvier des Flandres and the Great Dane.
The Giant Schnauzer was first used to drive livestock in Bavaria, but later was used as a guard dog for the police and the military. The word Schnauze is German for muzzle.