Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Giant Schnauzer Food Calculator
- Giant Schnauzer Feeding Chart
- Best Food for Giant Schnauzer. Giant Schnauzer Feeding Guide
- How Much Food to Feed the Giant Schnauzer
- How Many Times to Feed the Giant Schnauzer a Day
- Conclusion
Introduction to Feeding the Giant Schnauzer
Most dog owners do not know how to properly feed their dogs.
Also, most dog owners overfeed their dogs.
That explains why 59 percent of dogs and cats are overweight, according to research.
Overfeeding your Giant Schnauzer will make your Giant Schnauzer overweight and obese. Obesity leads to worse health problems for your Giant Schnauzer.
Unfortunately, the Giant Schnauzer is a dog breed that can become overweight very easily.
Therefore, you need to pay careful attention to what you feed your Giant Schnauzer and how much food you feed your Giant Schnauzer.
Furthermore, when you overfeed your Giant Schnauzer, you waste dog food. Wasting dog food is the same as wasting money. Dog food is a recurring expenditure that adds up to a lot of money over the lifespan of your Giant Schnauzer.
The average lifespan of the Giant Schnauzer is 10.0 years.
When you feed your Giant Schnauzer the right type of food and the right amount of food, your Giant Schnauzer will be of the right body weight and the right body condition (not overweight or underweight).
Similarly, underfeeding your Giant Schnauzer is as bad of a problem as overfeeding your Giant Schnauzer.
When you underfeed your Giant Schnauzer or feed your Giant Schnauzer an incomplete or unbalanced diet, you reduce your Giant Schnauzer`s quality of life.
The right amount of food that your Giant Schnauzer needs depends on six important factors.
You need to take all these factors into account when developing a meal plan for your Giant Schnauzer. These six factors are:- The life stage of your Giant Schnauzer (puppy, adult, or senior)
- The current weight of your Giant Schnauzer
- The body condition of your Giant Schnauzer (normal weight, overweight, underweight)
- How active your Giant Schnauzer is (inactive/obese prone, or active/athletic)
- If your Giant Schnauzer has been spayed/neutered
- The type of dog food that you feed your Giant Schnauzer
This article will provide you with a detailed guide on how to properly feed your Giant Schnauzer based on the above factors as recommended by veterinarians.
This article also includes the Giant Schnauzer food calculator that you can use to estimate how much food to feed your Giant Schnauzer based on the six factors we have just mentioned.
Our Giant Schnauzer food calculator uses the dog food formula and feeding guidelines developed by the veterinarians from The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center and by veterinarians from the Mark Morris Institute.
Moreover, our calculator knows the calorie content per cup in over 800 popular dog foods (data from the Frankin Animal Clinic). Thus, the calculator can automatically calculate the right amount of each popular dog food that your Giant Schnauzer needs daily.
Importantly, since the nutrient requirements of the Giant Schnauzer puppy are different from the nutrient requirements of the adult Giant Schnauzer, this article contains recommendations on the best food to feed the Giant Schnauzer at different ages.
Giant Schnauzer Food Calculator
The Giant Schnauzer Food Calculator above lets you estimate how much food to feed your Giant Schnauzer.
Similarly, to calculate how much water your Giant Schnauzer needs, check out our Giant Schnauzer water calculator
.Our dog water calculator lets you estimate how much water your Giant Schnauzer needs to drink in a day.
How to Use our Giant Schnauzer Food Calculator
To use the dog food calculator:✔ Select the name of the dog food that you feed your Giant Schnauzer from the list.
✔ If the name of the dog food that your feed your Giant Schnauzer is not on the list, then find the bag or can of your dog food, the bag should have written on it how many kcals per cup is in the dog food. Enter this value in the calculator in the place of the dog food name.
✔ Enter the current weight of your Giant Schnauzer.
✔ Select your Giant Schnauzer`s age range, activity level, and neuter status.
✔ If your Giant Schnauzer is overweight or underweight, and you want your Giant Schnauzer to lose or gain weight, enter the ideal weight of your Giant Schnauzer for its current age in the `How much you wish your dog currently weighs` box. Leave this box blank if your Giant Schnauzer is of normal weight.
To know how much Giant Schnauzers typically weigh at different ages, check out our article and calculators on Giant Schnauzer weight and growth.
CONSULT A LICENSED VETERINARIAN FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR DOG ON A WEIGHT LOSS OR WEIGHT GAIN DIET.
How the Giant Schnauzer Food Calculator Works
First, the calculator estimates what is known as the Resting Energy Requirement (RER) of your Giant Schnauzer.
The RER is the amount of energy that your Giant Schnauzer needs when it is `resting`, that is when doing nothing. The calculator uses the current weight of your Giant Schnauzer to calculate your Giant Schnauzer`s resting energy.
Next, the calculator scales up the resting energy by a factor that corresponds to your Giant Schnauzer`s life stage (puppy or adult) and lifestyle (activity level, spayed/neutered, etc). This scaled up energy value (called the maintenance energy) is the energy that your Giant Schnauzer needs to maintain its life when not resting.
Finally, the Giant Schnauzer food calculator divides the maintenance energy by the amount of energy in one cup of dog food to calculate how many cups of dog food your Giant Schnauzer needs.
Monitoring Your Giant Schnauzer`s Growth
The answer from the Giant Schnauzer food calculator is a starting point number on how much food you need to feed your Giant Schnauzer.
Start by feeding your Giant Schnauzer the amount of food recommended by the Giant Schnauzer food calculator every day.
While feeding your Giant Schnauzer this daily amount of food, weigh your Giant Schnauzer at least once a week to ensure that your Giant Schnauzer is not on its way to becoming overweight or underweight.
If your Giant Schnauzer is becoming overweight, reduce the amount of food your feed it by 10 to 15 percent, if underweight increase its food by 10 to 15 percent.
You can use our dog weight tracking tool to keep records of your Giant Schnauzer`s weight. This tool will let you know if the feeding plan is making your Giant Schnauzer grow normally or abnormally.
You can also check your Giant Schnauzer body condition score to find out if it is overweight or underweight. Learn how to check your Giant Schnauzer body condition score here.
Giant Schnauzer Feeding Chart
Below is the typical feed chart for the Giant Schnauzer. This chart provides you a rough guide on how much dry dog food (kibble) to feed your Giant Schnauzer.
If you want a more accurate estimate of how much food to feed your Giant Schnauzer, use this Giant Schnauzer food calculator.
| Age | Typical Weight | How Much Food |
|---|---|---|
| 13 weeks | 31.3 lbs (14.2 kg) | 3.9 cups per day |
| 15 weeks | 36.4 lbs (16.5 kg) | 4.4 cups per day |
| 16 weeks | 38.8 lbs (17.6 kg) | 4.6 cups per day |
| 20 weeks | 47.4 lbs (21.5 kg) | 3.6 cups per day |
| 5 months | 47.4 lbs (21.5 kg) | 3.6 cups per day |
| 6 months | 54.6 lbs (24.8 kg) | 4.0 cups per day |
| 7 months | 60.6 lbs (27.5 kg) | 4.3 cups per day |
| 8 months | 65.5 lbs (29.7 kg) | 4.6 cups per day |
| 9 months | 69.4 lbs (31.5 kg) | 4.8 cups per day |
| 10 months | 72.6 lbs (32.9 kg) | 4.9 cups per day |
| 11 months | 75.0 lbs (34.0 kg) | 5.1 cups per day |
| 12 months | 76.9 lbs (34.9 kg) | 5.2 cups per day |
| 1 years | 78.3 lbs (35.5 kg) | 5.2 cups per day |
| 4 years | 81.6 lbs (37.0 kg) | 4.3 cups per day |
| 5 years | 81.6 lbs (37.0 kg) | 4.3 cups per day |
How to Measure the Right Amount of Dog Food for Your Giant Schnauzer
Research has shown that most owners over-measure a cup of dog food. As a result, most dogs owners overfeed their dogs. This is because dog owners do not level off the cup when measuring out the food they give to their dogs.
See how and how not to measure ONE cup of dry dog food in the picture below:
Note that one cup of dog food equals 8 oz of dog food or ~237 milliliters of dog food.
You can buy standard dog food measuring cups here on Amazon.
Best Food for Giant Schnauzer. Giant Schnauzer Feeding Guide
The Giant Schnauzer has different nutrient needs at different life stages. Therefore, the dog food that you feed your Giant Schnauzer at different ages should be the type that is appropriate for its age.
For example, during its puppy stage, your Giant Schnauzer needs the type of dog food that has been designed to help boost a puppy`s weak immune system.
On the other hand, the adult Giant Schnauzer should have already developed a good immune system. So, during the adult stage, you should feed your Giant Schnauzer the type of dog food that has been designed to prolong the life of a dog.
Nevertheless, some dogs still do well eating the same food at every stage of their lives.
However, feeding your Giant Schnauzer dog food that has been optimized for its age will ensure that your Giant Schnauzer grows well, lives well, and lives long.
Feeding Guide for the Giant Schnauzer Puppy: 12 weeks to one year
The dog food that you feed your puppy should have the nutrients that will boost a puppy`s immune system since puppies easily get infected with the disease at this age.
Also, a good puppy food should have the nutrients that support brain development and good vision.
Finally, a good dog food for the Giant Schnauzer puppy should be the type that will not make your Giant Schnauzer fat. The puppy food should also help increase the health of your puppy`s bones.
See our list of the best dry dog food and the best wet dog food for the Giant Schnauzer puppy below.
These dog foods have all the right amount of nutrients that the Giant Schnauzer puppy needs to grow well during its puppy years.
Best Dry Food For Giant Schnauzer Puppy: Hill`s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Puppy, Chicken Meal & Barley Recipe
Best Wet Food For Giant Schnauzer Puppy: Purina Pro Plan High Protein Wet Puppy Food
Feeding Guide for the Young Adult Giant Schnauzer: Ages 1 year to 6 years
The dog food that you feed a young adult Giant Schnauzer should have the nutrients that will make a dog live longer.
A good dog food for the young adult Giant Schnauzer should also have the nutrients that will minimize the chances of your Giant Schnauzer getting infected with common dog diseases.
Also, a good dry dog food for the young adult Giant Schnauzer should help clean your dog`s teeth as your dog chews on the food.
Below is our best dog food recommendations for the young adult Giant Schnauzer
Best Dry Food For Young Adult Giant Schnauzer: Hill`s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult Oral Care for Dental Health Dog Food, Chicken Rice & Barley Recipe
Best Wet Food For Young Adult Giant Schnauzer: Hill`s Science Diet Wet Dog Food, Chicken & Barley
Feeding Guide for Mature Adult Giant Schnauzers: 6 years and older
You should feed the mature adult Giant Schnauzer food that has been formulated to improve their quality of life, increase their life expectancy, and increase their overall health.
Older dogs are prone to age-related health problems. A good diet is essential to minimize the possibility of becoming frail with age.
See our recommendation on the best food for the mature adult Giant Schnauzer below:
Best Dry Food For Mature Adult Giant Schnauzer: Hill`s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult 7+ for Senior Dogs, Chicken Meal, Barley & Brown Rice Recipe
Best Wet Food For Mature Adult Giant Schnauzer: Hill`s Science Diet Wet Dog Food, Adult 7+ for Senior Dogs, Beef & Barley Recipe
Feeding Guide for Senior Dogs
One way to slow down the effects of aging in dogs is to reduce the amount of food you feed old dogs by 20 to 30% of normal while meeting essential nutrient needs.
Reducing a senior Giant Schnauzer`s food slows the aging process and reduces the risk for cancer, kidney diseases, arthritis, and immune-related diseases.
AAFCO-Certified Dog Food for the Giant Schnauzer
No matter which commercial food that you feed your Giant Schnauzer, make sure that the food is approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
AAFCO is an expert body that rigorously tests dog food to make sure that the dog food is safe.
Also, AAFCO ensures that a dog food has all the nutrients (not just calories) that a dog needs to grow well before AAFCO approves the dog food.
Unlike homemade dog food, most commercial dog foods are AAFCO-approved. Double-check the label of your dog food to make sure it has been certified by AAFCO before feeding it to your Giant Schnauzer.
How Much Food to Feed the Giant Schnauzer
How Much Food to Feed a 14-Week-Old Giant Schnauzer Puppy
You should feed your 14-week-old Giant Schnauzer puppy 4.2 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
You may divide this food into two or three separate meals and give it to your Giant Schnauzer puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food should feed your 14-week-old Giant Schnauzer puppy assumes that the weight of your Giant Schnauzer is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 14-week-old Giant Schnauzer puppy is 33.9 lbs (15.4 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your Giant Schnauzer also assumes that you feed your Giant Schnauzer a dog food with a calorie content of 389 kcal per cup.
If you want a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Giant Schnauzer puppy based on its exact weight, the exact type of dog food that you feed your Giant Schnauzer, and other factors, use our Giant Schnauzer food calculator.
How Much Food to Feed a 15-Week-Old Giant Schnauzer Puppy
You should feed your 15-week-old Giant Schnauzer puppy 4.4 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
You may divide this food into two or three separate meals and give it to your Giant Schnauzer puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food should feed your 15-week-old Giant Schnauzer puppy assumes that the weight of your Giant Schnauzer is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 15-week-old Giant Schnauzer puppy is 36.4 lbs (16.5 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your Giant Schnauzer also assumes that you feed your Giant Schnauzer a dog food with a calorie content of 389 kcal per cup.
If you want a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Giant Schnauzer puppy based on its exact weight, the exact type of dog food that you feed your Giant Schnauzer, and other factors, use our Giant Schnauzer food calculator.
How Much Food to Feed a 5-Month-Old Giant Schnauzer Puppy
You should feed your 5-month-old Giant Schnauzer puppy 3.6 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Giant Schnauzer puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your 5-month-old Giant Schnauzer puppy assumes that the weight of your Giant Schnauzer is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 5-month-old Giant Schnauzer puppy is 47.4 lbs (21.5 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Giant Schnauzer also assumes that you feed your Giant Schnauzer dog food that has an average calorie density (389 kcal per cup).
Use our Giant Schnauzer food calculator to calculate a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Giant Schnauzer.
How Much Food to Feed a 7-Month-Old Giant Schnauzer Puppy
You should feed your 7-month-old Giant Schnauzer puppy 4.3 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Giant Schnauzer puppy over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you should feed your 7-month-old Giant Schnauzer puppy assumes that the weight of your Giant Schnauzer is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 7-month-old Giant Schnauzer puppy is 60.6 lbs (27.5 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Giant Schnauzer also assumes that you feed your Giant Schnauzer dog food that has an average calorie density (389 kcal per cup).
Use our Giant Schnauzer food calculator to calculate a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Giant Schnauzer.
How Much Food to Feed a 5-Year-Old Giant Schnauzer
You should feed your 5-year-old Giant Schnauzer 4.3 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Giant Schnauzer over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you need to feed your 5-year-old Giant Schnauzer assumes that the weight of your Giant Schnauzer is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 5-year-old Giant Schnauzer puppy is 81.6 lbs (37.0 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Giant Schnauzer also assumes that you feed your Giant Schnauzer dog food of that contains 389 kilocalories of energy per cup.
Use our Giant Schnauzer food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Giant Schnauzer.
How Much Food to Feed a 8-Year-Old Giant Schnauzer
You should feed your 8-year-old Giant Schnauzer 4.3 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate portions and give it to your Giant Schnauzer over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food you need to feed your 8-year-old Giant Schnauzer assumes that the weight of your Giant Schnauzer is typical for its age.
The typical weight for a 8-year-old Giant Schnauzer puppy is 81.6 lbs (37.0 kg).
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Giant Schnauzer also assumes that you feed your Giant Schnauzer dog food of that contains 389 kilocalories of energy per cup.
Use our Giant Schnauzer food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Giant Schnauzer.
How Much Food to Feed a 35-Pound Giant Schnauzer
You should feed your 35-Pound Giant Schnauzer 2.6 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate potions and give it to your Giant Schnauzer over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Giant Schnauzer also assumes that you feed your Giant Schnauzer a dog food that has an energy content of 389 kilocalories per cup, and that your Giant Schnauzer is reproductively intact.
Also, we assume that your Giant Schnauzer is not overweight or underweight.
Use our Giant Schnauzer food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Giant Schnauzer.
How Much Food to Feed a 66-Pound Giant Schnauzer
You should feed your 66-Pound Giant Schnauzer 4.2 cups of dry dog food (kibble) every day.
Ration this food into two or three separate potions and give it to your Giant Schnauzer over the day.
Our recommendation on how much food to feed your Giant Schnauzer also assumes that you feed your Giant Schnauzer a dog food that has an energy content of 389 kilocalories per cup, and that your Giant Schnauzer is reproductively intact.
Also, we assume that your Giant Schnauzer is not overweight or underweight.
Use our Giant Schnauzer food calculator for a more accurate estimation of how much food to feed your Giant Schnauzer.
How Many Times to Feed the Giant Schnauzer a Day
When it comes to how many times to feed a dog, there are three different ways to feed the Giant Schnauzer
One way is to make food available to the Giant Schnauzer at all times (free-choice feeding).
Another way is to feed the Giant Schnauzer two or three times a day (food-restricted feeding). This is the feeding method that works the best for most Giant Schnauzers.
The third way is to make food available to your Giant Schnauzer for a short time (about 10 minutes) once or twice a day (time-restricted feeding).
Each of these feeding methods has its advantages and disadvantages, which will be discussed next.
Free-Choice Feeding
This is a feeding method when you make food available to your Giant Schnauzer all the time.
Note that free-choice feeding is not recommended for large- and giant-breed puppies like the Giant Schnauzer puppies until these puppies have reached 12 months of age.
Food-Restricted Meal Feeding
Food-limited feeding requires feeding a measured amount of food based on the Giant Schnauzer’s daily energy requirements divided into two or three meals per day.
This is the method of choice for feeding puppies that are at risk of developing bone diseases due to rapid growth. Restricting the food of a rapidly growing dog will ensure that the dog grows normally.
Time-Limited Feeding
This is a dog feeding method in which dogs are allowed access to food for a short period, usually 10 to 15 minutes, once or twice daily (three times per day for the first month after weaning, then twice per day).
| Method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Free-choice feeding |
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| Food-restricted feeding |
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| Time-restricted feeding |
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Effect of Neutering/Spaying on How Much Food your Giant Schnauzer eats
Neutered/spayed dogs tend to get fat twice as easily as intact dogs.
Studies have shown that neutering/spaying may increase your Giant Schnauzer`s appetite for more food. Also, your Giant Schnauzer`s physical activity decreases after neutering/spaying. These factors lead to weight gain.
Neutering may lead to more weight gain in male Giant Schnauzers because neutered dogs roam less (which means less exercise).
Therefore, the amount of food that you give to a neutered Giant Schnauzer should be reduced after you neuter your Giant Schnauzer to prevent weight gain.
Use our Giant Schnauzer food calculator to calculate how much food to feed a neutered/spayed Giant Schnauzer.
Effect of Weather on How Much Food Your Giant Schnauzer Needs
Giant Schnauzers that live in cold environments need more food (especially, food high in fat) than Giant Schnauzers that live in hot environments.
Hot weather, on the other hand, does not increase the amount of food your Giant Schnauzer needs. Hot weather only makes your Giant Schnauzer need more water.
Since most Giant Schnauzers live in a temperature-controlled environment as their owners. Therefore, owners do not need to increase or decrease the amount of food they give to their Giant Schnauzers based on the outside weather.
Important Note on Treats and Table Food
Because meeting a dog`s nutrient requirements is not the primary goal of dog treats, most commercial dog treats do not contain the essential nutrients that your Giant Schnauzer needs.
However, a few treats are complete and balanced and are approved by AAFCO, or some other credible dog food regulatory agency. Check the label on your dog treat to know if the dog treat has a complete and balanced nutrient profile.
Nevertheless, dog treats, either balanced or unbalanced in nutrients, are valid sources of calories for your dog. Therefore, if you give your dog lots of treats, you should reduce the amount of the regular dog food that you give your dog accordingly to account for the treats. That way, you will not overfeed your dog.
Also, human table foods do not contain the important nutrients that your Giant Schnauzer needs for healthy growth.
Also, human table foods may contain very high levels of fat or sodium and other minerals that are harmful to your Giant Schnauzer.
Moreover, know that when you feed your Giant Schnauzer table food, you fill your Giant Schnauzer`s stomach with dog `junk food`. This will suppress your Giant Schnauzer`s appetite and thereby make your Giant Schnauzer unable to eat its normal dog food that contains the essential nutrients for your Giant Schnauzer`s growth.
We do not recommend giving your Giant Schnauzer table food.
Conclusion
Most commercial dog food labels contain recommendations on how much of the food to feed a dog. However, their recommendations are very general.
Therefore, in this article, we have provided your specific advice on how to properly feed your Giant Schnauzer.