Last Updated: Jun 18, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Great Dane Versus Standard Schnauzer: Introduction
- Great Dane versus Standard Schnauzer: Overview
- Great Dane versus Standard Schnauzer: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer
- The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer
- Size Comparison of the Great Dane versus Standard Schnauzer
- Appearance (Colors) of the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer
- Lifespan of Great Dane versus Standard Schnauzer
- Temperament of the Standard Schnauzer Versus the Great Dane
- Price of Great Dane versus Price of Standard Schnauzer
- The Intelligence of the Great Dane versus the Intelligence of the Standard Schnauzer
- The Popularity of Great Dane versus Popularity of Standard Schnauzer
- Health Problems of Great Dane versus Health Problems of Standard Schnauzer
- Tolerates Being Alone: Great Dane versus Standard Schnauzer
- Do Great Danes shed more than Standard Schnauzers?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Standard Schnauzer?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Great Dane or the Standard Schnauzer?
- Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Standard Schnauzers?
- Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Standard Schnauzer?
- Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Standard Schnauzer
- How Kid-friendly are Great Danes and Standard Schnauzers?
- Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Standard Schnauzer?
- Do Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Standard Schnauzers?
- Can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Standard Schnauzers Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Standard Schnauzer
- Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Standard Schnauzers Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds
- Conclusion: Great Dane versus Standard Schnauzer. Which One is a Better Pet?
Great Dane Versus Standard Schnauzer: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer better suits you.
We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.
Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Great Dane and for the Standard Schnauzer. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer.
Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Great Dane or the Standard Schnauzer.
Great Dane versus Standard Schnauzer: Overview
A very important difference between the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Great Dane is a giant-sized dog while the Standard Schnauzer is a medium-sized dog.
Furthermore, both the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer are Working Dogs. This means both the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.
Great Dane versus Standard Schnauzer: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Great Dane to the Standard Schnauzer based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.
When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets
Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.
However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.
Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer
| Factor | Great Dane | Standard Schnauzer |
|---|---|---|
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Weight | 100 to 200 pounds | 30 to 50 pounds |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Height | 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder | 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 8 inches tall at the s |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Intelligence | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| General Health | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Easy To Train | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Life Span | 7 to 10 years | 13 to 16 years |
| Average Lifespan | 8.5 years | 14.5 years |
| Average Price | $1560 | $1630 |
| Price Range | $1000 – $2000 | $1200 – $2000 |
| Temperament Score | 81.5 percent | 71.1 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests | ||
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 15 | 91 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 48 | 18 |
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Great Dane in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Standard Schnauzer. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.
The Better-Pet score for the Great Dane is 73 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Standard Schnauzer is 80 out of 125.
Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Standard Schnauzer, we still believe that the Great Dane is a better pet than the Standard Schnauzer.
This is because Great Danes are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Great Dane will come out on top.
Also, we are biased in favor of the Great Dane :-). We are for the Great Dane. So get a Great Dane!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer
Below is a list of where the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer are most different:
The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer
The Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer are most similar:
Size Comparison of the Great Dane versus Standard Schnauzer
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer.
The Great Dane weighs 100 to 200 pounds when fully grown. The Great Dane is 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
On the other hand, the Standard Schnauzer weighs 30 to 50 pounds when fully grown. The Standard Schnauzer is 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 8 inches tall at the s when fully grown.
Appearance (Colors) of the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer
Great Dane Colors
The Great Dane comes in the following beautiful primary colors:
- Black
- Harlequin
- Merle (Blue)
- Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
- Brown / Chocolate
- White / Cream
- Brindle
- Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
- Merle (Red)
- Bicolor
- Gray / Blue / Silver
The Great Dane comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:
- White / Cream
- Brown / Chocolate
- Black
- Gray / Blue / Silver
- Golden
- Merle (Blue)
- Harlequin
- Brindle
Standard Schnauzer Colors
The Standard Schnauzer comes in the following beautiful primary colors:
- Brown / Chocolate
- Black
- Gray / Blue / Silver
The Standard Schnauzer comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:
- Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
Lifespan of Great Dane versus Standard Schnauzer
The lifespan of the Great Dane is between 7 to 10 years. The average lifespan of the Great Dane is 8.5 years.
The lifespan of the Standard Schnauzer is between 13 to 16 years. The average lifespan of the Standard Schnauzer is 14.5 years.
The Standard Schnauzer live longer than the Great Dane.
Temperament of the Standard Schnauzer Versus the Great Dane
The Great Dane has a better temperament than the Standard Schnauzer.
This is because the temperament score for the Great Dane is 81.5 percent while the temperament score for the Standard Schnauzer is 71.1 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).
The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.
Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.
The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.
With its temperament score of 81.5 percent, the Great Dane has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
With its temperament score of 71.1 percent, the Standard Schnauzer has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer by measuring the temperaments of 314 Great Danes and 76 Standard Schnauzers.
Price of Great Dane versus Price of Standard Schnauzer
The average price of the Great Dane puppy is $1560. The price of the Great Dane typically ranges from $1000 – $2000. However, the price of a Great Dane can be as low as $100 and as high as $5500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1324 Great Dane puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The average price of the Standard Schnauzer puppy is $1630. The price of the Standard Schnauzer typically ranges from $1200 – $2000. However, the price of the Standard Schnauzer can be as low as $600 and as high as $2500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 50 Standard Schnauzer puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Standard Schnauzer is more expensive than the Great Dane.
| Great Dane | Standard Schnauzer | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $1560 | $1630 |
| Price Range | $1000 to $2000 | $1200 to $2000 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Great Dane and Standard Schnauzer. For different price points, the charts show how many Great Dane puppies or how many Standard Schnauzer puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of Great Danes. The typical price range is shaded Green.
A breakdown of the prices of Standard Schnauzers
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Great Dane puppy or the Standard Schnauzer puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.
Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.
You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.
The Intelligence of the Great Dane versus the Intelligence of the Standard Schnauzer
| Great Dane | Standard Schnauzer | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 48 out of 130 dog breeds | 18 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions | Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions |
Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.
According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:
Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.
This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.
To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.
Prof. Coren found that the Great Dane has an obedience intelligence rank of 48 out of 130 dog breeds. The Great Dane belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Great Danes tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
The Standard Schnauzer has an obedience intelligence rank of 18 out of 130 dog breeds. The Standard Schnauzer belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Standard Schnauzers tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
The Standard Schnauzer is more intelligent than the Great Dane.
However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.
The Popularity of Great Dane versus Popularity of Standard Schnauzer
Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).
The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Great Dane is more popular with dog owners than the Standard Schnauzer. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Great Dane is 15 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Standard Schnauzer is 91 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Great Dane
Popularity of Standard Schnauzer
| Year | Great Dane Popularity Rank | Standard Schnauzer Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 16 | 90 |
| 2014 | 15 | 90 |
| 2015 | 15 | 91 |
| 2016 | 14 | 85 |
| 2017 | 14 | 90 |
| 2018 | 16 | 89 |
| 2019 | 17 | 97 |
| 2020 | 15 | 92 |
| 2021 | 17 | 96 |
Health Problems of Great Dane versus Health Problems of Standard Schnauzer
Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.
Both the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.
The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.
Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Standard Schnauzer is prone to more genetic health problems than the Great Dane.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Standard Schnauzer than for the Great Dane.
4 health tests are recommended for Great Dane while 6 tests are recommended for the Standard Schnauzer.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Great Danes and in Standard Schnauzers.
Great Dane Health Problems
Great Danes are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Great Dane puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a Great Dane puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Great Dane breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Great Danes for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Great Danes here.
Standard Schnauzer Health Problems
Standard Schnauzers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Standard Schnauzer puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a Standard Schnauzer puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Standard Schnauzer breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Standard Schnauzers for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Standard Schnauzers here.
More Discussions on Health Problems in Great Danes and Standard Schnauzers
Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Great Dane Breed is Shoulder problems.
This is because the Great Dane ranks 4 out of 22 dog breeds for Shoulder problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 183 Great Danes, 10 of them had Shoulder problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Great Danes, and how common these diseases are in Great Danes relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Standard Schnauzer Breed is Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems.
This is because the Standard Schnauzer ranks 2 out of 3 dog breeds for Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1749 Standard Schnauzers, 8 of them had Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Standard Schnauzers, and how common these diseases are in Standard Schnauzers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
The table below lists the common health problems in Great Dane and in Standard Schnauzer and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer:
| Disease | Great Dane Rank | Standard Schnauzer Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Shoulder problems | 4 out of 22 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Advanced Cardiac problems | 33 out of 71 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Dentition Database problems | 35 out of 49 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Congenital Cardiac problems | 40 out of 159 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Thyroid problems | 42 out of 115 dog breeds | 40 out of 115 dog breeds |
| Eyes problems | 59 out of 182 dog breeds | 103 out of 182 dog breeds |
| Elbow problems | 75 out of 144 dog breeds | 54 out of 144 dog breeds |
| Hips problems | 92 out of 198 dog breeds | 128 out of 198 dog breeds |
| Patella problems | 130 out of 145 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems | Not Common | 2 out of 3 dog breeds |
*To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.
Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.
Tolerates Being Alone: Great Dane versus Standard Schnauzer
Great Danes do not like to be left alone.
Standard Schnauzers do not like to be left alone.
Do Great Danes shed more than Standard Schnauzers?
Great Danes shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Standard Schnauzers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Standard Schnauzer?
Great Danes are very easy to groom.
Standard Schnauzers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Great Dane or the Standard Schnauzer?
Great Danes get along very well with other dogs.
Standard Schnauzers get along fairly well with other dogs.
Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Standard Schnauzers?
Great Danes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Standard Schnauzers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Standard Schnauzer?
Great Danes are very easy to train.
Standard Schnauzers are fairly easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Standard Schnauzer
Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool.
Standard Schnauzers do have a very low tendency to drool.
How Kid-friendly are Great Danes and Standard Schnauzers?
Great Danes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Standard Schnauzers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Standard Schnauzer?
Great Danes have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.
Standard Schnauzers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.
Do Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Standard Schnauzers?
Great Danes are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Standard Schnauzers are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Standard Schnauzers Tolerate Cold Weather?
Great Danes cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Standard Schnauzers can very well tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Standard Schnauzer
Great Danes have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
Standard Schnauzers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Standard Schnauzers Tolerate Hot Weather?
Great Danes can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Standard Schnauzers can tolerate hot weather.
Is the Great Dane Better for Apartment Owners than the Standard Schnauzer?
Great Danes do not adapt well to apartment living.
Standard Schnauzers adapt very well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Great Dane or the Standard Schnauzer?
Great Danes are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Standard Schnauzers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds
You may also be interested in how the Great Dane compares to other breeds aside from the Standard Schnauzer. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Great Dane to other breeds:
Great Dane versus Pomeranian Great Dane versus Beagle Great Dane versus Mastiff Great Dane versus Rottweiler Great Dane versus Irish Setter Great Dane versus Puggle Great Dane versus Shiba Inu Great Dane versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog Great Dane versus Chihuahua Great Dane versus Skye Terrier Great Dane versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog Great Dane versus Dutch Shepherd Great Dane versus Chi-Poo Great Dane versus Morkie Great Dane versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Great Dane versus Pomsky
Conclusion: Great Dane versus Standard Schnauzer. Which One is a Better Pet?
In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Great Dane and the Standard Schnauzer better suits you and your family.