| Country of origin: | Germany |
| Registries: | AKC, UKC, CKC |
| Occupation: | Guardian, vermin hunter |
| Size: | 17 to 20 in tall; weight proportionate to height |
| Longevity: | 13 to 14 years |
| Exercise: | Active and busy |
| Training: | Hard to keep challenged; stubborn |
| Grooming: | Easy |
The German Pinscher (original name Deutscher Pinscher, FCI No. 184) is a medium-sized, breed of dog, a Pinscher type that originated in Germany. The breed is included in the origins of the Dobermann, the Miniature Pinscher, the Affenpinscher, the Standard Schnauzer (and, by extension, the Miniature Schnauzer and Giant Schnauzer). The breed is rising in numbers in the U.S., mainly due to their full acceptance to AKC in 2003. In Australia, the breed is established with a rise in popularity becoming evident.
Breed name synonyms: Smooth-Haired Pinscher
HISTORY
Originally developed to eradicate vermin, the German Pinscher originated in Germany somewhere between the late 1700s and late 1800s. The only evidence of when he was developed is a painting dating from 1780 which portrays a dog similar to the German Pinscher.
The German Pinscher’s ancestors include two older breeds – the German Bibarhund (from 1200s) and the Tanner (from 1300s). Later on they were crossed with Black and Ten Terriers and more recently with Doberman Pinschers, Miniature Pinschers and Schnauzers.
Even today, German Pinschers are famous for their vermin hunting skills and instinctual desire to protect home and family.
PERSONALITY
German Pinschers are outstanding companions. They are loyal and affectionate and love spending time with their people. Although sometimes assertive and overbearing, they will win your sympathy in a second.
German Pinschers are alert, watchful, fearless and determined. Showing good endurance, vigilance and courage, they make ideal watch dogs and despite their size, amazing guard dogs. They are loud alarm barkers, but tend to save their mighty voice for special occasions and house guests.
German Pinschers are incredibly intelligent and love learning new tricks. They are very active and tend to stay playful, even when matured. Although playful, they are not very patient nor tolerant and therefore are not best suited for accompanying small children. Also, they are not the perfect choice for families with rodent pets, since they still remain faithful to their hunting heritage.
TRAITS
Admired for his beauty as much for his intelligence, the German Pinscher is muscular and powerfully built dog with graceful and elegant general appearance. He is a medium-sized dog and square in proportion. Hallmark of the breed are the erected or folded, triangular, pointed and high-set ears. The oval, dark eyes have a piercing expression.
German Pinschers have short, dense and close lying coats with medium to hard texture. The coat must be shiny. It comes in variety of colors including various shades of red, stag red (with black hairs intermingled with the red) and Isabella (a light bay or fawn color). The coat can also be black or blue with tan or red markings.
The German Pincher’s height at withers is 17-20” (43-51 cm) and their weight is 25-45 lb (11-20 kg).
HANDLING
German Pinschers are strong-willed, independent and tend to be quite dominant. They need firm, experienced and consistent owners who know how to set rules and boundaries. If the owner can not achieve pack leader status, the Pinscher will take that role. He will misbehave and test your patience whenever possible.
German Pinschers are infinitely intelligent, so if properly handled, they can reach all levels of training and obedience. Although quick learners, Pinschers obey only under their own volition.
It is an interesting fact, that German Pinschers tend to jump up when greeting family and friends. They need to be taught to keep all four feet on the ground when meeting loved ones.
HEALTH
German Pinschers are a generally healthy breed, but can be prone to certain medical conditions. Main health issues in this breed include hip dysplasia, cataracts and Von Willebrand’s disease. Other not so common conditions include hypothyroidism, elbow dysplasia, patella luxation, optic nerve hypoplasia, persistent papillary membranes, corneal dystrophy, persistent right aortic arch and persistent hyperplastic tunica vasculosa lentis.
German Pinschers are prone to obesity, especially when young puppies. They need to be feed high quality foods but in appropriate quantities. Preventing obesity is the best way to prolong the Pinscher’s lifespan.
The average lifespan of the German Pinscher is estimated to be 12-14 years.