German Pinscher

Height: 17 to 20 inches.
Weight: Not specified in breed standard.

History:
Though fairly new to North America, the German Pinscher (sometimes called the Standard Pinscher outside the USA) has been an officially recognized breed in Germany since the late 1800’s and has been known and used as a ratter and vermin hunter in that country for centuries. Some people believe the name Pinscher derives from the word “pinch”, the way the dogs caught rats with their paws.

The German Pinscher is closely related to the Standard Schnauzer. At one time, the Schnauzer was the rough-coated variety and the Pinscher the smooth-coated, and pups with both types of coats appeared in the same litters. Eventually the wire-haired and smooth-coated types were separated into distinct breeds.

By the time the two World Wars were over, the German Pinscher was almost completely extinct. In the 1950’s, a German named Werner Jung created a breeding program especially to reconstruct the breed. It is only due to his efforts that we have this beautiful breed today. The German Pinscher was admitted to the AKC Working Group in January 2003.

Description:
The German Pinscher is an elegant, compact, medium sized, squarely built dog, well-muscled and powerful, yet agile, with a smooth, glossy, short coat. The head forms the shape of a blunt wedge from both the front and the side views. The oval eyes are dark and the ears are set high. The skull has a slight, but distinct, stop and the nose is black. 

The topline descends slightly from the withers to the back. The back should be short and closely coupled. The tail is held above horizontal when the dog is moving. The forelegs are completely vertical, with almost perpendicular pasterns, and the cat-like feet are short, round and compact, with dark pads and nails.

The coat is short and smooth, lying close to the body. Coat colors are solid fawn and red in several shades, including stag red (in which black hairs intermingle with the red), and bi-colored black or blues with rich reddish tan markings. Darker shades of red are preferred to lighter ones. The markings are distributed on the cheeks, lips, and lower jaw, two dots above the eyes, on the throat, as two separated triangles on the chest, on the area between the hock joint and the feet (metatarsus), on the feet, on the inner side of the hind legs, and in the vent area.

Notes:
The German Pinscher is a very active dog, requiring lots of daily exercise. This is not a kennel dog; the German Pinscher needs care, training, and companionship. If you are gone all day and out several nights a week, the German Pinscher will find ways to alleviate his boredom at your expense. Be sure the yard is securely fenced. The German Pinscher may dig holes or even dig his way out if left unattended and bored in the yard.

The German Pinscher retains a very strong prey instinct from early days as a ratter, and will chase anything that moves fast. Be very careful with non-canine pets. Raising them with other pets does not mean that the prey drive is diminished.

This breed is good in most climates, however, in sub-zero temperatures exposure to the outdoors should be limited to 10-15 minutes to avoid frostbite damage to the ears. If it’s cold, the dog may require a coat to go out for walks.

Personality:
The German Pinscher is a sharply vigilant watchdog who will warn you whenever he feels it’s necessary. This may be often, therefore the breed may not be the best choice for busy apartment complexes. Fearless, courageous, and highly protective of his family and territory, the German Pinscher is not likely to allow people from outside the family to enter the house without supervision. He can also be possessive of his personal belongings, so train the German Pinscher early to relinquish toys and food without protest to avoid problems in this area later. Extensive socialization early in life is the key to a well-adjusted German Pinscher. Not generally recommended for households with children, as the breed is very protective and tends to bite, however, can be OK with well-trained respectful children. Best in a one-dog home, but can do well with other (especially larger) dogs in a household if raised with them from puppyhood. Mature dogs of the same sex may be quite aggressive with each other and should not generally be run or left together.

Vivacious, highly intelligent and potentially willing learners, German Pinschers can also be quite strong-willed, manipulative, and stubborn. This breed requires a firm, dominant, consistent owner, but is also very sensitive and should not be treated harshly. He bonds strongly with his person and thrives on affection and attention, but on his own terms. Obedience training for the German Pinscher is highly recommended as a way to establish positive leadership, with you in command instead of him. The German Pinscher is also an excellent agility dog as he is fast and agile. 

Behavior:
Friendliness: Very wary of strangers, highly protective.
Independence: Fairly independent.
Dominance: High.
Other Pets: Good w/other pets only when raised with them from puppyhood.
Combativeness: Tends to be fairly dog aggressive. 

Grooming and Physical Needs:
Grooming: Almost no grooming needed.
Coat: Short coat.
Shedding: Average shedder.
Exercise: Vigorous daily exercise needed.
Indoors: Moderately active indoors.
Outdoor Space: A small yard is sufficient.
Climate: Does well in most climates.
Longevity: Fairly long lifespan (about 12-15 years).