German Pinscher Picture Gallery

German Pinscher Breeders

German Pinscher Clubs/Associations

The Full German Pinscher Description

A working dog, German Pinschers are known for their vermin hunting skills and instinctual desire to protect home and family. The German Pinscher's natural hunting abilities give them a keen sense of prey, drive and determination. The German Pinscher is of strong will and mind and can be manipulative and stubborn when they want their own way.

Indicative Breed Standard

General Appearance

Well balanced, smooth coated, medium size with elegant and flowing outlines but strong and well muscled.

Characteristics

Alert, good-natured, playful. Loyal, watchful and fearless.

Temperament

High-spirited and self-possessed.

Head and Skull

Seen from above and side resembles a blunt wedge. Strong but not heavy, elongated without pronounced occiput. Overall length in proportion to
back (from withers to base of tail) is approximately 1:2. Top of muzzle parallel with extended line of unwrinkled flat forehead; slight but distinct stop.
Cheek muscles strong but not prominent. Deep muzzle. Nose full and black; in reds, nose of corresponding shade. Lips tight and dark. Snipiness undesirable.

Eyes

Dark, of medium size, oval and directed forward. Eye rims tight.

Ears

Set high. V-shaped, folded down close to head.

Mouth

Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Elegant and strong. Neither short nor stout. Nape well arched. Skin of throat tight without dewlap.

Forequarters

Well laid shoulder with good but flat muscle. Forelegs straight viewed from all sides, parallel elbows are close to body.

Body

Chest moderately wide with flat ribs. Brisket extends below elbow. Body Forechest extends beyond point of shoulder. Compact and short coupled. Length of body approximately equal to height at withers. Back short and slightly sloping. Slightly rounded croup.

Hindquarters

Seen from behind parallel, with sufficient width. Upper thigh slanted and strongly muscled. Good length and bend of stifle, hocks turning neither in nor out.

Feet

Well arched, compact and cat-like with dark nails. Turning neither in nor out. Tough, hard pads.

Tail

Customarily docked. Docked: Docked to three joints. Set and carried high. Undocked: Set and carried high with an upward sweep. In overall balance with the rest of the dog.

Gait/Movement

Free, well balanced and vigorous with good reach in front and strong rotary driving action from rear. Front and hind legs should not be thrown outwards.
Topline should remain strong and firm. Hackney movement undesirable.

Coat

Short and dense, smoothly fitting, glossy without bald spots.

Colour

All solid colours from fawn (Isabella) to stag red in various shades. Black and blue with reddish/tan markings. In bi-coloured dogs sharply marked red/tan
markings desirable. Markings distributed as follows: at cheeks, lips, lower jaw, above eyes, at throat, at forechest as two triangles separated from each other, at metatarsus, forelegs, feet, inner side of hindlegs and vent region.

Size

Height at withers 43-48 cms (17-19 ins).