Group: Working

Weight: 25 - 35 Lbs.

Height: 17 - 20 Inches

Overview

The German Pinscher dates as far back as the late 1700's and was formally recognized as a breed in its mother country in 1879. The first German Pinschers were documented by the mixture German Pinscher Schnauzer Club as the breed was used in the development of the Schnauzer and the Doberman and Miniature Pinscher. The breed standard was then developed during 1959 and initially included two extra colours, a pure black and a black and silver. During the first and second World Wars, the German Pinscher almost died out. But a dedicated breeder, Werner Jung, was capable to smuggle out a dog and breed him with another Pinscher breed female.

Temperament

The German Pinscher is a devoted, endearing and good-natured dog that really takes pleasure in being with the family. They get along really well with children that are older, but seeing that they are fairly small they are not recommended for homes with small kids. Regardless of these dogs being terriers and natural hunters and ratters, the German Pinscher is much more people oriented than most of the other terriers. They are peaceful and calm, and love to be involved in all the action. The German Pinscher is an ideal family dog and companion. They are very bright and easy to train.

Care

This breed doesn't have very high grooming requirements. Dead hair should however be removed from their coats by using a grooming glove or a soft hair brush - this will in return keep the coats shine and healthy. The German Pinscher should only be bathed when it is really required, and then a good shampoo and conditioner should be applied. If these dogs are bathed too much, their coats can become dry and brittle, and this can then lead to skin problems. The eyes and ears of the German Pinscher should also be cleaned regular basis.

Training

The German Pinscher is a very clever dog that has an almost weird talent to sense what owners are going to do. These dogs are perfect for obedience training, but should be correctly socialized and trained. Trainers of these dogs should have a good understanding German Pinscher, and also establish their dominance early on. They will stable and firm trainers and will do best when the training methods used are positive.

Health problems

The German Pinscher has been cautiously bred and is not likely to have problems with many hereditary conditions that are found in many of the Pinscher and terrier breeds. Hip dysplasia is one of the health problems that are found more commonly in the German Pinscher. As with hip dysplasia, the eyes of the German Pinscher should be checked for cataracts before breeding. Seeing that this is a fairly rare breed, it is vital to check with the breeders and make sure there are no known health issues in the bloodlines.