Origin:
A comparative newcomer to this continent, the German Pinscher has
been accepted for registration in Germany since 1879 though it was known in
that country long before that time. Its roots can be traced back to the Middle
Ages and the Biberhund of southern Germany, a dog bred to hunt beaver,
badger and otter. By the 15th century, a breed known as the Rattler evolved. It
was renowned as a killer of vermin and protector of the home. The Rattler came
in two varieties, rough and smooth, and the smooth is believed to be the
forerunner of the German Pinscher. The German Pinscher is often mistaken for a
small or young Doberman Pinscher, yet it was the German Pinscher that came
first and inspired Louis Dobermann to create his larger version of the breed. Due
to two world wars, the German Pinscher slowly began to disappear and it
remained for Herr Werner Jung to start a breeding program in the 1950s to put
the breed back on its feet.
Temperament:
German Pinschers thrive on human attention and affection. They
are loyal to their family and protective of them. Alert and vigilant, they may be
wary of strangers. The breed displays fearless courage if threatened. This
intelligent breed takes well to obedience training.
Activity level:
A very active dog, the German Pinscher is not given to excessive
barking. He makes an agile and alert watchdog. Daily exercise is a must.
Height/Weight:
The sleek and muscular German Pinscher stands 17-20 in (43-51
cm) at the shoulder.
Coat:
The coat is short, dense and close-fitting with a healthy gloss.
Color:
German Pinscher coats may be fawn to stag red, and black (with tan
markings). In bi-coloured dogs, there are sharply defined and symmetrically
placed red or tan markings.
Grooming:
Little grooming is required.