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German Pinscher Dog Breed Introduction
German Pinscher is a medium-sized working dog from Germany. It was originally used for ratting. Currently, German Pinschers make great watchdogs and vigilant family guardians. This is not an overly vocal breed. However, it will bark when notifying the owner of impending danger. German Pinschers are the prototype of other breeds including Doberman, Miniature Pinscher, and Affenpinscher.
They are often confused for Miniature Pinscher or a Doberman. However, they are the oldest of the two breeds. German Pinschers are slightly bigger than the Mini Pinschers and a bit smaller when compared to Dobermans. This breed is closely related to Standard Schnauzer. They were descended from Great Ratter also known as Rat Catcher, or Rat Pinscher which became extinct in the early 19th century.
German Pinscher Origin | History
The German Pinschers were developed in Germany between the 18th century and early 19th century from the now extinct Rat Catcher also known as Rat Pinscher or Great Ratter. They were used as stable dogs to protect, guard, and exterminate vermin. As working farm dogs, German Pinschers were popular for their instinctual desire to protect family and home. Furthermore, they had great vermin hunting skills. This breed was recognized as a distinct breed in the late 19th century. The first breed standard was written in 1884 before its revision in 1885.
Like other German breeds, German Pinschers were affected by both World War I and II, they almost became distinct. Fortunately, Werner Jung is credited for saving the breed. He searched Germany for typical pinschers and used these with some oversized Mini Pinschers as well as a female Pinscher from East Germany to revive the breed. The first German Pinschers were first imported in the USA in the 1970s.
German Pinscher Lifespan
The German Pinschers have a lifespan of 12 to 14 years.
German Pinscher Grooming
The German Pinschers have a smooth, short, and dense coat that sheds at low to moderate levels throughout the year. Weekly brushing using a hound glove or a grooming mitt will suffice to remove dirt, loose hair, and promote new hair growth.
German Pinschers need an occasional bath every 8 to 10 weeks unless they roll in something messy and stinky. Use a canine shampoo and conditioner to bath and moisturize the coat. After a bath, thoroughly rinse off the grooming or cleaning products from the coat to prevent skin irritation. Brush the teeth at least twice a week if not daily to remove tartar buildup using a dog-formulated toothpaste and toothbrush.
Trim the nails every 3 to 5 weeks using nail clippers or grinders to prevent overgrowth, cracking, and splitting. Clean the ears on a weekly basis using cotton balls soaked in an ear cleanser solution to remove wax and debris buildup. While cleaning the ears, checkout for signs of dog’s ear infection such as redness, dark discharge, and redness.
German Pinscher Shedding
The German Pinschers shed all-year round at low to moderate levels.
German Pinscher Coat | Coat Type
A German Pinscher has a dense and short coat that is smooth and close lying. The coat is also shiny and covers the body without bald spots.
German Pinscher Hypoallergenic
The German Pinscher is not a hypoallergenic breed. It has a moulting coat that sheds all-year round at moderate levels. Shedding will release dander & hair into the environment triggering allergies. Apart from dog’s dander and fur, saliva, mucus, and urine contain a protein allergen that triggers inflammation.
How To Train A German Pinscher
The German Pinschers are intelligent dogs that can be manipulative especially with novice or inexperienced owners. They require experienced owners preferably with previous experience with other working dogs. They need a firm but gentle leadership. Owners should set a German Pinscher for a successful training by assuming pack leadership. This allows the pet to not only attain its full potential but also understand that it is under the leadership of a trusted and loving leader who will make decisions for the well-being of the entire pack. Therefore it will be a cooperative member in the pack.
The German Pinschers are mischievous and willful dogs that require early socialization to develop into well-mannered and well-adjusted dogs. This training normally starts from the age of 3 weeks while the pup is with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks after the dog has already settled in its new home. Although, socialization may be a life-long process to ensure German Pinschers mature to have well-rounded temperament.
To socialize German Pinschers, expose them to a wide variety of people, surfaces, places, experiences, sights, animals, smell, and sounds such as baby crying sounds, doorbells, lawn mowers, sirens, vacuum cleaners, washing machine, and whistles. Enrolling a German Pinscher in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. These classes create a controlled environment where puppies interact. The puppy classes are also beneficial to parents, they not only enable them to identify and correct bad habits but also have access to training information and assistance.
While training a German Pinscher, keeping it engaged and interested is the main challenge. Parents should make the training sessions short and upbeat for a period of 5 to 10 minutes to avoid boredom and distraction. Use positive reinforcements methods to encourage positive behaviors through the use of treats, toys, playtime, verbal praise, and petting. Although the breed is mischievous, avoid use of harsh correction methods, they are counterproductive.
Some of the negative training methods include yelling, beating, kicking, shoving, and use of choke or prong collars.
Start teaching a German Pinscher basic commands immediately the pup joins you home. Some of the basic commands include come, sit, stay, lie down, wait, and leave it. Teach one command word at a time to avoid overwhelming the pet. Effectively housebreak a German Pinscher by creating a feeding schedule, crate training, and potty training.
German Pincher Personality | Temperament
- Intelligent.
- Mischievous.
- Playful.
- Energetic.
- Alert.
- Willful.
- Inquisitive.
- Eager.
- Loyal.
- Bold.
- Athletic.
- Agile.
- Elegant.
- Affectionate.
- Watchful.
- Fearless.
- Good-natured.
German Pinscher Exercise
The German Pinschers are athletic, energetic, and agile dogs that require ample daily exercise for the mental and physical well-being. Daily long walks, runs, hikes, and playtime with toys will help to meet the exercise needs of this breed. The German Pinschers also excel in canine sports including tracking, rally, agility, and barn hunts.
German Pinscher Barking
The German Pinscher is not a vocal breed. However, they will bark to notify the owner when they need something or alerting them of an impending danger.
German Pinscher Height
Mature German Pinschers have a height of 17 to 20 inches ( approx. 43 to 51 cm ).
German Pinscher Weight
Both female and male German Pinschers have a weight of 30 to 45 pounds ( approx. 14 to 20 kg ).
German Pinscher Size
This is a medium-sized dog that has a height of 17 to 20 inches ( approx. 43 to 51 cm ) and a weight of 30 to 45 pounds ( approx. 14 to 20 kg ).
German Pinscher Health Issues
The German Pinschers are healthy and robust dogs with a lifespan of 12 to 14 years. However, they suffer from certain health issues such as von Willebrand’s disease, hip dysplasia, and eye disorders such as cataracts.
Apart from German Pinschers, other dog breed include:
German Pinscher Names
The owner of a German Pinscher may get a name for the pet before it joins them home from the breeder or days after the pet has joined them home to understand better the personality of a particular dog. Parents may get name inspirations from the sleek and shiny coat, German heritage of the breed, celebrity German Pinschers, movies, songs, books, nature, or historical figures. Regardless of where the parent will source the name, he or she should ensure the name chosen freely rolls off the tongue and will not make them embarrassed once uttered out loud in the public places.
The German Pinschers and other dog breeds better understand names that have vowels. Avoid giving your fur baby a name that rhymes with the command words to avoid confusion. If the owner settles with a long name, he or she should find a cute nickname for the dog. If a German Pinscher shares a name with any household member or guest who frequent your home, it may cause chaos. Some of the names the Pinscher owners give to their pets include:
- Freddy.
- Rafil.
- Diesel.
- Denica.
- Ava.
- Tilda.
- Kaja.
- Franz.
- Sebastian.
- Giselle.
- Max.
- Dieter.
- Katrina.
- Heidi, etc.
German Pinscher Mini
The Miniature Pinschers are often referred to as German Pinscher Mini. However, the Mini Pinscher is not a miniaturized version of German Pinscher. They are a distinct breed that was developed by crossing a German Pinschers, Italian Greyhounds, and Dachshunds.
German Pinscher Food | Dog Food
The amount of food that German Pinschers feed on depend on their activity level, age, metabolism, size, and body build. German Pinscher puppies tend to have a high metabolism rate as compared to adults and senior dogs. Therefore, a puppy needs to feed 3 or 4 times a day from when it starts weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, German Pinschers should feed on two meals a day for the rest of their lives with snacks and treats in between.
German Pinschers may feed on dry food, wet food, home made, or a raw diet depending on the budget and time of the pet parent. Regardless of the food type, parents should ensure the dog feeds on a balanced diet. This allows it to maintain a good health eventually allowing it to develop cognitively and physically. If the German Pinscher parent decides to feed the dog the commercial dry or wet food, he or she should ensure the first three ingredients are proteins from a known source.
The commercial dog food should never contain preservatives, chemicals, additives, meat by-products, generic meat products, and fillers. The same goes to the snacks. Feed a German Pinscher with food for medium-sized puppies, adults, and seniors depending on its age. Make a habit of regularly checking the physique of your pooch to know whether it is overweight or underweight.
If you can easily spot the ribs, chances are the dog is underweight. Although, if the ribs are not visible but you can feel them without pressing hard, the German Pinscher has an ideal weight. If you cannot feel the ribs, the pet is obese. After getting a puppy from a breeder, the owner is likely to switch to another quality food. They should gradually do this over a period of one month by mixing both old food and new food. As the weeks progresses, the amount of old food reduces as the new food increases until the German Pinscher is only feeding on new food during the fourth week.
German Pinscher Blue | Red | Colors | Brown
The German Pinschers may have a coat color of fawn, various sheds of red including stag red, or Blue and black with red or tan markings.
German Pinscher Ears
The natural ears of a German Pinscher are V-shaped and folded down close to head. However, some have erect cropped ears.
Are German Pinschers Good Guard Dogs
Yes. German Pinschers are alert and watchful dogs that will bark to alert the owner of an impending danger.
Are German Pinschers Good Family Dogs
Yes. German Pinschers are loyal, affectionate, playful, good-natured, athletic, watchful, and affectionate dogs. However, they require experienced owners, preferably who have experience with other working dogs due to their mischievous nature.
Are German Pinschers Aggressive | Dangerous
The German Pinschers have an instinctual desire to protect the family and home. If they are not properly socialized from an early age, they may exhibit aggressive behavior towards unfamiliar people and dogs.
German Pinschers Quick Facts
- They are the prototype breed for Doberman, Miniature Pinscher, and Affenpinschers.
- The German Pinschers are bigger than miniature Pinschers and smaller than Dobermans.
- They are highly intelligent dogs that may become manipulative.
