Working Dog Group - Pinscher

The breed that traces its roots back to the 15th century was actually recognized in 1780. They were seen in the drawings in various records in 1884. These dogs were bred in Germany and were compared to the Standard Schanuzer. Only after they fulfilled the requirement of smooth coat of three generations, then were they registered as a pure breed dogs. There are different varieties of German pinscher that are now extinct.

The breed that played an important role in the creation of the Doberman Pinscher and the miniature pinscher, German pinscher is known as the standard pinscher. It is a terrier breed that is fast on its feet and is trained to destroy pests, herd the cattle and be a watchdog and guard dog. These dogs can grow up to 15-25 inches and weigh 25-35 pounds. Their standard colors are black, red, brown, fawn and dark brown with yellow markings at the paws, muzzle, ears and chest.

This is a rare breed and is an ideal companion. They are docile and friendly, though they bark a lot if they feel threatened. They make great guard dogs due to this quality. They are very fast learners and respond to any kind of training really well in their puppyhood. They have aggressive protective instincts and they often bite without thinking. They are not meek and will aggressively face dominance challenges of other dogs.

They believe in ownership and are very strong headed about protecting their family members and their territory. Discipline is necessary to teach them the value of ownership of things and also the violent streak of aggression should be kept under control in its early age. They need to be taught that they do not own things and they should be willing to share them with other animals, else they can get protective about some things like a piece of furniture they admire, bones or food.

They need to be taught submission to their masters and any kind of authority consistently. A pinscher without proper guidance can be aggressive, stubborn and strong willed. They are also wary of strangers and tend to bark a lot at people. They must be discouraged to do so. They have natural hunting instincts, hence they should be taught not to dominate and threaten other animals and dogs. Though they will not be friends with other breeds, they will not harm them if trained properly.

They are usually tolerant towards children, though their basic nature is not affectionate one. The children need to be taught to be leaders in case of this breed as they will potentially dominate children, if they realize that they are weaker than them. They are natural hunters, hence they make good chasers and run behind anything that will move at a fast speed.

They need regular exercise. When they get it, they live comfortably in an apartment. It will work the best for these dogs, if you own a house with a huge backyard. They love running with a bicycle, jogging with you, or playing in the park. They are generally healthy and very active; hence you will need the yard of your house to be tightly fenced. Their personal hygiene is good and need little grooming.

These dogs can be great watchdogs and companions.