Breed Info
The German Pinscher’s playfulness will continue well into adulthood, and they may continue to disembowel squeaky toys long past teething (dental floss is the best repair tool). When German Pinschers are in a spot of trouble at home, some will look you right in the eye and smile, showing their teeth in a big grin.
The German Pinscher was originally developed as a working dog who hunted and killed vermin. That means they’ll still nail them today, so they’re not going to be good in a home with pet rodents.
Today, they still have the energy of a working breed and have proved themselves to be an all-around kind of pooch when it comes to canine sports and careers. You can find German Pinschers in the conformation ring, at obedience rallies or agility trials and at work in tracking. They also work as service dogs, therapy dogs, and as pampered pets who enjoy the comforts of family life.
They can be assertive and overbearing, and they’ll take over your heart and home in a matter of seconds. Don’t kid yourself: they need a firm, experienced owner who is consistent in training and good at establishing rules right from the beginning. If you tend to wimp out or you want a placid dog, find another breed–this one will walk all over you.
Strong-willed, devoted, and in need of a consistent and firm owner. They can take over a home if rules are not set when they’re young. With training and consistency, German Pinschers will learn quickly. Naturally suspicious of strangers, they make excellent guard dogs.
They’re like a mischievous kid who will test your boundaries. Sure, they’ll housetrain quickly, and they’re quite trainable in other respects as well, but they want to know what they can get away with.
You need mental and physical strength to control a German Pinscher and gain their respect. They must have a strong leader whose authority is tempered with patience and respect. If you aren’t a calm person or are unable to say no and truly mean it, or you’re not really interested in taking on in-depth training, look elsewhere.
Not all German Pinschers will get any or all of these diseases, but it’s important to be aware of them if you’re considering this breed.
Here are a few conditions to be on the lookout for:
- Hip Dysplasia: This is an inherited condition in which the thighbone doesn’t fit snugly into the hip joint. Some dogs show pain and lameness on one or both rear legs, but others don’t display outward signs of discomfort. X-ray screening is the most certain way to diagnose the problem. Either way, arthritis can develop as the dog ages. Dogs with hip dysplasia should not be bred–so if you’re buying a puppy, ask the breeder for proof that the parents have been tested for hip dysplasia and are free of problems.
- Cataracts: Cataracts cause opacity on the lens of the eye, resulting in poor vision. The dog’s eye(s) will have a cloudy appearance. Cataracts usually occur in old age and sometimes can be surgically removed to improve vision.
- Von Willebrand’s Disease: Found in both dogs and humans, this is a blood disorder that affects the clotting process. An affected dog will have symptoms such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, prolonged bleeding from surgery, prolonged bleeding during heat cycles or after whelping, and occasionally blood in the stool. This disorder is usually diagnosed between three and five years of age, and it can’t be cured. However, it can be managed with treatments that include cauterizing or suturing injuries, transfusions before surgery, and avoidance of specific medications.
Supervise your German Pinscher when exercising, since they’ll go bounding off after anything that’s worth chasing.
They’ll be alright in an apartment if given enough exercise, but they prefer a home with a fenced yard in which they can play. They aren’t suited to living outdoors full-time in a kennel or dog run, however; they thrive being with their family.
This is a working breed dog who enjoys having a job to do. An unstimulated, untrained, and unexercised German Pinscher can head down a scary path of boredom and destruction. Give them something to work on while you’re gone, such as interactive toys or Kongs with frozen peanut butter. They’re no couch potato, content to lounge about all day enjoying bonbons.
Crate training benefits every dog and is a kind way to ensure that your German Pinscher doesn’t have accidents in the house or get into things they shouldn’t. Like many other dogs, a German Pinscher can be destructive as a pup, and when even when they enter adulthood. Crate training is for their own safety. A crate is also a place where they can retreat for a nap.
The German Pinscher sports a variety of colors, including various shades of red, stag red (in which there are black hairs intermingled with the red), and Isabella (a light bay or fawn color). German Pinschers can also be black or blue with tan or red markings.
The German Pinscher is an average shedder and requires minimal grooming. Brushing their coat with a cloth or rubber mitt about once a week will get rid of any excess hair.
Brush your German Pinscher’s teeth at least two or three times a week to remove tartar buildup and the bacteria that lurk inside it. Daily brushing is even better if you want to prevent gum disease and bad breath.
Trim their nails once or twice a month if your dog doesn’t wear them down naturally to prevent painful tears and other problems. If you can hear them clicking on the floor, they’re too long.
They usually do well with children when brought up with them from puppyhood. But because of their assertive nature, they do best with older children, preferably those over the age of nine. An older Pinscher who’s unfamiliar with children will probably do best in a home with kids who are mature enough to interact with them properly.
The same holds true for the German Pinscher’s attitude toward some kinds of pets; they do best if they’ve been raised with them, or at least socialized to other animals when they’re still young. But remember that they were developed to hunt and kill vermin. They’ve got a high prey drive that’s hardwired, and no amount of training will keep them from going after a pet rat. They’re not a good match with small mammals.
