All About German Pinschers

Dogs of different breeds and sizes have long taken the place of the most sought after pets. They not only perform the functions of guards and companions on the hunt, but also become full-fledged members of the family for a person. Among the variety of dog breeds, it is worth highlighting German Pinschers, who are notable for their attractive exterior and character traits.

Deutscher Pinscher is a medium sized dog with smooth hair, an animal from Germany. Previously, the breed was used as guard dogs accompanying stagecoaches. However, such functions gradually faded into the background, and the German pinschers became excellent companions for humans. The first standard for pinschers was described in 1880, and the breed was registered four years later. In the postwar years, the demand for dogs of this breed sharply decreased, and only in 1958 work began to increase the number of such animals. In the 80s, in order to maintain and strengthen the genetic potential of pets, a pincher was crossed with a Doberman, which had a positive effect on the result.

Today, a purebred German pinscher stands out for his proud posture, smooth bends of the body and prominent muscles. According to the description of the dog and FCI standards, pinchers should have growth at the withers in the range from 45 to 50 centimeters, with a weight of about 14-20 kilograms. Sexual dimorphism is moderate. In dogs of this breed, the skull has an elongated shape with a protruding occipital protuberance, the frontal bone is flat, the stop is moderately pronounced. The muzzle of the animal resembles a blunt wedge, the lines of the nose are straight with a black lobe.The lips are pigmented, have a dark color, jaws with a scissor bite.

The eyes of the dogs are oval, with dark, tight-fitting eyelids, the ears are triangular on the cartilage, the ends hang down, are located high. With standard ear lengths, they should not be higher than the top of the skull. The tail and ears can be stopped at an early age, but this is not a mandatory requirement for the breed. The position of the dog’s neck is curved; it is of medium size, with a smooth transition to the withers. The body of the pinchers looks square, with a slight slope to the tail, the chest is wide, oval in shape.

Smooth-haired pinschers can be plain or black and tan. Acceptable color options are considered brown, muruy, red-red. The tan marks are concentrated above the eyes, on the limbs and chest. They can be located on the hind legs and in the genital area. Dogs of this breed often develop genetic ailments. Among the main diseases that pinchers can suffer from, it is necessary to highlight hip dysplasia and von Willebrand disease, which relates to low blood coagulation. In addition, animals may be prone to allergic reactions. However, such cases are not so common, so veterinarians position the breed as strong, with well-developed immunity.

The breed is not without strengths and weaknesses. The advantages of dogs include the following qualities.

• Animals stand out with a mischievous and good-natured disposition, which, of course, is an indisputable advantage when choosing a pet. In addition, dogs are very loyal to their breeder, so they become great companions and protectors. Pinschers are non-aggressive, which makes it possible to keep a dog in a house where there is a small child.
• Despite their small size, such four-legged comrades lend themselves perfectly to training, do not demonstrate obstinacy.
• German pinschers can be kept in apartments and private houses.
• Pinschers will be happy to accompany people on cycling trips or other outdoor activities.
• Due to the characteristics of their coat, mini-dogs do not cause much inconvenience in terms of cleaning. Also, this feature greatly facilitates the care of pets.
• Animals have a pronounced intelligence.

Among the negative features should be highlighted:

• the dog requires mandatory two long walks;
• animals need competent and early socialization in order to properly educate a reliable friend for the family in the future.

Pincher as a pet is characterized on the positive side, because it has a balanced character, has a high intelligence. Dogs are sociable, love to play. Among pronounced character traits, it is necessary to note the territorial instinct, which is expressed in a sense of ownership. It is this feature that allows them to be used as security guards who will not bark over trifles. In case of a critical situation, even in the light of its small size, an adult dog will protect its territory and its owner. A similar instinct can manifest itself in relation to food, as well as personal toys and a sleeping place.

Pincher from the first day of his life in the house may try to take a leadership position, however, it is not recommended to indulge in this dog, since in the future this can result in a loss of control and authority in the eyes of the pet. Dogs at a young and adult age cope with loneliness very poorly, with a long absence of the owner they tend to become depressed. The German pinscher favors children, but not all their pranks will endure.

In terms of interaction with other animals, situations can be different, it can be difficult to contact feline pinchers in the light of their playful and active disposition. With dogs, things are better, but conflicts are not ruled out when dividing the territory and identifying a leader among animals. In the light of the hunting instinct, a dog can identify smaller animals (e.g. birds) as potential prey.

To acquire a thoroughbred and healthy dog, you must first find out all the information about the breeder of the parents of the selected puppy. Be sure to visit the nursery with animals. A purebred German pinscher is unlikely to be bought on the flea market or by ads on the Internet. It is for this breed that a proven breeder will be extremely important, since a feature of German dogs is a tendency to some hereditary diseases. In conditions of keeping and breeding animals in good kennels, puppies can be tested before selling to help identify an ailment at an early stage. It is important to study the health status of the dog’s parents, as well as to observe how the dogs are kept in general.

It’s worth paying attention to the puppy’s behavior, even at a young age, the pincher should not be cowardly, because courage is the main quality of this breed. It is not superfluous to pay attention to how the pet moves in order to eliminate unwanted lameness, which is a sign of joint problems. You can buy pinchers with a corrected shape of the ears and tail, but in many countries, stopping is no longer practiced.

Caring for a dog falls into the category of simple activities. It is worth noting that the pinscher, which will be kept in a private house, is best taken to the premises for the winter. An alternative can be a warmed and properly equipped aviary. Dogs tend to dig holes; at this point, special attention should be paid.

A natural diet is considered to be a more natural option for feeding four-legged pets, however thoroughbred dogs still require the most balanced menu, so some breeders prefer ready-made dry food for industrial production. To feed the pincher with such products, the owner is advised to observe the following conditions.

• The premium food will be ideal in its chemical composition, since budget options most often contain a lot of unsafe preservatives.
• Do not buy dry food for your dog by weight. Often, these products are sold with an expired shelf life. Feed should be of high quality and sealed packaging.
• A dry product cannot be pre-soaked in water, milk or broth, since such manipulations destroy its balance.
• If a dog's diet involves the use of industrial feed, then it will not need additional fortified foods.

As for the natural diet, for the pincher it recommends cooking, picking up lean meats. This can be chicken, rabbit, turkey, as well as offal. It is best to choose fish from marine varieties, be sure to remove all the bones from it, pre-boil. Any cereals can be taken, with the exception of barley, which is very poorly absorbed by the animal. The dog needs fermented milk products, but it is best to completely refuse to introduce milk into the diet, since it will provoke digestive upset. Regardless of the chosen feeding option, the diet should be adjusted in time. All meals are carried out at one time. Puppies up to six months old are fed five times a day; an adult pet is recommended to be fed twice a day - morning and evening.

The pet is smooth-haired, therefore, in terms of grooming, it will not cause any problems. Water procedures are shown to pinchers only in case of emergency. Regular rubbing of wool with a damp cloth in most cases will be enough. It is recommended to comb the dog using not a brush, but a hard mitten. You can carry out these procedures every other day to avoid the appearance of a large number of villi on the floor if the pet is kept in the home.

In addition to wool, you need to pay attention to the ears, eyes, teeth and claws of the animal. The claw length should be controlled by removing the excess with a clipper. Eyes can be wiped several times a week using a damp cotton pad. Teeth and ears will need to be cleaned weekly.

Pinschers must be trained from early childhood. In order for a dog to coexist with a person without problems, it must be fully controlled by its breeder. This breed is distinguished by good intelligence, therefore, in the process of training, it demonstrates high rates. All classes should be held regularly, otherwise training results will not bring. Dogs of this breed must be introduced to other dogs and people from the moment of purchase, to ensure a full-fledged walk twice a day if the pet lives in the apartment. In addition to training, teams with pinscher need to play. In this case, you can combine training and playing with competitions, which will be useful for training and endurance of the animal.

All about German pinschers see in the next video.