German Pinscher

50-70 lbs
22-24"
Germany

Shiny, elegant, and strong, the German Pinscher is the definition of nobility. The German Pinscher is a medium-sized breed said to have originated in Germany in the 1600s when he was bred to the Black and Tan Terrier, which led to the creation of the Rattenfanger. The Rattenfanger was an excellent watchdog and ratter who would not stop until he completed his mission. The German Pinscher stands tall, averaging about knee-high length to the average person, with pronounced muscles beneath his shiny coat. His head is wedge-shaped and his eyes remain dark and alert. His expression is that of an eager breed. The German Pinscher makes an effective companion and is always up for a new task. The German Pinscher's original purpose was to catch rodents although now he is most often seen as a guard dog, companion, and working dog.  The German Pinscher prefers to take his time in getting to know you and will often have a guarded disposition. It is said that he fares best in a home without energetic children. This canine is said to be protective of his family and his property. If provided with sufficient training, the German Pinscher is said to have an even temperament towards people. Relatively easy to maintain, this dog is an average shedder and will need to have weekly brushing. He'll be most content in a home where he will have space to roam around. The German Pinscher needs daily exercise to stimulate his mind so he does not grow bored, making him a pet for someone who likes to keep busy.

purpose Purpose
ratting
history Date of Origin
1600s
ancestry Ancestry
rattenfanger

German Pinscher Health

Sketch of German Pinscher
Average Size
Male German Pinscher size stats
Height: 24-26 inches Weight: 65-90 lbs
Female German Pinscher size stats
Height: 22-24 inches Weight: 50-70 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Von Willebrand's Disease
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Congenital Heart Defect
Minor Concerns
  • Cataracts
Occasional Tests
  • Cardiac
  • Eye
  • Hip
  • Dna Test For Vwd
  • Thyroid Tests

German Pinscher Breed History

The German Pinscher's name originates from Germany and refers to a Fox Terrier Breed. It is believed that the word “pinscher” was borrowed from the English word “pinch”, a reference to the cropping of ears. The German Pinscher dates back to the 1600s when his ancestors were bred with the Rattenfanger. The Rattenfanger was a sufficient watchdog and ratter, successful at hunting and catching rodents. The Rattenfanger was originally bred with Black and Tan Terriers in order to create the early German Pinscher. The Rattenfanger began to be used as a working dog around the stables and was an effective breed. In 1884, the first standard for the Pinscher was created but did not become popular due to outbreak of the World Wars. There was a period of time in the early 1900s where the Pinscher was close to becoming extinct due to the lack of breeding. In 1958, four larger Miniature Pinschers became responsible for bringing back the German Pinscher from the brink of extinction. They were registered with the Pinscher-Schnauzer Klub of West Germany. In East Germany, three of the four Miniature Pinschers were bred to a female Pinscher. This helped revive the German Pinscher breed. Opinions differ, but it is thought that the German Pinscher is partly responsible for the development of the Doberman breed. In the late 1970s, the German Pinscher was introduced in the United States. In 2001, the German Pinscher was entered into the Miscellaneous class of the AKC. In 2003, the German Pinscher was officially recognized by the AKC. 


German Pinscher Breed Appearance

The German Pinscher is a medium-sized breed with a short, smooth and fine coat. His stance is elegant as well as his appearance. The German Pinscher has a square build, allowing him to be powerful in endurance and agility. His shoulders are properly sloped and well-muscled. The front legs are straight and appear to be vertical when observed from other angles. His hindquarters feature strong thighs and remain balanced with his forequarters. The German Pinscher's paws are round and compact with dark nails. His paws are arched to look like cat toes. His head is elongated and creates an expression of intelligent and elegance. His ears are symmetrical and are set high on his skull. Cropped ears are erect, if present while natural ears present as “V”-shaped and folded. His muzzle is lengthy and blunt at the end. His neck is strong and thick and the gait of this breed is well-balanced with excellent reach. The German Pinscher's coat is smooth, short, and dense. There are a variety of color combinations such as” black, blue, brown, fawn, and red. The German Pinscher may also have markings on the lips, cheeks, feet, throat, and above the eyes.

Appearance of German Pinscher
Eye Color Possibilities
hazel German Pinscher eyes
Hazel
brown German Pinscher eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black German Pinscher nose
Black
brown German Pinscher nose
Brown
Coat Color Possibilities
black German Pinscher coat
Black
fawn German Pinscher coat
Fawn
red German Pinscher coat
Red
brown German Pinscher coat
Brown
blue German Pinscher coat
Blue
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
German Pinscher wiry coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

German Pinscher Breed Maintenance

The German Pinscher maintains a relatively simple grooming upkeep. The German Pinscher has a smooth, short and shiny coat. He is considered to be an average shedding breed, which calls for weekly brushing with a rubber curry brush. Bathing should be limited to every 4 to 6 weeks and is necessary to help reduce the overproduction of oils in his skin. The German Pinscher is not considered to be a hypoallergenic breed and may pose an allergy risk to people. The German Pinscher does not have a smell. This breed does require much mental and physical stimulation so he does not get bored. Daily walks should be provided if possible. The German Pinscher would fare best in a living arrangement where he would have a fenced-in yard that is spacious enough to allow him to roam far distances with exercise. The German Pinscher is quick on his feet and will chase anything that moves. As long as he is provided with sufficient exercise and play, the German Pinscher will succeed in his home. This dog  does best in a climate that does not become too extreme with weather due to his smooth, fine coat. The German Pinscher does not have a specific diet.

Brushes for German Pinscher
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
German Pinscher requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

German Pinscher Temperament

The German Pinscher is full of energy and can become mischievous if he is not trained. The German Pinscher will only bark when he feels it is needed. He loves to be around familiar people and serve as their companion. Known to be clever and intelligent, this breed needs constant motivation and praise. The German Pinscher can be wary of strangers and will need to be trained to accept them. He is a strong leader who will not back down from another dog's challenges towards him. The German Pinscher thrives best in a living arrangement where there are no energetic children as he may become guarded against them. He would thrive best with older and patient children. The German Pinscher is very protective of his family and would defend them against foes. This breed is known to chase cats and small animals; therefore, it is essential to provide early socialization with such animals to prevent the habit. The German Pinscher needs lot of praise and attention to be successfully trained, but when he is trained, he can provide you with the best of tricks.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
14 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
90 minutes
activity minutes

German Pinscher Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.50 - $1.90
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$39.00 - $52.00
food bag monthly cost

German Pinscher Height & Weight

6 Months
Sketch of German Pinscher at six months
Male German Pinscher size stats at six months
Height: 19.0 inches Weight: 40.0 lbs
Female German Pinscher size stats at six months
Height: 17.0 inches Weight: 32.5 lbs
12 Months
Sketch of German Pinscher at 12 months
Male German Pinscher size stats at 12 months
Height: 23.0 inches Weight: 60.0 lbs
Female German Pinscher size stats at 12 months
Height: 21.0 inches Weight: 52.5 lbs
18 Months
Sketch of German Pinscher at 18 months
Male German Pinscher size stats at 18 months
Height: 25.0 inches Weight: 77.5 lbs
Female German Pinscher size stats at 18 months
Height: 23.0 inches Weight: 60.0 lbs

Top German Pinscher Breeders

Check out who made our list for the most reputable German Pinscher breeders of 2024.
Top German Pinscher breeder Regalane German Pinchers
Regalane German Pinchers
Mount Hood, Oregon
Top German Pinscher breeder Stone Angel German Pinschers
Stone Angel German Pinschers
North Yarmouth, Maine
Top German Pinscher breeder Y Not Pinschers
Y Not Pinschers
Winston, Georgia
Top German Pinscher breeder Oakwood German Pinschers
Oakwood German Pinschers
Tenino, Washington
Top German Pinscher breeder USA German Pinschers
USA German Pinschers
Big Bear Lake, California

German Pinscher Owner Experiences

Boogie
6 Months
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Napping
Walking
She is amazing and teaching us so much
2 months ago
COPPER
2 Years
1 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Companionship and she is a Service Dog.
Over fifty years, we had Five Dobermans, all fantastic dogs, with proper training and lots of love. This time, I chose a German Pinscher because I am too old to have ninety pounds slamming against my knees. I fell in love with GPs at a UKC Show around 1990 - decades before internet. There was no information whatsoever available on this wonderful breed. Copper came from Arizona with amazing breeding and excellent health. I love her intelligence and especially her SPIRIT, and her desire to please! My major concern in her training was how to control the GP high prey-drive. It was really easy. I smothered her with Love and POSITIVE discipline. Because she loves me SO much, and because she gets lots of praise, she'll do anything for me. Including calling her off chasing coyotes, which are afraid of her - she's quite ferocious with them, because she was taught coyotes are NOT dogs - they are BAD! So she wants to protect me from them. Even though she barks as strangers approach HER house, her one fault is she is worthless as a guard dog - everyone is her Best Friend! Sometimes she does "sleep-overs" with the kids next door - she loves them too. Copper has been super-socialized at the Dog Park. Copper has had three showers with me, and is an exceptionally CLEAN dog, with very little shedding. Some sources state GPs are yappy dogs. This is totally untrue with Copper - she only barks on command and when she is supposed to. I never trained a Service Dog before, but somehow, she knows when she has her SD Vest on, it's time for serious work and paying attention. She is excellent with basic obedience, and can be controlled with hand signals, even off leash. She sits quietly while waiting, remains under the table in restaurants, and rides the Metro, elevators & escalators with me. DO NOT get a GP if you've never had a dog before - they require experienced Owners, who know how to discipline dogs POSITIVELY! ====>NEVER yell at a GP - ignore the bad things which happen. When a GP does something correctly, praise them like they just won a Gold Medal at the Olympics. That's the kind of discipline they require. Simultaneously, you must make a GP understand YOU are the Alpha Male in your Pack, so they don't try to get away with bad behavior. Then they will respect you for it and love you even more. And in the GP info above, they NEVER get to be 77#! Wikipedia describes them more accurately - The German Pinscher is a medium-sized dog, weighing between 25–45 pounds and typically 17–20 inches at the shoulders.
3 years, 3 months ago
Lily and Rocky
7 Months
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walking
Smart and mischievous
3 years, 4 months ago
3 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
petting
Running
The dog I walked had loads of energy and couldn't sit still. He was friendly and not aggressive.
6 years, 11 months ago
7 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Walk
Play
Run
Laying in the sun
The personality of my common walking companion and best pup pal, Lyam, eluded me for a long time. The german pinscher personality is quite strange if you're used to straightforward, goofy dog-dogs. Pinschers are focused, steadfast, and can be rather intense at first and Lyam does meet this bill. After spending more time with Lyam he started to do things that would melt my heart; it seems it just takes some time for their affectionate nature to be recognized and for them to really let it show. Lyam has a fenced in backyard in which he can run, a rare luxury. When we're not going on a long stroll together, we romp together in the backyard and when we romp, we romp hard. He's a goofy boy who particularly enjoys being chased. To initiate his game, I need only to jump once in his direction and he shoots around the back yard like some sort of maniac on fire! That sleek body of his sure packs some intense power! During our walks together this energy does translate. It took an very long and hard regiment of training to get him to refrain from pulling for the duration of the walk. He still would prefer to troll with a sprinter, but now he's happy to go on as long a stroll as his companion is willing to take him on. After a hard romp or a long stroll he gets very affectionate and lazy. He loves laying as close to his people as possible if not directly on top of them. If we're just taking a brief break in our playtime he will come over and lean his whole body weight on me. Though he has largely grown out of it (partially I attribute this to the amount of exercise he is now getting), he used to have a problem with getting into trouble during his parents' time away: getting into the trash, ripping up pillows, etc. This is a testament to the amount of energy that the old boy is wound up with. It seems that in every aspect of the German pinscher, there is a certain amount of intensity whether it is play, love, sleep, or trouble. Overall, he's a handful, but after spending a good amount of time with him, the true nature of his personality has absolutely won me over. He is unlike many other dogs that I spend time with and this is a welcome change. It's nice to be challenged to speak a new dog language every once in a while.
6 years, 11 months ago
Copper
8 Months
5 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
His smart that he can find a way to break the cage and disappear for 15 min then show up in front my door like nothing happened and that is Everyday 😂 I changed the net of cage many times but getting more smarter everyday. Can’t stop him
5 years, 8 months ago
Rainier
5 Months
3 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Hike
we adopted him 7 days ago. We are hopelessly in love with him. He is a precious baby. He did bark in his crate the first few nights. I thought he would hurt himself but, he has been great the last couple days. I am not worried as much about him. I am so happy we brought him home with us. Our Labrador Retriever died in December of 2017. We were lost without her. Rainier walked up to my sister and boom, he was a member of our family. I look forward to sharing my life with our Rainier.
5 years, 7 months ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd