The Dog Centre - for professional dog trainers in the UK

German Pinscher

General Appearance

Well balanced, smooth coated, medium size with elegant and flowing outlines but strong and well muscled.

  Below Average Above Key
Likelihood to wander        
Protectiveness        
Destructiveness        
Quietness        
Good with children        
Affinity to other dogs        
Size   Medium    
Lifespan   Medium   Below: < 10 years
Average: > 10 years
Above: > 15 years
Location   Medium   Below: Town only
Average: Town and Country
Above: Country only

Characteristics

Alert, good-natured, playful. Loyal, watchful and fearless.

Temperament

High-spirited and self-possessed.

Head and Skull

Seen from above and side resembles a blunt wedge. Strong but not heavy, elongated without pronounced occiput. Overall length in proportion to back (from withers to base of tail) is approximately 1:2. Top of muzzle parallel with extended line of unwrinkled flat forehead; slight but distinct stop. Cheek muscles strong but not prominent. Deep muzzle. Nose full and black; in reds, nose of corresponding shade. Lips tight and dark. Snipiness undesirable.

Eyes

Dark, of medium size, oval and directed forward. Eye rims tight.

Ears

Set high. V-shaped, folded down close to head.

Mouth

Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Elegant and strong. Neither short nor stout. Nape well arched. Skin of throat tight without dewlap.

Forequarters

Well laid shoulder with good but flat muscle. Forelegs straight viewed from all sides, parallel elbows are close to body.

Body

Chest moderately wide with flat ribs. Brisket extends below elbow. Body Forechest extends beyond point of shoulder. Compact and short coupled. Length of body approximately equal to height at withers. Back short and slightly sloping. Slightly rounded croup.

Hindquarters

Seen from behind parallel, with sufficient width. Upper thigh slanted and strongly muscled. Good length and bend of stifle, hocks turning neither in nor out.

Feet

Well arched, compact and cat-like with dark nails. Turning neither in nor out. Tough, hard pads.

Tail

Previously customarily docked. Docked: Docked to three joints. Set and carried high. Undocked: Set and carried high with an upward sweep. In overall balance with the rest of the dog.

Gait

Free, well balanced and vigorous with good reach in front and strong rotary driving action from rear. Front and hind legs should not be thrown outwards. Topline should remain strong and firm. Hackney movement undesirable

Coat

Short and dense, smoothly fitting, glossy without bald spots.

Colour

All solid colours from fawn (Isabella) to stag red in various shades. Black and blue with reddish/tan markings. In bi-coloured dogs sharply marked red/tan markings desirable. Markings distributed as follows: at cheeks, lips, lower jaw, above eyes, at throat, at forechest as two triangles separated from each other, at metatarsus, forelegs, feet, inner side of hindlegs and vent region.

Size

Height at withers 43-48 cms (17-19 ins).

Excercise Requirements

Moderate

Grooming Needs

Light

Notes

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.




The Dog Centre - dog training for professionals
website design and development by The Ideas Barn, Warwickshire, UK Website by ideasBarn