Pinscher

Pinscher is the name of a group of German dog breeds, not of a single breed. Pinschers were first developed as ratters on farms or as guard dogs. Today they are mostly kept as companions.

History

The German Pinscher is regarded as the model for the group and as one of the oldest German breeds. It is more closely related to the Standard Schnauzer, once called the Wire-Haired Pinscher, than to the Dobermann and the other pinschers. From the middle of the 19th century breeders stopped crossing the smooth and wire-haired coat types. The German Pinscher-Schnauzer-Club was formed in 1895, and the two became separate breed varieties.

Where the word comes from is uncertain. One theory traces it to the French pincer, to seize, nip or grip, which would suit a dog that caught vermin. Another links it to the English word pinch, either for the dogs’ clipped ears or as a description of the terrier’s way of working.

Breeds

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale places the pinschers in Group 2, with the schnauzers. It recognises five breeds: the Austrian Pinscher, the Dobermann, the German Pinscher, the Miniature Pinscher and the Affenpinscher. The Danish-Swedish Farmdog is listed with them provisionally. The Harlequin Pinscher was once accepted too, but was removed from the list after it died out.

Other dogs are called pinschers without being recognised breeds. Some are related hunting dogs, and some are new crosses, such as the Carlin Pinscher, made by crossing the Pug with the Miniature Pinscher or similar breeds.

Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.