The information shown is based on the ANKC Breed Standard Please note that many cropped ear dogs are used as examples to illustrate various properties in the breed, however the cropping of ears is not permitted in Australia
HISTORY German Pinschers are not small Dobermans or large Min Pins. The Standard Schnauzer is the relation to which the German Pinscher is connected. Early sketches show clearly how similar these two breeds once were. Time and breeding practices have since separated the look to a degree but the genetic foundations remain connected.
The 3 Pinscher breeds. The German Pinscher can lay claim to be some of the foundation for the others. The German Pinscher took back some of the genetic material offered in the mid fifties when Herr Werner Jung brought the breed back from the brink of extinction with the introduction of three Miniature Pinschers. One of the first Werner Jung Pinschers produced during the rebuilding of this breed. Note the Min Pin influence in the head and bone.
Back from the Brink Shown above is Jutta, one of the Miniature Pinschers used to help bring back the breed from the brink of extinction. She was bred back to a number of her grandsons which either were related directly to the German Pinscher bitch Kitti V Bodenstrand or the other two male Min Pins. In spite of the fact she was a Min Pin, when bred to the other Min Pins, the offspring were registered as German Pinscher. By the mid 1950 s the German Pinscher was so rare it was thought in some areas to be extinct. Herr Jung, at the time a Standard Schnauzer breeder of reputation, took it upon himself to try to bring back the breed. Finding a bitch of good quality in East Germany, he risked his safety to secret her across the border. Once safely in his care, he bred her and her future offspring with three Miniature Pinschers that had more German Pinscher structure and were large for their breed. This German Pinscher circa 1958 (name unknown) was the product of a very tight inbreeding program with the Min Pins. The rounder eyes and fuller cheeks are still apparent in some of the German Pinschers of today.
Adding to the gene pool The black Doberman bitch Evi Von Den Edeltanne was bred to bred to the German Pinscher Fips Vom Nordkristall late 1989 with the intent on increasing size in the German Pinschers as they had become exceedingly small. This breeding was sanctioned by the Pinscher-Schnauzer club of Germany with the intent on doing it twice more to different males. This never occurred and Linda Vom Nordkristall, registered as F1 carried the Doberman genes forward. The above pictured male is a great grandson of Evi. The Doberman was permitted to appear only the one time in his pedigree. He is F4 and considered fully German Pinscher. He has gone on to sire litters of his own. The desire to increase size was a success, bringing the average dog in that particular pedigree from an average of 42-46cm (16.5 to 18.25 ) to 47-52cm(18.5 to 20.5 ). As well most German Pinschers descending from this line typically have more fore chest, something that the breed continues to struggle with. It should be noted however that as shown in the dog above, too much sterum projection is not considered correct as the standard states Forechest extends beyond point of shoulder Dogs with excessive fronts similar to a Dobermann are not to be considered correct.
Pinscher-Schnauzer This F3 (above) of the 1998 mating, when bred, will produce what is considered to be pure German Pinschers. Note the grizzling in colour and what is clearly not black. To the right is the littermate. Again note the colour as not fitting the standard however overall the dogs structure is quite adequate. The offspring of these two breedings have been closely watched and guarded to ensure that they are used to the best of their genetic ability to improve the overall quality of the breed. None of these offspring have been imported to North America at this time, however this may change with the F4 generation should they be of good quality. Standard Schnauzer Balthazar V Achterplatzchen was bred to German Pinscher bitch Yarracitta Ipanapapanetta in a sanctioned breeding by the National registry in Finland in 1998 with the desire to introduce more genetic material into a very small gene pool as well as tone down the fire often found in the smooth cousin. The year before (1997) a Standard Schnauzer bitch Argentas Pollyanna was bred to a German Pinscher male Yarracitta Retticarudolph. Only the best structured offspring of both breedings were kept with the understanding that the two pedigrees would never be permitted to cross over prior to F4.
General Appearance Overall length in proportion to back (from withers to base of tail) is approximately 1:2. A dog of substantial substance and yet remaining visually streamlined and athletic in appearance. Lack of bone creating a deer like frame is undesirable. 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. Hackney gait should be severely penalized..
Temperament High spirited and selfpossessed. Aggression towards other dogs although sometimes occurring within same gendered dogs should be severely penalized as a whole. Aggression towards humans is unacceptable. This breed tends to maintain eye contact. This is normal and not considered to be a challenge to humans. Failure to stand for exam or be judged thoroughly is also considered inappropriate for the breed. Puppies can be allowed some leniency however it is up to the judge to determine if non compliance is a temperament issue or lack of training and act accordingly. Judges should excuse any dogs for this if done to excess
Size 43-48 cms (17-19 ins) at withers It is recommended that females be at the lower end of the size range, whilst the males at the upper measurements. Variations within this range to be penalized according to their severity. Bitches and Dogs should have a weight appropriate to their size to allow for a moderate looking dog that would appear neither too lean or ribby or out of condition without definition of muscle tone. Dogs should be judged proportionately if outside these ideals. Male-19 Female-18
. Neither gender should be so heavy as to appear overweight or lacking agility during motion Dogs carrying less weight that appears to show rib, hip or excessive tuck up, should also be penalized appropriately. Bitches having litters should not be penalized for their matronly appearance unless it is in excess. No dog out of condition should be rewarded at any level.
Colour Red should not be so light as to appear Fawn in colour. Stag red should not show a distinct saddle * *Photo digitally enhanced for explanation
. Mahogany red is the preferred for the black bicolour. There should be no preference between colours during competition and only be given consideration if equal examples are being shown; the preference would then be given to the animal showing the deeper red or clearer colour. Markings only take precedence when equal examples are being shown. Mismarked front triangles on black dogs must be penalized when equal examples are shown. More than a few white hairs is considered a fault. Muzzles may become whiter in older dogs and should not be penalized. White hairs from injury not to be penalized.
THE ANKC STANDARD ALLOWS FOR BLACK WITH RED MARKINGS, CLEAR RED OR STAG RED, BLUE WITH TAN MARKINGS AND FAWN (ISABELLA) TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR COMPETITION IN CONFORMATION. Fawn black and tan blue and tan red
Head View the head from above and from the side to determine if the correct blunt wedge shape is evident. Width of the muzzle must be considered an important aspect, with the penalty being laid for a narrow or short muzzle.
Females will not carry as wide a muzzle and should be judged according to their gender. Full under jaw is required while maintaining correct scissor bite. Top of skull and muzzle present parallel lines. Stop is slight but distinct. Cropped ears are not permitted to be shown. Natural folded ears should not fly back. Set high. V shaped, folded down close to head. Ears should not lay flat against the head and be hound-like
Dogs showing excessive cheek or no indentation from muzzle to skull should be penalized. The head should NOT appear like a Doberman or a Miniature Pinscher in shape or outline. Dark, of medium size, oval and directed forward. Eye rims tight. Round eyes should be penalized as are light colour eyes. Red dogs may have somewhat lighter eyes and this should be taken into account when judging. It is not a fault unless it is extreme. Oval eyes are desired but not so far as to be called almond shaped.
Neck A B C Exhibitors will often stack and/or bait dogs with heads held too high, resulting in a ridge where the neck meets the shoulder. Dogs should gait with the head at approximately 45 degree angle to the body. It should not be level when in motion nor held overly upward. Due to the topline not being required to be level (see Body ) there will be a dip where the neck meets the shoulder but there should not be a roll or ridge indicating too sharp of a connection between neck and shoulder or too straight of a shoulder.
Forequarters Well laid shoulder with good but flat muscle. Forelegs straight viewed from all sides, parallel elbows are close to body. Desired layback is 45 degrees. Straight shoulders should be penalized. Flat front feet or splayed feet should be penalized severely. Nails kept very short and should not touch the ground during movement. Over muscling of the front to be penalized. There should be no thumbprints as found in Manchester Terriers. Small amounts of penciling are permitted however; black toes should be penalized as a colour fault. White on the toes is considered a fault.
Body Bitches may be slightly longer in body and still be considered. Tuck up is minimal and dogs showing no tuck up must be penalized as being out of condition. Chest moderately wide with flat ribs. Brisket extends below elbow. 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. The rise in the croup should be evident more on the move than in a stacked position along with the tail set to be judged more correctly whilst on the move. Failure to carry the tail up during motion should be penalized. A flat topline without rise to the croup should be penalized. A sloping topline should also be penalized to the degree of the slope during motion. The overall appearance of the dog must remain in balance and be square. Dogs appearing too long in leg or too short in leg regardless of squareness must be penalized to the degree of deviation.
The back is measured from the withers to the tail set, should be twice that as the length of the head, measured from the tip of the nose to the occiput. The height of the dog should be measured from the ground to the withers. The visual square appears as a line down the back of the front legs and a line drawn from the furthest point in the hindquarters.
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. Turn of stifle must be apparent as well as angle to hock. Straight hindquarters must be severely penalized. (lower left) Exhibitors must be encouraged not to over extend their dogs back legs resulting in the appearance of lack of stifle and hock angulation. Hocks must be perpendicular to the ground and placement should be just beyond the furthest point of the dogs rear and not placed under the dog. A line drawn from the furthest point in the rear downward should just touch the toes or be slightly in front of the back feet if the hocks are perpendicular to the ground. Over angulation should be penalized (lower right)
Tail Tail should be carried, when in motion, at the 2 o clock position or higher but never so high as to appear over the back. Hooked tails, or touching the back or sides to be faulted. Tails with abnormal vertebrae should be considered faulty. ` Docked: Docked to three [3] joints. Set and carried high. Undocked: Set and carried high with an upward sweep. In overall balance with the rest of the dog. Length of tail (cropped or natural) should not be penalized either for long or short unless at its most severe.
Faults Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
Credits Some images have been digitally altered to remove backgrounds however no image has been changed in regards to structure. Special thanks to: Kerry Thorbourne Cindy-Lee Campbell Walt Norris Pia Widerberg Jill Eastman Heather Harrell For their photography talents with many of the images shown in this presentation.