The History of GERMAN PINSCHERS !

A Special 400 Hundred Years

The Pinscher is a German breed descended, like the Schnauzer, from old European "swamp-dogs". One of the first examples of the breed came from Western Europe in 1472, on a copper engraving of the thorn crowning Lucan Frenach, who was accompanied by 2 German Pinschers (GP). However it is believed the GP existed long before then. Eirc's introduction to Isis

German tax collector Louis Doberman was so impressed with the temperament and beauty of the GP that he used them to help create his own larger version of the breed (the Doberman Pinscher). He developed this versatile breed in the Apolda region of Germany to suit his own need for a loyal, obedient, fiercely protective dog to accompany him in his rounds as a tax collector. Research shows the Dobermann is a cross of the original Pinscher with some aggressive dogs (i.e., the Shepherd Dog, the Black and Tan Terrier and the Greyhound (This information is a direct translation from the German Breed Club Notes)) therefore the Dobermann became a larger version of the Original Pinscher, while the GP kept its original size. The GP have always been considered a multi-purpose breed and renowned as RATTERS, bred to hunt rodents and other small vermin. Pinschers became popular and were kept as stable dogs – keeping them clear of rats. Originally, the Pinscher litters had both smooth and wire-coated puppies. The "CLUB OF PUREBREEDS IN GERMANY" first printed a Breed Standard for the GP in 1880. In 1895, the German Pinscher-Schnauzer Klub (club) was founded. The GP was officially recognized as a distinct breed at that time, after 15 years of breeding for a short-haired type of dog. The first breed Standard was written in 1884 and revised in 1895as well. At that time the Pinscher colors were varied. Both GPs and Standard Schnauzers, which were also being bred for coat type at the time, are descendants of the same Rat Catcher, Great Ratter, or Rat Pinscher which became extinct in the 1800's.

Until then the Pinscher had almost become a forgotten breed. The first edition of the Pinscher-Schnauzer Club studbook for the year 1923 has 185 Pinschers registered. Of these only 2 dogs, that dated back prior to the 1914-18 war, had any significant influence on the breed. One was the Black-Brown Dog 'MAX v. Goppingen 2187" whelped in 1910. and the same coloured bitch "Belia Von der Staufenburg 2013" whelped in 1909. Besides these two the only others worth mentioning would be the 2 dogs "Mechlins Max" (breeding unknown) and "Flock 71" whelped in 1921. All successful dogs in later years had these two dogs in their pedigrees.

Only in the second stud book do we come across a black bitch with the traditional rusty brown/red markings. There is no doubt therefore that the Schnauzer and Pinschers are closely related cousins. The evidence is undeniable that there existed the close interbreeding of both breeds in the later half of the 19th Century. By separating the long and short-haired specimens in the same litters, and by selective breeding, the PSK produced, what they believed to be, a very remarkable dog. In order to qualify for registration the GPs were required to have three generations of smooth, short-haired ancestry. The club officers and members agreed and specified that only the smooth-coated Pinschers would be bred as Pinschers. This became the professed goal of PSK breeders around the turn of the century.

The Standard described the Pinscher as flashy, but strong and sinewy-muscular. Height 43-48 cm. at the shoulder. There existed a great similarity in anatomy with the Schnauzer, and the only significant difference was the short hair and colour. The allowable colours were: Shiny black, with markings from rusty red to yellow; Dark Brown with yellow markings and unicoloured in different shades. But not pale yellow or isabell, or without white markings was permitted. A concession was made for the salt and pepper colour due to the ancestry of the Schnauzer. The Pinscher Breeders of those years put a tot of effort into the breeding and managed to produce some very top dogs. But they still could not be compared with the success of other breed clubs. Unfortunately at that time the otherwise very respected breeder Strebel persevered in breeding his favourite idea, a pepper and salt coloured 'Silver Pinscher'. Dr. Da-ubner from Kaiserslautern put a lot of energy and patience into this dream of a "Silver Pinscher" but with very little success. Eirc checks out the ears It would have been a greater help to the breed if these "passionate, idealistic devoted breeders" would have concentrated on producing black-brown, and red Pinschers. Very little progress was made with the breed until 1941 when the breeder Retter, from Bartenbach, finally made the breakthrough. All the judges reports from that time rave about the quality of his dogs. 16 Pinschers were entered at the National Champion Exhibition in Stuttgart. Top wins, among others, went to the black and red dog "Arko von Barbarossa 654", the black and red bitch "Dorle von Barbarossa 671" and to the red dog "Arno von Barbarossa 656". The last two received the special award SchH 1! This however was 1941, and the war and postwar period brought the breeding of Pinschers to a total standstill. Between 1923 and 1949 there were about 900 GPs registered in Germany. Not a single litter was registered during the period 1950-1957. During World War I and World War II, the GP lost popularity in Germany, threatening extinction. In the mid-1950's, Karl Werner Junghof is credited for saving the breed. Herr Junghof found a few of the breed and started a serious breeding program. His efforts make it possible for us to enjoy this wonderful breed today.

It is believed that only one litter of German Pinschers was whelped in West Germany in 1949, With no litters subsequently born until 9 years later. What we’re saying is that much of the history of the GP during World War II was lost with no real data available until 1958. Between 1968 and 1984 there were 1688 registered individuals (according to Pinscher Schnauzer Klub stud book in Germany). As of 1997 there were only about 1100 GPs in Germany, and about 600 in America, 400 in Finland, about 60 in Canada. Given these numbers, you can see why the breed is still considered rare in many countries.

In Europe, the German Pinscher is still considered to be rare. There are only a handful of serious breeders in Germany and even less in Great Britain. In the United States, breeds not recognized by A.K.C. are termed "rare breeds". This is the most significant reason for the AKC’s reluctance to recognizing the breed for full registration in the past. The AKC will be recognizing the German Pinscher in the Misc class in March of 2001. Until then, they can be registered through the AKC, within the FSS (Foundation Stock Service) registry. The breeding history of the German Pinscher is now being kept and recorded, in this country, by the AKC under the FSS. Full recognition by the AKC is the goal of most German Pinscher breeders. There are some breeders, however, who are concerned about acquiring AKC recognition for fear that it will cause less controlled breeding, thus diluting the quality of the breed.