Often mistaken for a small sized Doberman Pinscher, the German Pinscher had its origins in Medieval Germany where it was bred as a hunting dog for badgers, beavers and otters. This breed of dog is known for its loyalty and is very protective of its owner and the family with which it lives. It is an excellent choice of dog for a guard dog because of its lack of fear when it feels threatened in any way. With the family it is very docile and has wonderful hunting instincts.
The German Pinscher is a very active dog, which means it is essential that its owners provide it with plenty of opportunities for daily exercise. The dog needs to be kept indoors and does not do well when left outside in a doghouse. It loves to be with people and attaches itself to the family quite easily. This is also one breed of dog that excels in obedience classes because it is so easy to train. Without training, the dog can be very stubborn when it wants to get its own way. It is important that the training be conducted in a firm and gentle manner in order to have a well-adjusted dog that you will enjoy having as a companion.
This breed of dog has a wonderful appearance and is the perfect size for a pet. It is of medium size, with a strong muscular build weighing about 25 to 35 pounds and standing 17 to 20 inches tall. The coat is short and dense and when brushed on a regular basis, it will shine. The color of the coat usually ranges from fawn to red, although there are dogs of this breed that have a black coat with reddish markings.
This is an excellent choice of dog breed for families with children. They love to play for hours, but you do need to supervise them and not leave them alone with the children for extended periods of time. They are very quick and even when they get older they do not lose their optimism for playing. You should have a fenced area for playing outdoors so that they cannot wander away.
When you have regular visitors to the home, the German Pinscher will adapt well to them once they get used to their comings and goings. They will be wary of strangers and do need to be trained how to react when you have different people coming to your home.