German Pinscher
He’s a strong watchdog, has lots of energy, and he’s devoted to his family as long as small mammals aren’t included.
Daily Care
Grooming Tips
The German Pinscher’s short, sleek coat makes him easy to groom. A bath every three months (or when he gets dirty) in a mild shampoo is all he needs, plus a brushing once a week with a natural bristle brush or mitt. Use coat conditioner/polish to brighten the sheen.
Check the ears on a weekly basis for signs of infection, irritation, or wax build up. Cleanse regularly with a veterinarian-approved cleanser and cotton ball. Brush the teeth at least once per week to prevent tartar buildup and fight gum disease. Additionally, nails should be trimmed once per month if the dog does not wear down the toenails naturally.
Exercise Tips
The Doberman has lots of energy and stamina when needed, but is actually only a moderately active dog. He or she needs a decent amount of exertion, it doesn’t have to be high-octane activities, but he or she does need a workout every single day. In fact, this intelligent dog can be stimulated with activities that are more mental than active.
With this said, Toller puppies should not be given too much exercise because their joints and bones are still growing and too much pressure on them could result in causing a dog a few problems later on in their lives. They should not be allowed to jump up or off furniture nor should they be allowed to run up and down the stairs because this puts too much pressure on their still growing joints and limbs.
Feeding Tips
As a medium-sized dog breed, the German Pinscher should be fed a high-quality commercial dog food diet formulated for dogs of its size. Because this breed is a high-energy working breed, however, an active or working breed formula may be more appropriate to meet his needs.
If you get a German Pinscher puppy from a breeder, they would give you a feeding schedule and it’s important to stick to the same routine, feeding the same puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy’s diet, but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don’t develop any digestive upsets and if they do, it’s best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change it again.
Older dogs are not known to be fussy or finicky eaters, but this does not mean you can feed them a lower quality diet. It’s best to feed a mature dog twice a day, once in the morning and then again in the evening, making sure it’s good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It’s also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories or they might gain too much weight which can lead to all sorts of health issues. Obesity can shorten a dog’s life by several years so it’s important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go.
Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times. Like many large breeds, Saint Bernard can experience bloat, a life-threatening condition where the stomach distends and twists. The causes of bloat aren’t fully understood, but experts agree that multiple, small meals per day and preventing vigorous exercise around mealtimes may help reduce the chances of it happening.
Health Tips
All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems, just as all people have the potential to inherit a particular disease. Run, don’t walk, from any breeder who does not offer a health guarantee on puppies, who tells you that the breed is 100 percent healthy and has no known problems, or who tells you that her puppies are isolated from the main part of the household for health reasons. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur in her lines.
German Pinschers are typically robust, healthy dogs, although there are a few conditions that the breed can be prone to. These includehip dysplasia, eye disease, and von Willebrand’s disease. There is a small incidence of heart problems, and some delayed post-vaccine complications have also been reported within the breed. Responsible breeders test all breeding stock for conditions that can affect the breed. Theteethshould be brushed often, using a toothpaste designed for dogs. Regular visits to the vet for checkups and parasite control help to ensure the dog a long, healthy life.
Trainability
The German Pinscher is a highly intelligent breed that learns quickly. Because these dogs can sometimes develop an independent streak, however, it is best to start your dogwith training as early as possible. You should also plan to use positive-reinforcement training methods and maintain a firm and consistent hand in training throughout the dog’s life. Because these dogs are intelligent and hard-working they generally do well in dog sports – these sports can be a great source of supplemental exercise as well as mental stimulation.
Puppies should be properly socialized to develop the amiable, outgoing personality that is characteristic of the breed. They’re successful in performance and companion events such as earthdog, barn hunt, obedience, and agility.
History
The German Pinscher is among its homeland’s oldest breeds. As the progenitor of the Miniature Pinscher and the ever-popular Doberman, among other German breeds, it can be said to be the prototypical pinscher. (A helpful historian tells us that “ ‘pinscher’ appears to be a Germanic form of the French word ‘pincer,’ meaning to seize or to nip.”) And seizing and nipping are apt descriptions of how GPs originally earned a living: rat killing. Today’s GPs are excellent watchdogs and vigilant family guardians.
The German Pinscher played a role in the development of theDoberman Pinscherand theMiniature Pinscher. The German Pinscher was recognized by the AKC in 2003. It has been used on farms as a vermin destroyer, herding livestock, watchdog, guard dog and family pet.
