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

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.

HISTORY

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 self-

possessed. “

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.

Red should not be so light as to appear Fawn in colour.

Stag red should not show a distinct “saddle”*

Colour

*Photo digitally

enhanced for

explanation

.

Mahogany red is the preferred for the black bi-

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.

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.

Fawn black and tan blue and tan red

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.

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’

“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.

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.

Neck

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.

A B C

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

“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.

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.

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.