Origin
Germany
General Appearance
The Pinscher is smooth-coated, of medium size, with elegant and flowing
outlines, well balanced, yet strongly built, with well distributed muscle
development and of square construction, like the Schnauzer; compared with the
latter, the Pinscher with his smooth, short coat appears more elegant and light.
The trot is done in diagonal sequence.
Temperament
Alert temperament, attentiveness, good-natured, inclined to play, devoted to its
master, unbribable watchfulness, yet without being a constant barker. Its short
coat makes it easy to keep the dog in the house. Its highly developed
sense-organs, intelligence, learning ability, fearless attitude, endurance and
resistance to sickness give the Pinscher the pre-requisites to be an excellent
watch and companion dog.
Size
The height at withers measures from 45-50 cm.
Colour
Solid -coloured: brown in various shades to stag-red. Bi-coloured: black with
red or brown (tan) markings. Red/tan markings desired as dark and as rich as
possible; they must be sharply marked. These markings are distributed as
follows: above the eyes, at the throat, on the forechest as two triangles
distinctly separated from each other, on the pasterns (metacarpal bone), on the
feet, at the inner side of the hindquarters and at the anus. No other colours
accepted.
Head
Strong and elongated, without distinctly pronounced occipital bone. Its total
length (from the tip of the nose to the occiput) compared with the length of the
back (from the withers to the tail-set) results in a ratio of approximately 1:2.
The nasal bridge (topline of the muzzle) runs parallel to the extended line of
the unwrinkled, flat forehead. The stop is slightly, but distinctly marked.
Cheek muscles are stong, but never causing any disturbing ?cheekiness?. The deep
muzzle ends in a blunt wedge. The nose is full, black, in corresponding shades
in red and brown
coloured dogs. The lips are well-fitting and darkly pigmented.
Dentition: complete scissor bite, jaws fitting correctly; teeth strong and very
white. Ears: cropped ears set on high, symmetrically shaped, carried erect.
Uncropped ear set on high, forming a ?V? with a folding pleat; or small, evenly
erect ear. Eyes: dark, medium-sized, oval-shaped and directed forward. Eye rims
well fitting, therefore no haw (conjunctiva) visible.
Neck
Elegantly arched, with strong set-on to the body; nape well arched, neither too
short nor too stout. The skin of the throat is tight without any folds or
dewlap.
Forequarters
Shoulder-blades well laid back and slanting, well angulated with the upperarm;
with flat, yet strong muscles. Forelegs are straight viewed from all sides,
supporting the body well. The elbows are close-fitting to the chest.
Body
Chest moderately wide, flat-ribbed and oval in cross-section; brisket reaching
beyond the level of elbows; the forechest is very pronounced by the sternum (prosternum)
protruding beyond the point of the shoulder (joint of shoulder-blade with upper
arm), by the point of shoulder itself and by the upperarm. The lower part of the
chest rises slightly backwards merging with the moderate tuck-up of the belly.
The distance between the last rib and the haunch is short, thereby giving the
Pinscher a compact short-coupled appearance. The total length of the trunk
corresponds approximately to the height at the withers. The back is short and
slightly sloping. The topline is not totally straight, but shows a very slight,
gently flowing line caused by the strong first vertebra of the withers, the back
and the slightly rounded rump (croup) to the set-on of the tail.
Hindquarters
The upper thighs are slanted and strongly muscled. Hocks (metatarsal joint)
distinctly angulated. Feet short, round, compact, with tightly bunched and
well-knuckled toes (cat feet). Dark nails. Hard, resistant pads.
Tail
Set on high and carried upright. Docked to approximately 3 joints (caudal
vertebrae).
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.
Too heavy or too light in substance
Too low or too high on the legs
Heavy, rounded skull
Small Doberman-like head
Wrinkles on the forehead
Low set or badly cropped ears
Light eyes, too small or too large
Strongly protruding cheek bones
Loose skin at throat
Pincer bite, undershot or overshot mouth
Short, snipy or narrow muzzle
Back too long and weak; distinct roach (wheel) back or hollow back
Elbows turned out
Cow hocks
Steep or bow-legged hindquarters
Trace (black line extending from nape to tail),
dark saddle and
all pale colour shadings.
N.B.: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended
into the scrotum.