The German Pinscher, also known as the Standard Pinscher in Germany, originated from two much older breeds: the German Bibarhund (from the 13th century) and the Tanner (from the 14th century). The two strains were eventually crossed with Black and Tan Terriers in the 17th century to produce the Rattenfanger, a dog admired for its work ethic as a watchdog and ratter. This dog became the Pinscher, a canine that put the fear of God into many a rodent, unless of course, it was an atheist rodent.
Between 1949 and 1958, not one Pinscher litter was registered in West Germany, such was the toll of WWII on the breed. Out of concern that the breed would vanish, the Pinscher-Schnauzer Klub of West Germany chose and registered four oversized Miniature Pinschers in 1958 which they bred with a Pinscher female that had been secretly smuggled out of East Germany where Pinschers could still be found. It’s said that nearly all of today’s German Pinschers are descended from these dogs.
Given that the German Pinscher was well over 235 years old, it’s hard to believe that the breed didn’t gain full acceptance by the Canadian Kennel Club until 2000, nor AKC acceptance until 2003. As they say, good things are worth waiting for.
German Pinscher by LA Shepard/thedoglover
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