The German Pinscher, also called the Standard Pinscher, was first recognized as a breed in 1880, in Germany. http://dogbreedinfo.com/germanpinscher.htm The early dogs were used as protection for the family and as a hunter to help provide the food. The German Pinschers heritage is a mixture of several breeds of dogs - the Doberman, Miniature Pinscher, Schnauzers and the Affenpinscher, all of whom donated traits of their own and made the German Pinscher the beautiful, strong, sleek dog we see today. http://sarahsdogs.com/breeds/german_pinscher/

If you are thinking about choosing one as a pet, but you don't know if it will be the right type of dog for you, most people agree that a German Pinscher is an obedient, loyal dog and because of it's playful spirit, will make a smart choice as a pet for you and your children. The headstrong characteristics make the German Pinscher a fearless watch dog who will defend you and your property. http://sarahsdogs.com/breeds/german_pinscher/

But, is the German Pinscher the right dog for you? There are several questions you need to ask yourself if you are thinking about adopting a German Pinscher for yourself.

1. Do you want a big dog? The German Pinscher is a medium sized dog and if you live in a small home, you may not want to have a rambunctious dog of this size running around inside the confined space.
2. Do you have time to take your new pet for a walk - everyday? German Pinschers need a lot of exercise time like running in the dog park or throwing a Frisbee. These and any other vigorous running games are needed on a regular basis.
3. Can you stand a lot of loud barking? If you want to and need to keep your pet inside, you may not want to choose a German Pinscher as a pet. The loud barking will be enough to make you regret your choice but, if you have a large yard and you don't have a lot of close neighbors, the barking may not be such a big problem - especially if get a good dog trainer to teach them proper behavior.
4. Do you want an aggressive pet? This breed is known for being quick to chase after other animals and to show aggressive behavior toward them. There some some breeds who are a little less aggressive than others.
5. Are you sure you have enough time to devote to giving your dog more than enough exercise? Because if you don't, the German Pinscher may destroy your home or apartment if you leave them alone for too long. http://yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/germanpinschers.html

German Pinschers are not bothered by a lot of the conditions that plague other dogs, they are typically a very healthy breed. Their agility, strong lean body and overall appearance show that these dogs do not suffer from a lot of on-going health problems. As your pet gets older, there may be some vision problems and hip dysplasia, which is a deformed hip joint. If left untreated, hip dysplasia will lead to arthritis and this will make walking and running painful.

Make sure the vision is kept in shape with regular testing of the eyes for cataracts and that your pet is tested and cleared of hip dysplasia before breeding. http://www.terrificpets.com/articles/hip-dysplasia.asp

There are a lot of different activities that your German Pinscher will enjoy and need to participate in to keep them mentally and physically satisfied. They were originally bred as herd dogs and they still like to run and play as much as they can. Toys will bring hours of pleasure so make sure have some around.

They also enjoy:

• Hunting
• Throwing the Frisbee
• Fetch
• Hide and seek http://www.terrificpets.com/dog_breeds/german_pinscher.asp