Origin
The Austrian Pinscher dogs are a medium-large breed, descended from the old type of pinscher found on Austrian farms. This traditional Austrian farmer’s dog was developed as a guard dog, protecting houses and livestock.
Their closest cousin is the German Pinscher though they differ when it comes to hair, color of the coat and body proportions.
Controlled breeding began in 1921. The breed was recognized in its native country by the Austrian Kynologenverband (ÖKV, Austrian Kennel Club) in 1928.
The name originally given to the breed was the Österreichischer Kurzhaarpinscher (Austrian Shorthaired Pinscher). It was renamed the Austrian Pinscher in 2000.
Internationally, this dog became a distinct breed and was put by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in the Pinscher section of Group 2.
With its background as a rat hunter, it was also recognized by the United Kennel Club in the United States as the Austrian Pinscher as of 2006 in the Terrier Group.
Traits and Behavior
Austrian Pinschers are a breed of dogs that show a confident and forceful personality. They are attentive, lively and playful. Also, they are loyal, devoted and friendly when it comes to their masters and to people they know.
However, they can become distrustful towards strangers and most especially towards people who will try to enter their territory uninvited. This protective nature makes them cherished companions.
This dog is the kind of animal that will surely be happy living in a place where it can put its instinctive ability to work. The Austrian Pinscher will love to be involved in any kind of sports its master plays. This breed may not get along very well with its fellow other dogs if they weren’t able to be socialized at an early age.
Pet Care and Diseases
While the Austrian Pinscher is typically known as a healthy and strong breed, they do suffer from a few health problems, such as:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- High risk to develop cancer
- Eye problems (Primary lens luxation or dislocation of the lens, Progressive retinal atrophy, Entropian/Ectropion – folding inward or outward of the eyelid, respectively)
- Obesity
- Bloat
These active and athletic dogs require large amounts of daily exercise. The Austrian Pinscher will get enough exercise if it is living on a farm however if you don’t have a big yard, long walks for the dog will suffice.
This dog needs a firm, but calm, confident and consistent handler, otherwise, if the Austrian Pinscher does not receive the proper amount of exercise and space, it will often act out by destroying property, chewing, digging, barking, whining, and ignoring basic training such as housebreaking.
When it comes to grooming, an occasional brushing will do. Being outdoorsy dog, they need a good bath at least once every month.
Appearance
The average height for the Austrian Pinscher is about 14-20 inches (36-51 cm) while the typical weight is approximately 26-40 lbs (12-18 kg).
This breed has a pear-shaped head, with charming button ears and a bright expression. The body is slightly longer horizontally, compact and somewhat stocky.
The chest is long, deep, broad and barrel-shaped, with a well-developed fore-chest. The withers are well defined, and the back is short, broad and straight.
The loin is short and broad, and the croup is long and broad. The belly is slightly tucked up. The feet have well-arched toes.
The coat is thick and double. The color is virtually any shade of gold, red, brown or black with tan/gold markings. Also, white is considered acceptable on the chest, muzzle, neck, throat, nape, feet and tip of the tail.
General Information
The life expectancy for this breed is about 12-14 years. The litter size could go up to 3-6 puppies. The Austrian Pinscher is also known as Österreichischer, Kurzhaarpinscher or Austrian Shorthaired Pinscher
Breed Club
Visit this dog club website dedicated to Austrian Pinschers. Click this link: http://www.oe-pinscher-klub.at/