German Pinscher 337

The German Pinscher originated in Germany. Drawings featuring them have been dated back to 1780 and their roots can potentially be traced as far back as the 15th century. They are considered one of Germany’s oldest dog breeds and were used as a blueprint for developing other pinscher breeds and other German breeds.

They were originally bred to be a rat-catcher and often also multitasked as a vigilant watchdog. Their sleek bodies, endurance, and intelligence made them excellent at pest control, but also meant they could be trained for a variety of work.

Although there have been accounts of individual German Pinschers coming to the United States earlier, they started to become popular with U.S.-based breeders in the early 1980s. The American Kennel Club recognized the German Pinscher in 2003 as a member of the Working Group.