6 Loyal Types of Pinscher Dogs

Pinscher dogs have a long and fascinating history. The original pinschers were working dogs. They acted as farm dogs helping rid the barns of rats or guard dogs working to protect livestock. Today, these loyal and hard-working breeds make faithful family pets.

You may be familiar with some of the more common types of pinscher breeds, such as the Doberman and miniature pinscher. But have you heard of breeds such as the Danish Swedish farmdog and Austrian pinscher?

Read on to learn about six types of the loyal pinscher dog.

What is a Pinscher dog?

A pinscher is a type of dog breed. The first type of pinscher dog hails from Germany and is believed to be the German pinscher. The word “pinscher” is derived from the English word “pinch” or the French word “pincer.” All pinscher dogs today were cross-bred from the original German pinscher. 

Two types of dogs evolved from the original German pinscher. These are:

• Smooth-haired pinschers (such as the Doberman pinscher)
• Wire-haired pinschers (such as the affenpinscher)

Since pinschers were bred as guard dogs, today, they retain their loyalty toward their families. Read on to learn about the following six types of loyal pinschers.

1. German Pinscher 

As we mentioned above, all pinscher-type dogs originated from the elegant German pinscher. German pinschers are medium-sized, powerful dogs with a strong sense of protectiveness towards their family. 

Because these dogs were bred to be working dogs, they are full of energy and require high levels of exercise. Their previous jobs as ratters mean they have a high prey drive and tend to think anything running away from them should be caught. Because of this, German pinschers may not be well suited for families with small children.

Size: 17 to 20 inches tall; 25 to 45 pounds

Temperament: Highly energetic, loving, and loyal family dogs. Due to their high prey drive, they may not be a match for families with very young children.

Lifespan: 12 to 14 years

Coat Type: Smooth and short.

2. Doberman Pinscher

Doberman Pinschers are known for their fierce loyalty and protectiveness of their families. Highly intelligent and full of energy, these dogs adapt best to family life with a lot of training. The males in this breed tend to grow larger and heavier than the females.

Dobermans are elegant dogs, with powerful features and smooth coats of fur that come in a variety of colors:

• black
• rust
• brown
• white
• blue
• red

Although Dobermans are very affectionate and loving with their families, they can exhibit independence and dominance. Due to their large size and strength they may not be the best choice for a first-time dog owner. They also may show an aloofness to strangers and be slow to open up to unfamiliar people.

Size: 24 to 26 inches tall (female); 26 to 28 inches tall (male); 60 to 90 pounds (female); 75 to 100 pounds (male)

Temperament: Protective, intelligent, and high energy. Although they are affectionate and loving, they may need structured training to get along well with family life.

Lifespan: 10 to 12 years

Coat Type: Smooth and short.

3. Miniature Pinscher

Miniature pinschers may be small, but they make up for it with their larger-than-life personalities. Miniature pinschers may look like smaller versions of the Doberman pinscher or German pinscher, but they are a completely different breed. Although considered toy dogs, these furry balls of energy are not going to be content to act as lap dogs.

Also known as min pins or Zwergpinscher, these little dogs are just as fierce and protective as their larger pinscher relatives, and just as loving and affectionate. Originally, min pins were bred to chase rats on farms. Today, they need a lot of exercise, and some patience from their owner, to live happily as family pets.

Size: 10 to 12-1/2 inches tall; 8 to 10 pounds

Temperament: High energy, lovable, fierce, playful, and confident. A patient owner may be required as these little dogs prefer playtime to training time.

Lifespan: 12 to 16 years

Coat Type: Smooth and short.

4. Danish Swedish Farmdog or Danish Pinscher

The Danish Swedish farmdog is a small dog, though not as small as the miniature pinscher. Although they are closer in appearance to Jack Russell terriers, they are in the pinscher group. Like the other pinschers we’ve discussed, these little dogs were bred as working dogs to catch rats, hunt and act as watchdogs.

Similar to the other pinschers, these furry companions are bundles of energy. They are intelligent dogs and full of affection. These dogs will require a lot of exercise to burn off their boundless energy. They also have a high prey drive, due to their history as ratters, and may not do well in homes with small pets such as hamsters.

Size: 12.5 inches to 14.5 inches tall; 15 to 20 pounds

Temperament: Highly affectionate, full of energy, loving, and protective.

Lifespan: 11 to 13 years

Coat Type: Smooth and short.

5. Affenpinscher

The Affenpinscher looks a lot like a terrier. It is sometimes referred to as a “monkey terrier.” However, Affenpinschers are in the pinscher family and are descended from the original German pinscher. 

Similar to the miniature pinscher, the Affenpinscher is a tiny dog with a big personality. Its original role was to catch mice and rats on the farm. Their small size lets them get into small spaces to easily catch the rodents. Additionally, their fun and loving personalities helped them to become loyal companions as family pets.

Size: 9 to 11.5 inches tall; 7 to 10 pounds

Temperament: Feisty, fearless, affectionate, and curious. Protective despite their tiny stature.

Lifespan: 12 to 15 years

Coat Type: Wiry, short to medium coat.

6. Austrian Pinscher

The Austrian pinscher, also known as the Austrian Shorthaired pinscher, began as a working farm dog in Austria. Their job was to keep barns free from rats and guard livestock. 

Because of its past as a guard dog, the Austrian pinscher will be protective of its family. It’s also an affectionate and playful breed, and usually gentle around children. Like the other pinscher breeds, this dog has high energy and will need proper training.

Size: 17 to 19 inches tall; 26 to 40 pounds 

Temperament: Playful, affectionate, protective, and high energy.

Lifespan: 12 to 14 years

Coat Type: Smooth, thick, double coat, medium length.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Babsi B., CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons / Original