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Austrian Pinscher

Austrian Pinscher

The Austrian Pinscher is first and foremost a working dog, originally bred to keep farms, land and houses free of vermin. Due to its working nature, this is a breed with a particularly high exercise requirement and impressive intelligence. This medium-sized dog makes an excellent companion for those who are active and have experience in handling strong-willed dogs.

Key facts about the Austrian Pinscher

Life expectancy :

8

20

13

15

Temperament :

Affectionate Playful

Size :

Origins and history

The Austrian Pinscher originates from Austria (duh!) towards the end of the 19th century. Farmers wanted a dog which could act as a watchdog as well as keep their property and land free of mice and rats - and as you’ve read, they definitely got what they wanted! This smart and intelligent pup was finally recognised as a breed in 1928.

FCI breed nomenclature

FCI Group

Group 2 - Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs

Section

Section 1 : Pinscher and Schnauzer type

Physical characteristics of the Austrian Pinscher

    Adult size

    Female : Between 17 and 19 in

    Male : Between 17 and 20 in

    Weight

    Female : Between 26 and 40 lb

    Male : Between 26 and 40 lb

    Coat colour

    Black
    Brown
    Red
    Sand

    Type of coat

    Short
    Long

    Eye colour

    Brown

    Description

    The Austrian Pinscher is a medium-sized, stocky and relatively short dog who boasts a strong, muscular body. Similar in appearance to other Pinscher breeds, they boast what’s commonly described as a ‘pear-shaped’ head with big, round eyes, small, high-set ears and a black nose. For the most part, males are bigger than females.

    Good to know

    The Austrian Pinscher nearly died out completely after WWII. Thanks to the rigorous breeding initiative, their population has risen but hasn’t managed to gain the same momentum.

    Temperament

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      Affectionate

      The Austrian Pinscher is known to form a very close bond with its family members. While it’s not necessarily the cuddliest of breed, they’ll definitely give affection to those they trust.

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      Playful

      With endless energy to use, the Austrian Pinscher loves playing games and joining in with sports. If you’re bored, grab a ball and get outside with them - they’ll always be up for it!

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      Calm

      This breed can be highly strung and hard to handle if they don’t get enough exercise or feel bored.

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      Intelligent

      This is a super intelligent dog breed which learns new things with ease. While this is a great trait, it does mean the dog needs plenty of mental stimulation to prevent boredom.

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      Hunter

      The Austrian Pinscher was bred to hunt and exterminate rats and other vermin. This means they have an extremely high prey drive and shouldn’t be trusted around small animals.

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      Fearful / wary of strangers

      This breed is extremely wary of strangers. This is definitely something to bear in mind if adopting an Australian Pinscher - truthfully, they can be rather intimidating towards new (and likely innocent!) people. With consistent socialisation, they may be tolerant of them - but never friendly.

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      Independent

      Strong-willed, stubborn and independent, the Austrian Pinscher can be a lot to handle. This breed needs to be paired with an experienced dog handler who knows how to handle a dominant pooch.

      Behaviour of the Austrian Pinscher

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        Tolerates solitude

        Ideally, no dog should be left alone for too long. However, as dog breeds go, the Austrian Pinscher tolerates a few hours alone well. However, it’s important to provide toys and room to roam to prevent boredom.

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        Easy to train / obedience

        Due to the Austrian Pinscher’s natural dominance and independence, they can be difficult to train. They need a confident, experienced trainer and consistent training sessions from a young age. If this breed thinks it can get its own way, it could become bossy and impossible to handle.

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        Barking

        If you’re thinking of adopting an Austrian Pinscher, be aware that you might annoy your neighbours. This breed truly likes the sound of its own voice - and while training may help, it’s unlikely to eliminate the problem completely.

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