Austrian Pinscher
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Appearance

Like other farm dogs raised for work rather than for pets or show, the appearance can vary a great deal, although there is a definite breed standard. Austrian Pinschers are stocky, medium-sized dogs. While clearly conforming to the Pinscher type, they differ from their German cousins when it comes to hair, coat color and proportions. The breed has button ears and a head described as being shaped like a pear. The long tail is held high, and dogs of this breed should look lively and alert. They are heavier, more rugged and rectangular in appearance than the German Pinscher.

History

The Austrian Pinscher was recognized as a breed for the first time in 1928, but the breed was developed from an old type of pinscher found on farms in the Austrian countryside, a mixture of German Pinschers and the local dogs. Claims of great antiquity have been made for the old pinscher type. Since there are no records, it is not possible to tell how the old type is related to the modern-day breed, although they do look somewhat similar. At the end of the 19th century, the farm dogs began to die out when the work they did was no longer needed. In the early 20th century Emil Hauck, looking for an aboriginal dog type identified in 1843 by H. von Meyer as Canis palustris or dog of the marshes (a type of dog, not an actual species), found what he believed were some examples of similar dogs in the Austrian countryside. In 1921 he began serious breeding to revive and define the type of the breed, to separate them from other landrace pinschers of the area. The Austrian Kennel Club (Austrian Kynologenverband) first recognised the breed as the Österreichischer Kurzhaarpinscher (translates in English as Austrian Shorthaired Pinscher) in 1928. The name was given to the breed to identify its place of origin as Austria ( Österreich), and to differentiate it from the Schnauzer which at that time was called the Rough-haired Pinscher (rauhaariger Pinscher). After World War II, though, the breed almost vanished. In the 1970s only one registered dog of the breed remained, named Diokles of Angern. Breeding this dog with other dogs identified as of the old pinscher type in the area ("Landpinschern") has brought the breed back, although there are still only a small number of them. Ark Austria (Arche Austria), an association for the preservation of endangered indigenous breeds, lists the Austrian Pinscher and states that it is highly vulnerable, with only 6 to 12 breeding animals, who are being carefully bred to preserve health and breed type.

Exercise Requirements
GoodWith Other Dogs
Watchdog Ability
GoodWith Children
Protection Ability
Austrian Pinscher
Litter Size:3-6 puppies
Energy Level:N/A
Coat:N/A
Shedding:N/A
Dog Group:N/A
Common Nicknames:N/A
Country of Origin:Austria
Life Span:1 to 2 years
Temperament:N/A
Size:N/A
Color:N/A
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What the owners of this breed say
owner
Aug 07, 2025
D
Durward Stehr
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owner
Aug 07, 2025
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Treva Donnelly
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owner
Aug 07, 2025
E
Edyth Ruecker
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owner
Aug 07, 2025
K
King Gerhold
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