FCI Breed Standard

Translation Mrs. C. Seidler

Country of Origin: Germany
Date of publication of the original valid standard: 21.2.2006
Utilisation: Watch and Companion Dog
Classification FCI: Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer – Molossian breeds – Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs and other breeds.
Section 1 Pinscher and Schnauzer
Type. Without working trial

Brief historical summary:
The smooth haired Pinscher represents a very old breed which was mentioned in the German Stud Book for dogs in 1880 already. He has the same ancestors as the Schnauzer which was also called the rough coated Pinscher. From the beginning the smooth haired Pinschers differed from the rough haired specimen in their colour and their short coat. They were mostly black with light brown markings, self coloured in various shades of brown to red, pepper and salt or simply blue-grey to black.

General appearance:
The German Pinsher is smooth-haired, medium in size with proud carriage, flowing outlines, elegant and square build. He is strong like the Schnauzer. Due to his short smooth coat, his well developed muscles are clearly visible especially when he moves.

Important proportions
In relation of length to height, his build should be as square as possible.
The length of the head (measured from tip of the nose to the occiput) corresponds to half the length of the topline (measured from the withers to set on of the tail).

Head
Cranial region
Skull: Strong, elongated, without markedly protruding occiput. The forehead is flat and runs to the bridge of nose.
Stop: Slight, yet clearly defined.

Facial region
Nose: Nose leather well developed and always black.
Muzzle: Ending in a blunt wedge. Bridge of nose straight.
Lips: Black, smooth and tight-fitting to the jaws; corners of mouth closed.
Jaws/Teeth: Strong upper and lower jaw. The complete scissor bite (42 pure white teeth according to the dentition formula) is strong and firmly closing. The chewing muscles are strongly developed without pronounced cheekc interfering with the smooth outline.
Eyes: Dark, oval, with black pigmented, close fitting eyelids.
Ears: Drop ears, set high, V-shaped, with inner edges lying close to the cheeks, turned forward towards temples. Folds parallel, should not be above the top of the skull.

Neck
Nobly curved, not too short. Blending smoothly into the withers without any marked se on. Dry, without dewlap or throatiness. Throat skin, tight-fitting without folds.

Body
Topline: Slightly sloping from withers towards rear.
Withers: Forming the highest point in topline.
Back: Strong, short and taut.
Loins: Short, strong and deep. the distance from last rib to hip is short to make the dog appear compact.
Croup: Slightly rounded, Impreceptibly blending into tail set on.
Chest: Moderately broad, oval in diameter, reaching to the elbows. The forechest is distinctly marked by the point of the sternum.
Underline and belly: Flanks not too tucked up, forming a nicely curved line with the underside of the ribcage.
Tail: Natural; a sabre or sickle carriage is sought after.

Limbs
Forequarters: Seen from the front the front legs are strong, straight an not close together; seen from the side, the forearms are straight.
Shoulders:The shoulder blade lies close against the rib cage and is well muscled on both sides of the shoulder bone, protruding over the points of the thoracic vertebrae. As sloping as possible and well laid back. forming an angle of appr. 50 ˚ to the horizontal.
Upper arm: Lying close to the body, strong and well muscled, forming an angle of 95 ˚ to 100˚ to the shoulder blade.
Elbows: Correctly fitting, turning neither in nor out.
Forearm: Strongly developed and well muscled. Completely straight seen from the front and the side.
Carpal joint: Strong and firm.
Pastern: Strong and slightly springy. Seen from the front, vertical, seen from the side, slightly sloping towards the ground.
Forefeet: Short and round, toes well-knit and arched (cat feet), pads resistant, nails short, black and strong.

Hindquarters:Standing obliquely when seen from  the side, standing parallel, but not close together, when seen from the rear.
Upper thigh: Moderately long, broad, strongly muscled.
Stifle: Turning neither in nor out.
Lower thigh: Long and strong, sinewy, running into a strong hock.
Hock: Markedly angulated, strong, firm, turning neither in nor out.

Metarsus: Vertical to the ground.
Hind feet: Somewhat longer than the forefeet. Toes well-knit and arched. Nails short and black.

Gait/Movement: The German Pinscher is a trotter. His back remains firm and rather steady in movement. The movement is harmonious, sure, powerful and uninhibited with good length of stride. Typical of the trot is a ground covering, relaxed, fluent movement with strong drive and free front extension.

Skin: Tight fitting over the whole body.

Coat
Hair: Short and dense, smooth, close and shiny without bald patches.

Colour
Self coloured: Deer red, reddish-brown to dark red brown.
Black and Tan: Lacquer black with red or brown markings.

The aim is for markings as dark, as rich and as clearly defined as possible. The markings are distributed as follows: above the eyes, at the underside of the throat, on the pastern, on the feet, at the inside of the hind legs and under the root of the tail. Two even, clearly separated triangles on the chest.

Size and weight:
Height at withers: 45 to 50 cm.
Weight: 14 to 20 kg.

Faults:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Particularly:

• Clumsy or light in build. Too low or too high on leg.
• Heavy or round skull.
• Wrinkles on forehead.
• Short, pointed or narrow muzzle.
• Pincer bite.
• Light, too small or too large eyes.
• Ears set low or very long, unevenly carried.
• Strongly protruding cheekbones (cheekiness)
• Throatiness
• Too long, tucked up or soft back
• Roach back
• Croup falling away
• Long feet
• Pacing movement
• Hackney gait
• Thin coat
• Black trace on the back, dark saddle and lightened or pale coat.
• Over- or undersize up to 1 cm.
  

Serious faults:

• Lack of sexual type (i.e. doggy bitch)
• Light appearance
• Apple head
• Lines of head not parallel
• Elbows turning out.
• Straight or open hockec hindlegs
• Hocks turning out.
• Over- or undersize by more than 1 cm but less than 3 cm.
  

Disqualifying faults

• Shy, aggressive, vicious, markedly suspicious, or nervous behaviour.
• Malformation of any kind.
• Definitely inverse sexual type
• Faults in mouth, such as over- or undershot or wry mouth. 
• Severe faults in individual parts, such as faults in structure, coat or colour.
• Over- or undersize by more than 3 cm.
  

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.