Austrian Shorthaired Pinscher
Narrated from: Dog BreedsNothing at all like the German Pinscher, the Austrian Shorthaired Pinscher is a working dog. He can be found in many different colors such as black and tan, brown, black, fawn, red or even brindle. He is another weather resistant breed with a hard topcoat and a hard, dense undercoat. The term “spunky” may be the best way to describe him but he is fearless and attentive as well. He loves to work and he will not be bothered by having a task to do. The Austrians set out to develop a hard-working, tireless dog to guard both livestock and the homestead. His homestead needs to be in the country where he will have plenty of room to burn off all that energy! He is a cousin of the German Pinscher and has been recognized as a working dog since the early 1700s.
He ranges in height from 14 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder and he can weigh as much as 40 pounds for the more muscular male. This breed, as most breeds do, will need to be trained early and socialized thoroughly by a calm, consistent, assertive handler. He must be kept busy with both mental and physical exercise if he is to be emotionally stable. He is not the dog to lay on the floor by your feet or to curl up on the couch in the evenings. He gets nervous if he is not kept busy. In addition he likes to bark and that will not make him suitable for apartment life or even for a small neighborhood.
If you want an active dog that is good at sports he may be just what you are looking for. If you are comfortable with being the alpha in the relationship and you have socialized him well he will enjoy almost any dog related sport you can think of. They simply love a challenge and would enjoy agility, fly-ball, Frisbee and even water sports. Remember that you will need to be calm and consistent with his training. He will be attentive and he is eager to learn anything new. If you show weakness he will take charge of any situation and will even nip at you to make sure you know what he wants to do. He is intelligent and can excel at anything as long as he knows you are in charge.
The Austrian Pinscher does have some hereditary health issues, such as a congenital heart condition. That is less likely to be a problem if he is able to stay as active as possible. Grooming this breed is a breeze. An occasional brushing and a bath only when he absolutely needs one is all that is required. He is a moderate shedder twice each year and may need slightly more attention during the shedding months. Kept healthy and active you can expect him to live approximately 14 years. Owning this dog is a huge responsibility and keeping him busy enough to be healthy is a challenge.
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