Page 90 - K9News_Issue12_July2020

Standard German Pinscher and Miniature The Miniature Pinscher Club of America was
Pinscher (the smooth-coated varieties). The formed in 1929 and the first breed to arrive in
Klub also demanded that the different varieties
should not be cross bred.

The breed became popular in Austria,
Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, and Scandinavia,
but the quality of stock in Germany during
both world wars did suffer as large numbers of
puppies were bred to inferior stock. However,
thanks to a few dedicated and far sighted
breeders, the quality was gradually improved.
1863 saw the advent of dog showing as an
official sport in Germany, and the first mention of
Reh Pinschers in the show ring was in an 1876
show report. As there were no breed specialist
judges, Reh Pinschers were often assessed
by sporting dog judges, who believed that
small dogs’ only use was as ladies’ lap dogs.
This resulted in a deterioration of the breed as
exhibits’ as movement and soundness were not
evaluated – the only attributes that mattered
were a good head and smallness. Fortunately,
this trend was reversed by Josef Berta, a
respected judge and founder member of the
Pinscher-Schnauzer Klub, who insisted that
exhibits were put on the ground and moved, and
the breed consequently regained its soundness
and mobility.

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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / JULY 2020