Want to know why German Pinschers are good guard dogs? You’re in the right place. There are many reasons to consider buying a dog, and making them a pet is a significant reason. However, dogs can be more than just pets, as they can serve various purposes within our societies like K9 dogs are trained for security and checking. In this story, let us take a deep dive into German Pinschers, why they can be more than a pet, and why German Pinschers are good guard dogs.
German Pinschers are an intelligent breed classified as a working-class dog suitable for being around families and an outstanding choice for a guard or watchdog.
Your German Pinscher may be more than your best friend– they may also be a lifesaver. Read on if you want to learn how exactly they can do that.
Why German Pinschers Are Good Guard Dogs
German Pinschers are an excellent choice for a family pet. Not only are they very caring and loving, but German Pinschers are notorious for being able to bond with not only a single person but the whole family. This story section discusses why German Pinschers are fantastic guard dogs.
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German Pinschers are working-class dogs.
German Pinschers originated in Germany between the late 1700s and 1800s and are a foundational breed for many modern dog breeds today (i.e., the Doberman Pinscher, Miniature Pinscher). Back then, the German Pinschers were more than pets; they served as rat catchers around the farms, specializing in vermin.
The German Pinscher is built to chase and bite, making them an appropriate choice for a guard dog. Not only that, they have muscles and bones that are built for action and biting. However, this does not precisely imply that they are aggressive around families.
German Pinschers are not prone to biting but are intelligent dogs that can assess whether someone (or something) is a threat. Nevertheless, it is always wise to keep German Pinschers away from homes with rodent pets, as even though they are not used as a vermin hunter these days, they are still built and bred for the same purpose.
German Pinschers are intelligent dogs.
Most people correlate a dog’s ability to be a good guard dog with brute force and aggression. However, this is not the case. If it was, the pit bull would be the best guard dog for brute force, and the chihuahua would be the best guard dog for aggression. One vital variable to consider when choosing whether a dog is a good guard dog is by looking at its intelligence.
Guard dogs with high intelligence levels (such as the Doberman Pinscher and German Pinscher) are preferred as they can assess whether something or someone is a threat. It is a crucial trait, especially if you want your dog not to run around and bite every moving thing on its path. It makes German Pinschers a good choice for a guard dog, as they can often assess threats properly.
However, this trait must be trained, even though it has been bred for specific dog guarding inherent traits. Hiring a professional trainer ensures that your German Pinscher will be an excellent guard dog (and a swift learner, too!).
You might need to know about intelligent dogs because they need much mental stimulation compared to many other guard dogs. It would mean that, unlike other dogs who might be okay with a few tricks up their sleeve or will be okay with just loafing around, German Pinschers require lots of training for them not to be bored and must always be taken out to exercise to socialize them and to quench their thirst for knowledge and curiosity.
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German Pinschers are built to move.
German Pinschers were bred to catch and run after vermins, which would mean that their bodies are undoubtedly muscular and big-boned. German pinschers are generally 17 to 20 inches tall and weigh 25 to 45 pounds. They are medium-sized dogs who are built to run around and move.
It would make them light enough to be agile and speedy while not being too small to seem intimidating enough. German Pinschers are an excellent breed of “not too big and not too small, just enough.”
German Pinschers are a very protective breed.
The German Pinscher is a very loving breed, a family-oriented pet, and is undoubtedly fun-loving and curious. More than that, the German Pinscher is also known as a very protective breed, especially to those whom it may consider as its family– for example, you. They are very loyal and have an impeccable ability to guard you and your family against strangers.
Most German Pinschers have a distinctive bark whenever they hear or notice minute threats. They send off a distinctive bark that even the bravest of strangers and intruders will think twice before they purposely enter your home.
German Pinscher Socialization Tips
As a guard dog, your German Pinscher must always remain vigilant. It would often require you to train your German Pinscher, which should be left for the professionals to do. However, as a family pet, your German Pinscher must be kind and affectionate to those you consider “kind strangers,” family, friends, and non-threat-holding people.
Having your German Pinscher bite other people may be deadly– not only to the victim but also to the dog. Not only can this result in charges and lawsuits, but this can also make your German Pinscher be put down to sleep. You should always socialize with your German Pinscher to ensure they behave appropriately.
Below, we have provided a list of tips on socializing your German Pinscher. These things may not be substantial at first, but they will result in a pet with an excellent temperament in the long run.
Always keep your German Pinscher active! Daily walks are an easy way to socialize with your dog.
What other more obvious way to socialize your dog than giving it daily walks? It is estimated that German Pinschers require at least 45-minute bursts of walking, 3-times daily to stay healthy and socialized. It is even more crucial when you don’t have an open yard to keep your pet German Pinscher in, especially in cramped apartments where all the dog can be is a couch potato.
Taking your German Pinscher on short walks exposes them to various elements such as vegetation, cars, other people, other dogs, and even other animals (such as squirrels and similar small creatures they will want to chase). It can help your German Pinscher not overreact whenever it sees something remotely moving. It is quite an embarrassment to have your dog out only to see it bark at everything and everyone.
Not only does this help socialize your dog, but this can also help your poor mailman who gets chased around every morning. Other than that, walking your dog can not only help them recognize some new things they might see, but they might also recognize new smells and new tastes. As a brilliant breed, if your German Pinscher could say thank you to you for walking it every single day, it already would have!
Variety is key
When we talk about walking, we do not mean to take it around the block for five teams for seven days. Remember, the German Pinscher is a brilliant breed, and keeping up this routine will bore the dog out of its mind. Just like you will occasionally need a little variety in your life, your German Pinscher also appreciates some variety every time you go out.
Now what exactly needs to vary? For starters, you could start taking a different path once in a while to help your German Pinscher be more familiar with the neighborhood. Additionally, you can start acquainting it with different types of people– short, tall, young, old, women, men, and more!
One way to expose your German Pinscher to various things is to acquaint it with specific vehicles. Cars, bicycles, and trucks are some of these. Moreover, you can use a different dog walker every time to help your dog know more people and, thus, more variety!
German Pinschers can get very curious about new things, like dresses. Some dresses are long, and dogs would think they will be enjoyable to play with! You can also expose your German Pinscher to different bodies of water or even fountains.
Start it early
Like how humans learn new skills easier as a child, most dogs (not only German Pinschers) learn much easier when they are within three to twelve weeks of age. It would mean that socializing with them is critical when they are within that age bracket. Exposing them to as many elements as soon as possible is crucial for your German Pinscher to be not aggressive.
However, this does not mean that having an old dog would mean that socializing it or training it to be not aggressive is not possible. Even an old dog can learn new tricks with the right patience and determination.
The Pros and Cons of having a German Pinscher as your guard dog and pet
Pros
The German Pinscher is an excellent dog to have for a pet while also serving and guarding your family and home at the same time. German Pinschers are brilliant and curious dogs, meaning new tricks would be an easy scoff. Moreover, your German Pinscher may even learn to communicate with you through barking, whines, and movements.
Additionally, German Pinschers are loyal family dogs, which makes them excellent companions for the family. They love kids and adults, expect to be treated like family members, and want to be a part of every family activity.
As for physical appearance, German Pinschers have short fur coats that glisten and shine under the sun. It would mean you would get a shiny dog minus all the huge maintenance of combing and grooming, although some minor shedding is expected, as with most animals with fur.
Cons
Since the German Pinscher is a brilliant dog, new owners may be intimidated by its need for stimulation and exercise. These dogs require a lot of mental input and would want you to train them properly.
With this in hand, it is also essential to note that to train your German Pinscher not to be aggressive and have an excellent temperament, they must be socialized by a lot. It would require you to pour a lot of time invested into them. Not only that, but they also require a lot of exercise.
Three Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About German Pinschers Guard Dogs
What is the difference between a guard dog and a watchdog?
A watchdog is a working dog that alerts its owner for suspicious behavior, usually done by strangers or slight irregularities. Most of the time, they alert through barking and do not initiate biting as they might require other people or pets to help them. They are only there to sound the alarm.
On the other hand, a guard dog is used to guard livestock and property and may function as a watchdog. They might not initiate biting when they feel the threat is not engaging. However, when the need arises, they will surely bite unsuspecting intruders.
How do you train German Pinschers at home?
When training dogs, especially dogs as intelligent as German Pinschers, it may be good to leave everything to the professionals. However, you can teach them basic obedience, know certain boundaries, and learn to assess situations. Most of the time, you can do this with positive reinforcement.
Can you have German Pinschers around kids?
German Pinschers are excellent family pets, although it may be better not to have them around kids below eight unless trained and socialized correctly.
