Top Austrian Short Haired Pinscher Dog

The Austrian short-haired Pinscher was developed to drive livestock and to guard farmers' homes, but using its powerful muzzle, it is also a talented hunter of vermin. Dogs much like these can be seen in eighteenth-century paintings. Still found primarily in Austria, this breed is related to the German Pinscher and is an extremely good watchdog, always willing to bark at strange sounds. This breed does not always get on well with other dogs, reputedly having a tendency to bite.
 
The head is somewhat pear-shaped, with a reasonably short muzzle, and the ears, which vary widely, are slightly pricked. The feet are compact and the toes well-arched. Standing 36-51 cm (14-20 in) high, and weighing 12-18 kg (26—40 lb), this breed has a short, hard topcoat and an undercoat which is also short but very dense.