The German people are a nation of dog lovers, with breeds to accompany and assist them with virtually any activity. Their native breeds represent an extremely eclectic mix of sizes and types, and includes some of the world’s most popular and enduring dogs. These are as varied as the Dachshund and the German Shepherd, the Boxer and the Poodle, or the Great Dane and the Miniature Schnauzer.
Dog breeding in Germany is regulated by the Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen (VDH), the German Kennel Club which is headquartered in Dortmund and was established in 1949.
Table of Contents
Affenpinscher
Size: Very small/Small
Height: 23-30 cm (9-12 inches)
Weight: 3-6 kg (6-13 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Medium to long and wiry; in black, grey, red, black and tan or beige
Life Expectancy: 11-14 years
Type: Toy dog
Personality
Also known as a Monkey Terrier, Affenpinschers are confident, lively and devoted little dogs who are very affectionate and protective towards their families. Their terrier-like disposition can also make them difficult to train, particularly with regards to housetraining: their smart, stubborn tendencies mean they are easily bored by repetitive tasks. Affenpinschers can sometimes prove aggressively possessive towards their food, toys and territory and are not recommended for households with very small children.
American Eskimo Dog
Size: Very small to Medium
Height: 22-30 cm (9-12 inches) (Toy); 30-40 cm (12-15 inches) (Miniature); 38-50 cm (15-20 inches) (Standard)
Weight: 2-4.5 kg (4-10 lbs) (Toy); 4.5-9 kg (10-20 lbs) (Miniature); 7-18 kg (15-40 lbs) (Standard)
Coat and Colour: Soft, long and dense; in solid white or biscuit
Life Expectancy: 12-14 years
Type: Companion dog
Personality
Also known as the American Spitz, the American Eskimo Dog comes in three distinct sizes: Toy, Miniature and Standard. They were bred for companionship rather than work and as such tend to seek human company at all times. A highly intelligent breed, Eskimo Dogs can also prove to be stubborn, prone to excessive barking and very suspicious of strangers, so it is recommended that they are well socialised from an early age.
Bavarian Mountain Hound
Size: Medium
Height: 44-52 cm (17-20 inches)
Weight: 20-25 kg (44-55 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Short and dense; red, tan or fawn
Life Expectancy: 11-13 years
Type: Scenthound
Personality
A typical hunting dog, the Bavarian Mountain Hound’s personality very much depends whether they are at home or in the great outdoors. In the house, they are calm, friendly, playful and devoted to their owners. Outside, they become single-minded, determined and quick hunters who just love to follow their nose. With good training from an experienced handler, they make excellent family pets. However, like most hunting dogs they will require a good deal of regular off-lead exercise.
Boxer
Size: Large
Height: 53-64 cm (21-25 inches)
Weight: 25-32 kg (55-70 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Short, smooth and shiny; in fawn or brindle, with white and a darker muzzle
Life Expectancy: 10-15 years
Type: Mastiff
Personality
Boxers are energetic, playful, friendly and loyal dogs whose gentle nature belies their sometimes fierce mastiff-like appearance. They are particularly good with children; patient and protective without any hint of aggression, and make outstanding family pets. However, it is a mistake to forget how strong a Boxer is! Left to their own devices, this breed can be extremely destructive, particularly with regard to digging and chewing behaviours. As such it is a good idea to keep your Boxer busy with exercise, play and top-up training wherever possible.
Dachshund
Size: Very small/Small
Height: 27-32 cm (11-13 inches) (Rabbit); 32-37 cm (13-15 inches) (Miniature); 37-47 cm (15-19 inches) (Standard)
Weight: 3.5-5 kg (8-11 lbs) (Rabbit); 4-5.5 kg (11-12 lbs) (Miniature); 7.5-14.5 kg (16-32 lbs) (Standard)
Coat and Colour: Short and smooth, long and smooth, or medium length wire; in black and tan, chocolate and tan, red, dapple, brindle or blue
Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
Type: Hunting dog
Personality
Also known as a Badger Dog, Weiner Dog or Sausage Dog, the Dachshund is one of the world’s most popular pet dogs thanks in no small part to their diminutive size making them suitable for homes of almost any kind. But the Dachshund was not bred to be a toy dog: in fact they are tiny scenthounds able to flush small animals out of their burrows and the breed today retains much of the associated tenacity, energy and agility. They are otherwise playful and devoted companions, although they are noted for their stubbornness. They are also prone to being suspicious of strangers, occasionally to the point of aggression.
Dobermann
Size: Very large
Height: 63-72 cm (25-28 inches)
Weight: 32-45 kg (71-99 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Short; in black and tan or red and tan
Life Expectancy: 9-12 years
Type: Guard dog
Personality
Known in North America as Dobermann Pinschers, these imposing and energetic dogs were originally developed as a guard dog by a German tax collector. As a result, they still possess something of a reputation for ferocity. This is rather unfair, as in fact Dobermanns are one of the most intelligent and trainable dog breeds and are unlikely to show any aggression by nature. Loyal, sociable and obedient, a well-trained Dobermann is a fine family pet.
Eurasier
Size: Medium/Large
Height: 48-60 cm (19-24 inches)
Weight: 18-32 kg (40-71 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Long, thick double coat; in any colour, combination and pattern except pure white
Life Expectancy: 12-14 years
Type: Companion dog
Personality
One of the largest of the Spitz-type dogs, the Eurasier is a calm, even-tempered and intelligent family pet. They are rather sensitive dogs, prone to forming very strong attachments with individuals or families and unlikely to respond well to angry words or harsh treatment. They are happiest in the home surrounded by people, although they will usually also respond very well to strangers and as a result also make fine therapy dogs.
German Hound
Size: Medium
Height: 40-52 cm (16-21 inches)
Weight: 19-20 kg (41-44 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Short and bristly; in red, yellow and black tricolour with white markings
Life Expectancy: 10-15 years
Type: Scenthound
Personality
Known in Germany as a Deutsche Bracke, the German Hound is a typical hunting dog: extremely friendly, calm and loving at home but ferociously energetic and single-minded when on the trail of a scent outdoors. The breed is noted for a certain stubbornness and as a result their training needs to be firm, consistent and unambiguous. This said, their sweet nature makes them an excellent family pet for anyone able to meet their exercise requirements.
German Longhaired Pointer
Size: Large
Height: 58-70 cm (23-28 inches)
Weight: 27-32 kg (60-71 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Medium length; in solid brown, liver roan or brown and white
Life Expectancy: 12-14 years
Type: Gun dog
Personality
GLPs are kind, gentle and friendly dogs who are greatly devoted to their owners, to the extent that they are particularly prone to suffering from separation anxiety if left alone for long periods. They make excellent family pets and are very fond of both children and other dogs. However, this recommendation comes with a number of caveats: GLPs are very energetic dogs who need plenty of off-lead exercise in wide open spaces (they are also very enthusiastic swimmers) and as a result tend not to thrive living in built-up areas. They are also dedicated and diligent working dogs who do best when they always have a job to do.
German Pinscher
Size: Medium
Height: 45-50 cm (18-20 inches)
Weight: 14-20 kg (30-45 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Short, smooth and dense; in black and tan or red
Life Expectancy: 12-14 years
Personality
Lively, friendly and playful, the increasingly rare German Pinscher has much in common with the Schnauzer breed in spite of their very different appearances. They are intelligent, energetic dogs who love to play with children. However, they are less good around other animals, particularly smaller animals (especially rodents) who are liable to awaken their hunting instincts. German Pinschers are also noted for being suspicious around strangers.
German Roughhaired Pointer
Size: Large
Height: 58-70 cm (23-28 inches)
Weight: 27-32 kg (60-71 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Stiff and bristly; in brown, brown roan or light roan
Life Expectancy: 12-14 years
Type: Gun dog
Personality
A rare breed, the German Roughhaired Pointer is hardly ever seen outside of Germany, where it is known as a Stichelhaar. They are calm, confident and intelligent dogs, particularly noted for their boundless courage. While they make fine, loyal family pets, outside of the familial unit they tend towards being highly suspicious of strangers. They are also known for attacking predatory animals, and therefore require good training and experienced handlers.
German Shepherd
Size: Large/Very large
Height: 55-65 cm (22-26 inches)
Weight: 22-40 kg (49-88 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Thick double coat; in tan with a black saddle, sable, solid black or bicolour
Life Expectancy: 9-13 years
Type: Herding dog/Livestock guardian
Personality
Also known as an Alsatian, the German Shepherd is one of the most prevalent types of pedigree dog in the world. This owes much to their high intelligence, versatility and adaptability: extremely trainable and keen to have a purpose at all times, an Alsatian can turn its mind to more or less any task that it is presented with. They are confident, loyal and level-headed dogs who make excellent family pets. However, they also possess a strength beyond their already-impressive size and therefore need solid, consistent training and socialisation: particularly as they can tend towards excessively protective behaviours if unchecked.
German Shorthaired Pointer
Size: Medium/Large
Height: 53-64 cm (21-25 inches)
Weight: 20-32 kg (44-70 lbs)
Coat and Colour: short, flat double coat; in liver, black or liver and white, with or without white ticking
Life Expectancy: 12-14 years
Type: Gun dog
Personality
Developed to be a versatile dog who are equally adept as family pets or hunting companions, the GSP is intelligent, bold, playful and extremely affectionate. Indeed, some GSPs can be so affectionate that they will stick to a favoured person like glue and forever want to be by their side. They are also very happy to spend time playing with other dogs, strangers or children, although their boisterousness means they should be supervised around the very young. GSPs are excellent family dogs, provided their very high demands for exercise and play can be met.
German Spaniel
Size: Medium
Height: 45-54 cm (18-21 inches)
Weight: 18-25 kg (40-55 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Medium length and wavy, with longer fringes; in solid brown or red, or brown or red roan (with white)
Life Expectancy: 12-14 years
Type: Gun dog
Personality
Known in Germany as the Wachtelhund (“Quail Hound”), the German Spaniel is a versatile dog who are friendly with humans and other dogs as well as being courageous, energetic and determined hunters. They are very trainable and quick to learn new skills, making them extremely popular hunting dogs throughout mainland Europe. However, their hunting instincts rarely ever appear in the home, where their friendly and docile dispositions make them fine pets.
German Spitz
Giant Spitz (Großspitz)
Size: Medium
Height: 43-55 cm (17-22 inches)
Weight: 17-18 kg (37-40 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Long, thick double coat; in white, black or brown (black and brown varieties frequently have white markings)
Life Expectancy: 12-14 years
Type: Companion dog
Medium Spitz (Mittelspitz)
Size: Small
Height: 30-40 cm (12-16 inches)
Weight: 10.5-11.5 kg (23-25 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Long, thick double coat; in any colour, combination or pattern
Life Expectancy: 13-15 years
Type: Companion dog
Miniature Spitz (Kleinspitz)
Size: Very small/Small
Height: 24-30 cm (9½-12 inches)
Weight: 3-5 kg (7-11 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Long, thick double coat; in any colour, combination or pattern
Life Expectancy: 14-16 years
Type: Toy dog
Pomeranian (Zwergspitz)
Size: Very small
Height: 18-24 cm (7-9½ inches)
Weight: 1.5-3 kg (3-7 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Long, thick double coat; in any colour, combination or pattern
Life Expectancy: 14-16 years
Type: Toy dog
Wolfspitz (Keeshond)
See: Dutch dog breeds
Personality
The German Spitz is a single breed encompassing five different varieties of dog (including one, the Keeshond, that was developed in the Netherlands), distinguished by their size and colour. All are lively, affectionate and loyal dogs with a notable lack of any hunting instinct. They are very hardy dogs; robust, long-lived and indifferent to any change in weather conditions. They have a natural suspicion of strangers that also makes them very good watchdogs.
German Wirehaired Pointer
Size: Large
Height: 57-68 cm (22-27 inches)
Weight: 27-32 kg (60-71 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Straight, short and wiry with medium length hair on the muzzle; in liver and white or black and white, sometimes with a white chest patch
Life Expectancy: 12-14 years
Type: Gun dog
Personality
German Wirehaired Pointers possess a classical gun dog’s personality. They are friendly, loyal and eager to please their owners but are also extremely energetic, keen to always have a job to do, very determined and intelligent. This breed particularly benefits from good, firm and consistent training as they have a tendency towards roaming freely. This said, the GWP is always keen for companionship and a well-trained dog of this breed will be a fine pet, although they are generally considered to not be particularly suitable for people with children or other animals.
Great Dane
Size: Giant
Height: 71-90 cm (28-35 inches)
Weight: 50-82 kg (110-180 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Short, smooth and shiny; in fawn, brindle, black, harlequin or blue merle
Life Expectancy: 8-10 years
Type: Hunting dog
Personality
The Great Dane is one of the two largest breeds of dog (the other being the Irish Wolfhound) but their enormous size belies their fundamental gentleness. They are extremely loving and devoted dogs who will frequently seek affection from their owners. They are similarly well-intentioned towards children and other animals and will generally only ever react with aggression if provoked or scared. Due to their size, they will need plenty of firm training and socialisation from an early age, particularly with regard to meeting unfamiliar people.
Hanover Hound
Size: Very large
Height: 48-55 cm (19-21½ inches)
Weight: 36-45 kg (77-99 lbs)
Coat and Colour: short; in fawn brindle with or without a dark mask
Life Expectancy: 10-14 years
Type: Scenthound
Personality
Hanover (or Hanoverian) Hounds are calm, gentle and loyal dogs who are also outstanding hunters, noted for their concentration and endurance. As with all dogs of this breed type, Hanover Hounds require plenty of exercise off-lead in wide open spaces and as a result, this breed is considered unsuitable for urban lifestyles. They are noted for their suspicion of strangers, although this tends to exhibit itself in aloof and selective behaviour rather than aggression.
Hovawart
Size: Large/Very large
Height: 58-73 cm (23-29 inches)
Weight: 30-50 kg (66-110 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Medium length; in black, black and gold or blonde
Life Expectancy: 10-14 years
Type: Guard dog/Livestock guardian
Personality
Hovawart translates as “farm watcher”, an accurate description of this versatile and intelligent dog’s metier. They are friendly, hard-working and devoted dogs who are totally loyal to their family. Their desire to work means that in addition to regular exercise and play, they need to be given meaningful activity to do. They are particularly adept watchdogs, thanks to a natural suspicion of strangers, but are also easily trained to perform a number of other tasks, including search and rescue or tracking.
Jagdterrier
Size: Small
Height: 33-40 cm (13-16 inches)
Weight: 7.5-10 kg (17-22 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Short and thick; in black, dark brown or grey-black with fawn markings
Life Expectancy: 13-15 years
Personality
Small, determined and particularly tenacious, the Jagdterrier is first and foremost a hunter, bred to clear out underground burrows and warrens but equally adept at tracking larger animals such as deer or wild boar. They are friendly and sociable towards people and can be kept as pets but it must be remembered that their instincts are never far away from the surface. They are quite unsuitable, therefore, for houses where there are other animals.
Kromfohrländer
Size: Small/Medium
Height: 38-46 cm (15-18 inches)
Weight: 9-16 kg (20-35 lbs)
Coat and Colour: medium length and either rough or smooth; in white and brown or white and tan
Life Expectancy: 15-18 years
Type: Companion dog
Personality
This devoted little companion dog comes in both rough and smooth-haired varieties. They are energetic, athletic and playful dogs who love to run but have very little of the hunting instincts common in other dogs their size. Kromis are known for being “velcro dogs”, frequently forming an unbreakable bond with a favourite person and never wanting to be parted from them. This is a particular consideration, as this breed is one of the most long-lived of all dogs.
Large Münsterländer
Size: Large
Height: 60-65 cm (24-26 inches)
Weight: 23-32 kg (61-70 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Medium length; in black and white piebald
Life Expectancy: 12-16 years
Type: Gun dog
Personality
Intelligent, cheerful and obedient, the Large Münsterländer is as at ease in the home as they are out on the hunt, where their ease of training makes them one of the most versatile gun dog breeds. They are calm, gentle and sensitive creatures who make excellent family pets, provided that their very high demands for daily exercise can be met.
Leonberger
Size: Giant
Height: 65-80 cm (26-31 inches)
Weight: 45-77 kg (100-170 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Long and dense double coat; in yellow, red, reddish brown or sandy, with a black mask
Life Expectancy: 8-9 years
Type: Guard dog
Personality
Leonbergers are huge dogs, densely muscled, big boned and generously coated. In spite of their size, however, they make wonderful family pets: confident, self-assured, submissive and playful, Leonbergers love to play with children and are generally accepting of other animals, including new arrivals. While this breed is noted for its gentle and kind demeanour, however, as with all dogs of this size it requires confident and consistent training and socialisation from an early age.
Miniature Pinscher
Size: Very small
Height: 25-32 cm (10-12½ inches)
Weight: 3-4.5 kg (8-10 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Short and smooth; in red, chocolate, black and tan or blue
Life Expectancy: 12-16 years
Type: Toy dog
Personality
Known as the Zwergpinscher in Germany, the Miniature Pinscher is an outgoing, energetic and independent-minded breed whose tiny size offers little indication of how much work they can be to care for. Their tirelessness and agility can make them a real handful, particularly if they are starved of human attention for long periods, and their stubborn streak can make training difficult. They are also not recommended for people with young children, as the Mini Pin enjoys playing rough. All of this considered, however, they are also a friendly and loving breed who are dedicated to their owners.
Poodle
Size: Small to Large
Height: 24-28 cm (9½-11 inches) (Toy); 28-35 cm (11-14 inches) (Miniature); 35-45 cm (14-18 inches) (Medium); 46-62 cm (18-24 inches) (Standard)
Weight: 6.5-7.5 kg (14-17 lbs) (Toy); 12-14 kg (26-31 lbs) (Miniature); 15-19 kg (33-42 lbs) (Medium); 20-32 kg (44-71 lbs) (Standard)
Coat and Colour: Thick and curly; in black, white, brown, grey or fawn
Life Expectancy: 10-18 years, with larger dogs tending to be shorter-lived
Type: Water dog
Personality
The ever-popular Poodle remains one of the world’s favourite dogs, coming in a variety of sizes and in possession of a hypoallergenic coat. They are energetic, playful and sociable dogs but what particularly stands out with this breed is their intelligence, where they are second only to the Border Collie. As such, they require plenty of mental stimulation alongside their regular regimen of physical exercise, or else they can easily become bored and destructive. In spite of this, Poodles are wonderful family pets, happy to get along with children, strangers or other animals.
Pudelpointer
Size: Medium/Large
Height: 53-66 cm (21-26 inches)
Weight: 20-30 kg (44-66 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Short to medium length double coat; in liver, brown or black
Life Expectancy: 13-15 years
Type: Gun dog
Personality
As this dog’s name suggests, Pudelpointers were developed to combine the best qualities of Poodles and a variety of English gun dogs, making for a dog who was as excellent in the field as they were in the home. The result was an active and adventurous dog which is also noted for its even-temperedness and versatility, happy to live with children and other dogs. Pudelpointers make for excellent family pets, provided their needs for regular exercise can be met.
Rottweiler
Size: Very large
Height: 56-69 cm (22-27 inches)
Weight: 35-60 kg (77-132 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Short and thick double coat; in black and tan or mahogany and tan
Life Expectancy: 8-10 years
Type: Guard dog
Personality
Large, powerful and muscular, Rottweilers still retain a largely-undeserved reputation as being problem dogs. In fact, they are generally calm, good-natured and hard-working dogs, keen to be at the heart of a family and to have a job to do. Rottweilers are easy to train and very adaptable dogs, which has frequently proved to be their breed’s downfall in cases where they have been employed as guard dogs or attack dogs. While it is undeniable that Rottweilers need firm handling, consistent training and early socialisation, a well-trained Rottie makes an exceptional family pet.
Schnauzer
Giant Schnauzer
Size: Very large
Height: 60-70 cm (23½-27½ inches)
Weight: 35-47 kg (77-104 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Dense and wiry; in solid black, black and silver or salt and pepper
Life Expectancy: 10-12 years
Type: Livestock guardian/Guard dog
Miniature Schnauzer
Size: Small
Height: 28-36 cm (11-14 inches)
Weight: 5-9 kg (11-20 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Medium length, wiry and curly; in black, salt and pepper, black and silver or white
Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
Standard Schnauzer (Mittelschnauzer)
Size: Medium
Height: 45-50 cm (18-20 inches)
Weight: 14-20 kg (31-44 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Medium length and wavy; in salt and pepper or black
Life Expectancy: 10-15 years
Personality
A single breed with three distinct varieties distinguished by size, Schnauzers are friendly, sociable and intelligent dogs. All are alert and fearless dogs, which has been exploited in the Giant variety to make fine guard dogs for both homes and livestock. The breed are eager to please and quick to learn, but as a result they need plenty of regular mental stimulation in addition to physical exercise or else they can become difficult or destructive. All make very fine family pets, although their naturally high level of alertness can create difficulties when surrounded by neighbours!
Small Münsterländer
Size: Medium
Height: 50-56 cm (19½-22 inches)
Weight: 17-26 kg (38-58 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Medium length and glossy; in white with brown markings
Life Expectancy: 12-13 years
Type: Gun dog
Personality
Small Münsterländers – the “small” refers to the size of their hunting quarry, rather than to the dog itself – are highly intelligent dogs who are very capable hunters. Their brightness makes them very easily trainable while their sociable nature means they are also gentle and affectionate pets. The Small Münsterländer is a breed that requires a high level of exercise and mental stimulation in order to thrive, and is very likely to form a strong attachment to one particular individual. They are happy to coexist with children and other animals, although are less keen on them if they are unfamiliar.
Weimaraner
Size: Large/Very large
Height: 57-70 cm (22-28 inches)
Weight: 25-40 kg (55-88 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Short to medium-length; in grey or blue-grey
Life Expectancy: 11-14 years
Type: Scenthound
Personality
Weimaraners are enthusiastic and energetic dogs who are at their happiest outside following their nose. While they are very sociable and friendly towards people, the same cannot be said about other animals and very great care needs to be taken around smaller animals – even cats – due to this breed’s large size and naturally high prey drive. Weimaraners are prone to suffering from separation anxiety and need a lot of company. It is best to combine this with the high levels of exercise, training and socialisation that this breed requires.
Westphalian Dachsbracke
Size: Small/Medium
Height: 30-38 cm (12-15 inches)
Weight: 13.5-16 kg (30-35 lbs)
Coat and Colour: Short; in red, yellow and white tricolour, sometimes with black
Life Expectancy: 10-12 years
Type: Scenthound
Personality
Also known as the Westphalian Hound, the Westphalian Dachsbracke is an active, eager and alert dog who is keen to work and happy to do any job that it is given. They have a friendly and sociable nature and are naturally very fond of children and other dogs. However, they are not nearly as keen on other animals and are notorious cat chasers thanks to a naturally high prey drive.