As the name would suggest the German Pinscher is believed to have been bred in Germany and have descended from early European herding and guardian breeds. The source of the German Pinscher can be followed back until 1836 when this breed suppressed the Mops in popularity. Pinschers were used as guard dogs for coaches. Nobody took a coach when a German Pinscher took care of it. They lived in homesteads where they were used to kill rats on their own. Even today you can observe German Pinschers searching for and finding rats without being trained in open areas and in homesteads. Another name for German Pinscher is "glatthaariger Pinscher" (German for waveless haired Pinscher). Later the so called "rauhaariger Pinscher" (German for roughly haired Pinscher ; the "Schnauzer") became popular. Even today nobody really knows which breed is older. From 1950 to 1958 no litter has been noticed. Credit is attributed to Werner Jung for collecting several of the breed in 1958 to continue the line. In 2003 the German Pinscher was a threatened breed - together with the "German Spitz". Just a few puppies were born. 2007 will be the best year ever in case of born puppies in Germany, because this breed became more and more popular.

The German Pinscher originated in Germany and is included in the origins of the Dobermann, the Miniature Pinscher, Affenpinscher, Miniature Schnauzer, Giant Schnauzer and the Standard Schnauzer. The Wire Haired and Smooth Haired Pinschers, as the Standard Schnauzer and German Pinscher were originally called, were shown in dog books as early as 1884. These medium-sized dogs descended from early European herding and guardian breeds and were not related to the superficially similar terriers of Great Britain.