Russo-European Laika vs German Pinscher - Breed Comparison

The German Pinscher or Deutscher Pinscher originates in Germany. When you look at the dog you can see the the Doberman, the Rottweiler, Schnauzer, Affenpinscher and Miniature Pinscher have all played a role in the dog’s development.

There have been drawings of the German Pinscher which have been seen in dog books as early as 1884 and some drawings even earlier than this date. The dogs have descended from early European herding breeds.

The German Pinscher came to breeders of the United States in the 1980s, and the German Pinscher Club of America was started by German Pinscher fanciers, with the dog gaining acceptance by the Canadian Kennel Club in 2000.

The Russo-European Laika is a hunting dog that comes from Russia.

It is a dog that has been developed from Spitz type dogs. A breeding program was started for the dog in 1944.

The Russo-European Laika dog is recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale in the Spitz and Primitive type group.

The German Pinscher is a medium sized dog with a square build, looking very much like the Doberman Pinscher we know so well, but slightly smaller. Dogs and bitches stand roughly 45 to 50cm at the withers and the dog weighs between 14 to 20kg.

The dog is lean and muscular with a tight fitting skin. He has a short, smooth coat which can be brown, reddish brown or black and tan. He has a black nose, dark eyes and he has either high set drop ears or the ears are specifically erect.

In fact, with German Pinschers, they have always had their ears cropped and their tails docked, but these days the tail is left and unfortunately that distinctive look is gone.

Temperament:

Energetic, spirited, lively, confident, intelligent, fearless and loyal are just some of the characteristics of this amazing dog who is guaranteed to make you an excellent watchdog and companion.

The German Pinscher is a playful, good natured dog and he’ll make a good pet for households where there are other pets as well as children. He is a loving and loyal companion with an even temperament, although he is strong-willed and stubborn and will therefore need training and socialization. He then becomes a super obedient pet.

He can fit into city- or country life but he is an energetic dog and will certainly require being exercised every day. Like any other dog, he can become bored and frustrated when put into the backyard and left there by himself day after day.

The Russo-European Laika is a medium sized dog Spitz dog that stands at between 54 to 60cm in height and weighs in the region of 20 – 23kg.

The dog has quite a strong resemblance to the Karelia Bear Dog. They are sometimes mistaken for each other.

The Russo-European Laika has the typical triangular shaped head with small dark eyes, a black nose and erect, pointed ears. These are deep chested dogs.

As with other Spitz breeds, this dog has a thick fur with a densely furred tail which is curved over the back. The double coat is fairly long and usually a dark grey color or black with some white markings. Sometimes the dog has a white coat.

Temperament:

This is a lively, energetic dog breed that loves to spend time outdoors. It has always been used to alert hunters to prey, using its bark to alert the hunter.Training and socialization will be necessary for the dog if you don’t want it to be barking in the house too.

He makes an excellent guard dog, protecting his human family. It is very tolerant of children too, getting on well with them as well as other pets.

The dog is known for being totally devoted to its family, being an affectionate and loyal breed that doubles as a family pet and guard dog.

The German Pinscher is a working dog bounding in energy. He just loves being involved with all the activities of his human family.

He is playful and assertive and will require a firm, balanced owner who is consistent with the rules laid down for the dog. It will be more than worthwhile having him trained and socialized as he becomes obedient, loyal and devoted.

He is intelligent and quick to learn and it simply turns him into a splendid pet. Add him to your family, and you’ll feel as though you’ve added a wonderful dimension to your home.

This is an intelligent dog breed, loving the time he spends with his human family but reluctant to be patted by strangers.

They also get along with pets that they have grown up with. They get on well with kids and make great watchdogs too. Small wonder they make such sought after pets and companions.

When you see your German Pinscher standing lean and strong, you can’t think of him ever getting an illness. And yet, even a strong dog like this, who can reach 10 – 14 years of age with good nutrition, can get sick.

Look out for von Willebrand's blood-clotting disorder as well as heart disease and hip dysplasia with your German Pinscher.

Von Willebrand’s Disease:

This is a blood disease where there is a deficiency of von Willebrand Factor which results in the blood not clotting properly. The condition can lead to excessive bleeding with your pet after he has had an injury for instance.

You may notice bleeding from the gums, bloody urine or feces as well as bruising of the skin. Get him to the vet who will perform an examination of your pet.

Remember that some health problems seen in a dog are inherited, and if you can get certificates from the breeders proving that the parents have been cleared of hereditary eye diseases, hip dysplasia and blood clotting disease for instance, your dog will have less risks of developing any of these serious conditions.

Also many illnesses can be eliminated by providing your pet with excellent food, clean water, a warm dry place to sleep and lots of love and attention.

These Spitz type dogs are always known to enjoy good health, and owners don’t have to worry too much about their health as only a small number of health issues are reported with this healthy dog breed.

Umbilical Hernia:

This is a congenital defect in the abdominal muscles and can result in fat or tissues being evident under the skin. A bulge is often seen in the area of the abdomen. Larger hernias will require surgery.

Diet:

The German Pinscher, because he is a muscular, energetic dog, should be fed a high-quality dog food that suits his size and his energy levels. If you feed him one of the commercially manufactured dog foods, make sure of the ingredients, as you don’t want food that is full of fillers, colorants and preservatives.

Choose high quality foods and sometimes mix in your own home cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken. Adding in some raw meat occasionally will enhance his health too and help him towards staving off common dog illnesses. He should always have access to fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

He is a high energy dog and will require hectic exercise such as ball- and rope-pulling games, hikes, swimming and walks every day.

Grooming:

His short, smooth coat will require brushing twice a week to remove loose hairs and help it to maintain that sleek, glossy look.

Remember to check his ears for wax and dirt build up as well as for ear hematomas. These swellings inside your dogs ear can also be as a result of something stuck inside your dog’s ear or from your dog scratching his ear because of mites.

Exercise:

This is an energetic dog and will require a good amount of excerise. This dog isn’t suited to living in the city as they are highly active. Apart from wanting large grounds to run around in, he will need walks as well as ball- and rope games to keep him busy.

He is intelligent and needs some form of mental stimulation. There are good quality toys which one can buy for these dogs than can make them think.

Diet:

Many things can change a dog’s longevity, and diet is one. A good nutritious diet with vitamins and minerals will give your dog less of a chance to get sick.

If you go for the best quality commercially manufactured dog foods, you’ll find that they are both convenient and well balanced.

To provide your dog with just a bit of variety in his diet, some home-made food added into the dry kibble from time to time will delight your pet.

No need to make preparing the food a huge issue either. Boil brown rice and chicken in a pot and add in sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. Chop all this up and add small portions of it into the dry kibble.

Try to include a bit of raw meat occasionally and never let your dog be without a constant source of fresh, cool water