The Austrian Shorthaired Pinscher has a pear-shaped head. The powerful muzzle is relatively short. The feet have well-arched toes. The elbows are fairly close to the body. The chest is wide and well developed. It has a short, hard topcoat as well as undercoat. Coat colors come in red, black, brown, fawn, brindle or black/tan, with limited white markings common. The tail is docked or left-curled over the back.

The breed is described as “a pleasant companion” for rural and suburban areas. The breed standard describes the ideal Austrian Pinscher’s temperament and character as playful, not inclined to be a hunter, and being an “incorruptible guard”. Assertive, lively and alert, the breed is devoted to people it is familiar with and suspicious of strangers, making it a useful guard dog.