Miniature Pinscher

Posted on 22. May, 2009 by admin in Dog Breeds, Dog Breeds M, German Dog Breeds, Miniature Dog Breeds, Small Dog Breeds, Toy Dogs

The Miniature Pinscher or Min Pin originated in Germany and was bred to be a ratter and a hunter of vermin but also a companion to people. The name “pinscher” is German and translates to “terrier” so the actually English name of this breed is the Miniature Terrier. They resemble the Doberman Pinscher but are in fact not related to them at all! This breed was created by breeding the German Pinscher, Italian Greyhound and other German Terriers together. They were used in stables to keep the vermin population to a minimum.

The Miniature Pinscher is a dog that is not only a great companion but are intelligent and can master agility and basic obedience. These dogs are a tough, confident and fearless breed that is protective of their family and territory. Although they are tiny, the Min Pin will get along well with other dogs and smaller family pets as long as they don’t annoy them.

This breed is a tiny, toned dog that has a glossy smooth coat. Their ears are naturally floppy but will need to be cropped for show purposes as well as their tail which is naturally long but can be docked per the owner’s preferences. The Min Pin has fine boned legs that are straight but mildly muscular.

Breed Group

Toy

Size

Males: 10-12 inches high

Females: 10-11 inches high

Weight

Males: 8-10 lbs
Females: 8-9 lbs

Color(s)

The Min Pin will come in 3 variations of colour, black & tan, rust, or a chocolate colouring. The most popular is the black & tan and is seen most often when showing this breed.

Coat

The Min Pin has a very smooth, silky coat that is very short in length. They are low maintenance when it comes to grooming as a quick 10 minute brushing every 2 weeks will be perfect just to remove dead fur or even use of a hounds brush to give their coat a shiny gloss to it. Bathing will need to be done every 2-3 months and is up to the owner’s preferences.

Life Expectancy

About 15 years.

Personality

The Min Pin is an energetic, playful and friendly dog that thrives on being around his owners at all times. These dogs are great for families as they get along with other dogs, pets and children but should be around older children that are gentler and will act more responsible around this breed. There are cases in which some Min Pins might not be so friendly with larger dogs, so socialization as puppies will be needed to ensure they can co-exist with them as adults. Min Pins are outgoing, responsive and clever. They will be more aloof around people they have never been introduced to but after a few meetings, will warm up quickly.

Housetraining this breed might be a bit difficult as they leave much smaller puddles that might go unseen which will give them the idea that this is ok. Constant pee breaks every hour will be needed to get these dogs accustomed to your house rules.

Care

This breed will need very minimal grooming because they have a very short coat! During the colder seasons they will need a doggie jacket to keep them warm when going outside. Bathing is up to the owner’s discretion but is not needed more than once every 2 months unless the dogs dirty themselves. Min Pins are a healthy breed but should be monitored with toys as they have very small throats that can get clogged easily!! Also special attention should be brought to their diet because they can become overweight quickly.

Training

The Min Pin will need a firm owner who is consistent and can overlook their charming attitude which usually allows them to get what they want. These dogs are intelligent and can grasp obedience and little tricks quickly as long as their owner uses positive methods and repetition. Despite their size, the Min Pin has succeeded in agility and basic obedience trials.

Activity

These little dogs will need about a half an hour of outdoor exercise per day. They burn up most of their energy indoors so will not need extensive exercise outside. Trips to a dog park would be excellent for these dogs so they can have a large amount of space to run around in. These dogs will be perfect for people that live in apartments as they take up very little space. A backyard would be preferable so they can have an outdoor area to run around in, but it will need to be fenced in as this breed can be an escape artist!

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Tags: dog breed, dog breeds, minature pinscher, miniature dog, pinscher dog, small dog, toy dog