Article Surfing Archive

In its native Germany the Miniature Pinscher is called the Zwergpinscher (dwarf pinscher) or the Reh Pinscher after the small roe deer of the same name. In the United States it is usually called the Minpin.

The Miniature Pinscher's ancestors were bred in Scandinavia. It looks like a miniature Doberman Pinscher, but was actually bred in Scandinavia about a century before the Doberman. The two breeds are not related. Ancestors of the Miniature Pinscher were probably small German pinschers (terriers) and possibly Scandinavian Klein pinschers. Some writers think the gene pool included the Italian Greyhound. The breed was developed in Germany during the nineteenth century. By 1895 selective breeding produced what we recognize today as the Miniature Pinscher.

In 1895 the German Pinscher Club was formed. In the United States the American Miniature Pinscher club was formed in 1925. The AKC recognized the bred in 1929.

The Miniature Pinscher was bred from terriers for use as ratters and barking alarm dogs. The Miniature Pinscher's current function is probably just taking care of its family. It is popular in apartments and condos of the big cities because of its size, personality and cleanliness.

Personality

The Miniature Pinscher is energetic, lively and serious. He is quite courageous and is extremely loyal. The Miniature Pinscher's main desire is to please its handler, owner or friend. He will perform almost any feat to prove it.

The Miniature Pinscher gets along fairly well with other small house pets. He loves the family children providing they respect him and do not try to carry him around and lift him up. Its original breeding as an alarm dog causes the Miniature Pinscher to be quite a 'barker,' which sometimes needs to be controlled before it becomes a vice. He is an independent little dog and normally suspicious of strangers, which is also a part of his original breeding purpose as a guard dog. Early exposure and training can help reduce this characteristic.

The Miniature Pinscher is intelligent and a good student during training times. He has the capacity to learn much more than is taught to the average toy breed. Despite the tiny stature of the Miniature Pinscher he acts much like his terrier ancestors and is usually quite at home supervising the family and watching out for them. The Miniature Pinscher is not a lapdog.

Appearance

The Miniature Pinscher stands 10 to 12 inches tall and weights about 8 to 10 pounds. He is muscular, smooth and clean-lined. His naturally erect ears may be cropped. The Miniature Pinscher usually has dark almond eyes with an intelligent expression. The coat is slick and glossy. The colors are black and tan, solid red and red intermingled with black hairs.

Grooming Requirements

The Miniature Pinscher requires minimal grooming. The coat is close to the body. He is easy to maintain. Regular brushing using a sisal brush or a bristle brush and a hound glove will to keep the Miniature Pinscher in tiptop condition. Brushing several times a week will keep the coat and skin in good condition. The user of a velvet pad will make the coat more beautiful.