At-A-Glance:  The Miniature Pinscher Dog Breed

The Miniature Pinscher, also known as MinPin, is playful, inquisitive, bold, intelligent, easy to look after, and a wonderful house dog.  Although the Miniature Pinscher can be a little aggressive with other animals, especially canines, it is extremely affectionate and playful with its family.

This “king of the toy dogs”, as some dog enthusiasts would call him, is a nonstop energy machine, staying busy and active almost all the time.  He is a great pet that is ideal for apartment dwellers, but just keep in mind that he can be very noisy.

This breed stands at about 10-12 inches at the shoulder and weighs about 8-12 pounds.  He has a compact and muscular body with ears that are either cropped or uncropped, a docked tail, and a very short, glossy, and shedding coat.  He also has an attractive hackney gait that runs along like a graceful little horse.

History/Origin:  The Miniature Pinscher has been around since the early 19th century.  Originated in Germany, this breed is not a miniature Doberman but is actually a separate breed with terrier beginnings.  Some believe that the Italian Greyhound and the Dachshund contributed to its make-up.  This breed achieved his pedigree status by the Pinscher-Schnauzer Club in 1895.  Once used as a ratter, he is now a wonderful companion dog.

The Miniature Pinscher received its recognition by the AKC in the late 1920s and is now one of the most popular toy dog breeds in the United States.

Proper Care & Maintenance:  If you are the kind of person that does not enjoy being outdoors and experiencing times of playful activity, the Miniature Pinscher may not be the best choice for your pet.  This dog needs an extraordinary amount of daily activity with long walks and short, but intense sprints. However, because of its tiny size, he can be easily exercised indoors so long as there is enough room to run around.

Most dogs have major health concerns which are typically seen throughout the breed. But when it comes to the Miniature Pinscher, there are no major worries.  There are however, a few minor concerns which may need to be addressed: heart defects, cervical disk, MPS VI, patellar luxation, Legg-Perthes, and hypothyroidism.

The Miniature Pinscher has a very long life span, living up to 15 years, sometimes longer.  If you own one of these amazing dog breeds or plan on purchasing a Miniature Pinscher puppy, make note that veterinarians recommend that you get specific health tests for hip dysplasia, eye problems, knee issues, and DNA for MPS.

Grooming the Miniature Pinscher is very easy.  Because of its short coat, he only needs to be brushed occasionally.  As far as bathing is concerned, once a week or every two weeks is ideal.

Although running outdoors is a favorite pastime of the Miniature Pinscher, this dog is best suited to living inside the house with its family. Like other toy dog breeds, he needs to be away from the cold and cannot stand chilly weather. In fact, you'll find that the Miniature Pinscher loves to snuggle up underneath pillows and blankets when he is resting.