Miniature Pinscher
A Miniature Pinscher with natural ears and tail
Other names	Zwergpinscher
Country of origin	Germany
Nicknames	Min Pin
Traits
Classification & standards FCI Group 2 Section 1 #185 standard AKC Toy standard ANKC Group 1 (Toys) standard CKC Group 5 - Toys [? standard] KC (UK) Toy standard NZKC Toy standard UKC Companion Breeds standard

The Miniature Pinscher, also known as the Min Pin by fanciers, is a toy breed of dog. Miniature Pinschers were first bred to hunt vermin, especially rats. In its native Germany, the dog is known as the Zwergpinscher. Pinscher, is the German word for biter and Zwerg means Dwarf in German. The Miniature Pinscher is also known as the "King of the Toy Dogs". Though the Miniature Pinscher is considered a toy breed, it is in fact one of the oldest of the terrier breeds. Only in the North America and the United Kingdom is this breed in the toy classification. In Europe and its native Germany it competes against the German Pinscher and is listed in as a terrier. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 600 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1500 × 1500 pixel, file size: 1. ... Docking is used as a term for the intentional removal of part of an animals tail or ears. ... Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) (English, World Canine Organization), is an international Kennel Club based in Thuin, Belgium. ... © The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ... The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) is the peak body in Australia responsible for promoting excellence in breeding, showing, trialling, obedience, and other canine-related activities and the ownership of temperamentally and physically sound purebred dogs by responsible individuals across Australia. ... The Canadian Kennel Club (or C.K.C.) is the primary registry body for purebred dog pedigrees in Canada. ... The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom is a club aiming to improve the relationships between dogs and their owners. ... The New Zealand Kennel Club is an organisation responsible for dog pedigree registration services in New Zealand. ... The United Kennel Club (or UKC) is the second oldest all-breed registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States and the second largest in the world. ... The Bichon Frisé is an example of a toy dog[1] that requires considerable grooming. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. ... Affenpinscher Doberman Pinscher (Dobermann) Pinscher is a German word meaning biter. ...

Description

Appearance

The original true Miniature Pinscher was more stout in appearance than today's refined dog. Its coat was more coarse and the dog in general was less refined. The refined look of today's dog was a result primarily of many who neglected to realize that the breed was a working breed and not a toy breed. Much of the natural look went away with years of breeding for the refined small dog now seen as today's Miniature Pinscher.

Size

Typically, the Miniature Pinscher stands 25–30 cm (10–12.5 in) at the withers, weighing 4–6 kg (8–12 lb). This article is about the unit of length. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The withers is the highest point on an animals back, on the ridge between its shoulder blades. ... Kg redirects here. ... Look up pound in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Coat and color

The coat is short and smooth, with colors, according to most breed standards, of red, stag-red, and black or chocolate with tan or rust markings, in addition to the blue and fawn (isabella). t. Blue coats are allowed in the UK, but in the US can be registered but cannot compete in show but all other aspects of the AKC. The Miniature Pinscher frequently has a docked tail and cropped ears, though the AKC no longer requires ear cropping for shows. The AKC standard specifies a characteristic hackney-like action: "a high-stepping, reaching, free and easy gait in which the front leg moves straight forward and in front of the body and the foot bends at the wrist. The dog drives smoothly and strongly from the rear. The head and tail are carried high." The standard in Europe does not require the high stepping gate as the original Miniature Pinscher (zwergpinscher) did not walk in such a fashion. In Europe and Germany this high stepping gate is considered a fault. © The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ... Docking is used as a term for the intentional removal of part of an animals tail or ears. ... Docking is used as a term for the intentional removal of part of an animals tail or ears. ... © The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ... © The American Kennel Club (or AKC) is the largest registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. ...

The Miniature Pinscher will on occasion carry a small white patch generally located on neck or breast area. This links directly back to the original breed coloring. The Miniature Pinscher did come in Merle coloring which in the Dachshund is referred to as Dapple and in Harlequin like that found in the Great Dane. The white gene is part of the makeup of this breed; though breeders for years have fought to eliminate this gene, it is accepted by AKC in conformation and show so long as the area of white is limited to no more than 1/2 inch in direction. The Great Dane is a breed of dog known for its giant size and gentle personality. ...

Temperament

A Miniature Pincher with a boxer

This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. WikiProject Dog breeds may be able to help recruit one. Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 388 KB)Ivan and Friend File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 388 KB)Ivan and Friend File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Originally from Germany, The Boxer is a breed of stocky, medium-sized, short-haired dog, decended from the now extinct Bullenbeisser. ... Image File history File links Emblem-important. ... If a more appropriate WikiProject or portal exists, please adjust this template accordingly.

These breeds have a tendency to chew on things that aren't theirs, especially shoes and paper towels. Make sure your Min Pin has a good bone to chew on. They like the thin bones and not the thick hard ones. The Miniature Pinscher is a lively and very energetic breed that requires a great deal of exercise. A true Miniature Pinscher requires a securely fenced yard to wear off unspent energy. Exercise is a must and walking on a leash will not satisfy this breed. A fenced yard or secured area off leash is a must. They are intensely curious and when tethered in a front yard will spend hours sitting up on their haunches to maximize their view and overcome their low height; they are adept at walking on their hind legs and will frequently do so when greeting familiar people, responding to the arrival of their meals or simply seeking a higher vantage point. As a single coated breed they are primarily an indoor breed. Note that this breed should never be off leash in public. Being a sight dog and natural hunter, they will react to quick movement and are prone to bolt. They do not do cold or wet weather well. This breed lives in a state of "terrible two's" into their senior years which makes them very entertaining yet sometimes frustrating. They can in many cases be difficult to house train. Being an independent breed by nature, they prefer to initiate contact and generally do not do well being overly handled. This is where the stereotype of the breed being a biter comes from. Also like many small dogs, this breed is not often appropriate for young children due to its fragility, which also increases its defensiveness, potentially leading to bites. They are quite fearless and can be overprotective. This breed truly does not see itself as a small breed. As such, it gets into trouble because a Miniature Pinscher will attack a much larger dog if it perceives a threat, whereas smaller dogs are treated as "objects of interest." Protective attitude and guard instincts are very strong in this breed. They can be one-owner dogs, or adapt greatly to families (without small children). The breed is very loyal and will alert their owner to any changes within the home environment. Miniature Pinschers are not for everyone, as they are very curious, strong willed, and frolicsome. Their owners must have a great sense of humor and a lot of patience. Keeping in mind that this breed is in fact a working breed, spoiling could result in the dog becoming somewhat of a tyrant. This breed by nature can be stubborn and as a result can be a difficult dog to handle. This is never a first time or in some cases a second time dog for most.

Care

An obese red Miniature Pinscher (at left).

• Although the breed is not necessarily bad with children, much care must be taken in educating youths about proper handling and play. Although relatively sturdy for their size, they can be easily injured by rough play with a child. In addition, their high-strung temperament leaves little patience for such rough play.

• Grooming is easy, as the smooth, short-haired coat requires little attention. Care must be taken in colder weather as the coat provides virtually no insulation from the cold.

• Due to their instinct to hunt vermin, special care must be taken in preventing a Miniature Pinscher from "attacking" small objects, such as bottle caps, as they could pose a choking hazard.

• Miniature Pinschers are also prone to overeating and should have their diets monitored to prevent obesity.

• This breed has an insatiable curiosity, so the best toys for Miniature Pinschers are ones that stimulate their curiosity. This may include toys that move or make an interesting noise. Miniature Pinschers enjoy having a collection of such toys, which they will hoard and spend much time in moving from one collecting place to another. However, Miniature Pinschers will chew and inevitably try to eat their toys, so avoid toys made of rubber or plastic. Small stuffed animals, rope toys, and interactive toys that pose a challenge work well. Cat toys (that do not have catnip) are also suitable.

Six-month old Min Pin (uncropped ears) with baby blanket

• Miniature Pinschers are territorial, so they should be provided with their own place to rest and sleep, though they will commonly stake a claim to a particular piece of furniture or curtain under or behind which they will sleep when people are in the room. They prefer to sleep on soft objects as well as under soft objects, so a small blanket should be provided to cover them. Unless the owner is amenable to sharing his or her bed, bedroom doors must be kept closed at night as Miniature Pinschers will jump onto beds and crawl under the covers. Care should be taken not to accidentally injure a Miniature Pinscher while they are sleeping under blankets.
• It is essential due to the energy level of this breed that a secured fenced yard be provided. Miniature Pinschers need to exercise regularly. In addition, due to the nature of this breed, when in public this breed must be kept on harness and leash. It is natural for this breed to bolt if something of interest catches its eye. It is better to use a harness as a collar can hurt the dog's neck when he or she bolts.

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Thermal insulation on the Huygens probe The term thermal insulation can refer to materials used to reduce the rate of heat transfer, or the methods and processes used to reduce heat transfer. ... Look up vermin in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For choking meaning compression of the neck, see Strangling. ...

History

Although it has a similar appearance, the Miniature Pinscher is not a "Miniature Doberman". Rather, the breed is much older. Although the Miniature Pinscher appeared in paintings and sculptures several centuries ago, the factual documentation on this breed goes back to 1836 with the writings of Dr. Reichenbach. The Doberman Pinscher was bred by Karl Frederich Louis Dobermann in 1880. It is likely that the strong resemblance is derived from the Deutscher Pinscher (German Pinscher). It is strongly believed that this, and not the Miniature Pinscher, is the breed that Dobermann used in establishing his Doberman Pinscher.

In 1895 The Pinscher Schnauzer Klub officially recognized Dobermann's Pinscher. The misconception that the Miniature Pinscher is a "miniature doberman" occurred because the Doberman Pinscher was introduced to the US before the Miniature Pinscher. In 1919 the Miniature Pinscher was introduced to the AKC show ring. At that time, not knowing that it was referred to officially in Germany as the Zwergpinscher (dwarfpinscher), the AKC referred to the breed as simply "Pinscher" and listed it in the miscellaneous category. By 1929 (the year of the breed's official introduction into the AKC), not noting it was a true Terrier breed, it was decided to officially place it in the Toy breed classification. Unfortunately for conformation purposes the description that the AKC noted, that the dog "must appear as a Doberman in miniature", led to the aforementioned misconception still noted today that this breed is a "Miniature Doberman Pinscher" when in fact the two breeds are not related. The original name for this breed in the US was "Pinscher" until 1972 when the name was officially changed to Miniature Pinscher.

The Miniature Pinscher and Dobermann's Pinscher share no common ancestry. In 1836 (the oldest documented writings of the Miniature Pinscher) after years of study of the breed Dr. Reichenbach determined that the Miniature Pinscher was derived from crossing a smooth coated Dachshund (a favorite German breed of the time with excellent ratting skills) with an Italian Greyhound. This is one of many theories about the Min Pin's origin. The goal was to make a more swift ratter as this breed was primarily used on farms where open fields required a faster dog to chase down rats and mice. The original Miniature Pinscher was not a true house pet but a working breed left to the barn with minimal human contact, much like feral cats on farms today. This created the unique independent trait in the breed that is still found today. Most feral kittens have little chance of surving more than a few months and are vulnerable to starvation, predators, disease and even flea-induced anemia. ...

Min Pin biting football/soccer ball

It must also be noted that the word "pinscher" in German does not stand for or mean, "terrier". The word "terrier", like "setter", pertains to the way the breed works. The German word "pinscher" translates to "biter" or the way it bites when attacking its prey. This has been a long-standing problem with the term "pinscher" wherein the reference and translation is twofold but those referencing the information regarding the word fail to note that actual translation.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Miniature Pinscher

• American Kennel Club article on Miniature Pinschers, retrieved March 20th, 2007.
• British Miniature Pinscher
• Miniature Pinscher Club of America