1. WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
It is believed that the Miniature Pinscher evolved from the ancient German
Pinscher family of dogs, which ultimately produced a number of the breeds
recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) today. In 1836 Dr. H. G. Reinchenbach,
a German writer, stated the Miniature Pinscher is a cross of the Dachshund
and the Italian Greyhound. This conclusion of Dr. Reinchenbach is now generally
accepted by historians and those who have researched the background of the
breed. In any event, Germany is undisputed as the home of origin, where
the Miniature Pinscher was known as the "Reh Pinscher" due to
its resemblance to a small red deer, the Reh, which freely roamed the German
forests many years ago.
2. ARE THEY BRED DOWN DOBERMAN PINSCHERS?
Absolutely not. In fact, the Miniature Pinscher is the older of these two
breeds, as it was not until 1890 that Louis Dobermann bred his first Doberman
Pinscher. Mr. Dobermann stated he wished to breed "...a giant terrier
that would look much like the five pound Reh Pinscher (our Miniature Pinscher)
but that would be fifteen times heavier and larger."
3. HOW BIG DO THEY GET?
The Miniature Pinscher standard is 10 to 12 ½ inches in height. Weight
is 8 to 12 lbs.
4. WHAT COLORS DO THEY COME IN?
There are black and rust, chocolate and rust, stag red, and red.
5. ARE THEY GOOD WITH KIDS?
Yes and No. If the Miniature Pinscher is raised around children who treat
them in a gentle way and are taught responsible dog ownership, they will
adore children. However, if children are allowed to grab at them, hit them
or treat them roughly in any way, the Min Pin will run from a child. It
is important to realize that even as a full grown adult, the Miniature Pinscher
is a very small dog. The wrong type of play and handling can easily result
in broken bones and worse. Even though the Min Pin is a bundle of energy
and will bounce from sofa to chair to floor to bed . . . dropping one from
that same sofa can easily result in unnecessary injury. Always let the Min
Pin approach the child, not the other way around and you should have a wonderful
companion. Patience, love and good old common sense make a great recipe
for raising a Miniature Pinscher with children - or adults.
6. HOW DO THEY ACT?
A well - bred and properly socialized Miniature Pinscher is quite simply
a "character". Spending only a few minutes with one makes it immediately
apparent that these dogs really earn their title "King of Toys".
You will find the Min Pin to be fearless, animated, playful, loyal, loveable,
intensely curious and always full of vim and vigor. Breeders have been quoted
as saying "It's like living with a roomful of toddlers who never grow
up ". Because of their high energy levels and inquisitiveness, the
Min Pin bears close watching. They need to investigate everything and will
go to great lengths to do so - which includes being "escape artists".
Rarely does anyone own "just one" as they seem to grow on you
and accumulate. They are also a great companion for the elderly. When it
comes time to rest, they will cuddle up in your lap. They also make a great
sleeping buddy.
The minpin has the instincts of a watch dog, despite his tiny stature.
The minpin also shows characteristics of a working dog because he can be
trained more easily than the other "toy" dogs. In 2002 the Miniature
Pinscher was ranked number 19 out of 145 breeds in AKC-registered dogs.
Miniature Pinschers are definitely the "King of Toys". Minpins
have been known to outwit dogs three and four times his size. The minpin
is an animated, playful, loyal, fearless, and loveable little dog. Most
minpins are quite the show-offs, and they love to perform in front of an
audience. Because minpins are quite the actors and show-offs, they are excellent
in the show ring. They are easily trained and love the spotlight to be shining
directly on them!
The Miniature Pinscher makes a wonderful watchdog despite his size. He can
hear sounds, that to us are inaudible. He can even tell the difference between
two cars driving down the street by the sound it makes. They often can tell
when their master is home by just hearing the car drive by.
The minpin is always ready to play...even into his years. If you don't have
a big house with a big yard or you live in an apartment, it doesn't matter.
Minpins can get more than enough exercise in the smallest of places or even
on a short walk. Just playing fetch with his favorite toy will give him
the exercise he needs for the day.
7. WHAT DO I FEED MY MINIATURE PINSCHER?
A puppy needs a well balanced nutritional puppy food. It is recommended
that your feed your puppy 4 times a day. Try to feed your puppy his meal
at the same time each day and in the same location so that he will get used
to this daily routine and develop good eating habits. It also helps in house
breaking your puppy. As soon as he eats, he has to go. At 6 months you can
2 meals are sufficient, once in the morning and then in the evening. "AVOID"
all table scraps & junk foods. It is not healthy and will put weight
on your minpin. Once a minpin gets over-weight it is very hard to get them
to lose it. Reserve treats for special occasions or, perhaps, to reward
good behavior in training your puppy. Owners should be wary of rawhide &
pig ears as treats. They can tear off in large pieces and lodge in the dog's
throat or cause intestinal blockage.
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