Looking for a dog
book? We have hundreds of dog books listed, Titles
include works on individual breeds, activities,
health and nutrition. You can find the best in dog
training, behavior, natural health, agility,
clicker training, problems, and other dog related
topics.
The Miniature Pinscher, also known as the Minpin by fanciers, is a toy breed of dog. Minpins were first bred to hunt vermin, especially rats. In its native Germany, the dog is known as the Zwergpinscher. Pinscher, refers to a classification of dogs bred as guardians or to hunt vermin. Zwerg, in German, means Dwarf or Midget.
History: Although appearing similar to the Doberman
Pinscher, the Minpin is not a "Miniature Doberman".
Rather, the breed is much older. Although, the miniature
pinscher has appeared in paintings and sculptures several
centuries ago, the factual documentation on this breed goes
back less than 200 years. The Doberman Pinscher was bred by
Lois Dobermann in 1890 to resemble a Miniature Pinscher.
Both Miniature Pinscher and Dobermann Pinscher share common
ancestors. Similarities between the two may result from a
common genetic relation to the German Pinscher. Some genetic
stock may have been contributed by the Italian Greyhound, the
Manchester Terrier, and the Dachshund. The source of confusion
regarding the relationship between the Doberman and the
Miniature Pinscher may have been the result of a Miniature
Pinscher breed standard from the 1930s, which basically stated
that the breed should appear as a Doberman in miniature. The
Miniature Pinscher was imported into the U.S. in 1919 and was
first registered with the American Kennel Club in 1925.
Appearance: Typically, the Minpin stands between 25
and 30 cm (10 and 12.5 in) at the withers, give or take a bit
depending on the breed standard. Its weight is about 9 lb. to
12 lb. The coat colors, according to most breed standards, are
red, stag-red, fawn, and black or chocolate with tan markings.
The coat should be short and smooth. The miniature pinscher
frequently has a docked tail and cropped ears, although this
is becoming a somewhat controversial practice.
Temperament: Dogs, like people, have a wide range of
personalities. Although the same is true for Minpins, members
of the breed generally share some personality traits. Minpins,
by their nature, are not generally timid, calm "lap
dogs." Rather, they have an energetic spirit and curious
nature. They are generally quite stubborn, but can also be
very sweet. Although small, a Minpin generally makes a good
watchdog, as the breed is eager to sound the alarm when
unfamiliar people and creatures appear in or around the home.
They do not understand that they are not the size of a Great
Dane.
Socialization: As with any puppy of any breed, it is
important to properly socialize a Minpin puppy with people and
dogs. This is especially true for Minpins, since their small
size combined with curiosity and fearlessness could pose
problems with larger dogs and human houseguests. Fans of the
breed argue that its exuberant spirit and small size make it
the ideal house or apartment dog. The dog's energetic
temperament, cat-like agility, and curious nature, however,
may not be for everyone.
Care: Although the breed is not necessarily bad with
children, care must be taken in educating youths about proper
handling and play. Although Minpins are known to bound
through, around, and over obstacles, they can be easily
injured by rough play with a child.
Grooming is easy, as the smooth, short-haired coat requires
little attention. Care must be taken in colder weather,
however, as this coat provides virtually no protection from
the cold. Due to their instinct to hunt vermin, special care
must be taken in preventing a Minpin from
"attacking" small objects, such as bottle caps, as
they could pose a choking hazard. Minpins are also prone to
overeating, and should have their diets monitored to prevent
obesity.
HeyDogs is an easy to use site that keeps both dog professionals and dog enthusiasts up to date on the latest information on dogs. You can find the best in dog training, behavior, natural health, agility, clicker training, and other dog related topics
Looking for the perfect
Dog name? Dogs names for your new Puppy.
Browse thousands of Dog names, names for both male
and female dogs, Start looking by clicking on a
letter!
Hi Cats is a website you can find extensive information on all Cat Breeds, Articles, Health, Books, Photos, Desktop Wallpapers, Posters, Training, Cats names, Links and more.
Warning: include() [function.include]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in /home/boxistc/public_html/heydogs/breeds/m/miniature-pinscher.html on line 1050
Warning: include(http://www.heydogs.com/footer.html) [function.include]: failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/boxistc/public_html/heydogs/breeds/m/miniature-pinscher.html on line 1050
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://www.heydogs.com/footer.html' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/boxistc/public_html/heydogs/breeds/m/miniature-pinscher.html on line 1050
HeyDogs.com Dog Breeds Information
Guide menu 
