The miniature pinscher has a knack for getting into and out of trouble.
In September 1998, Wendy and David Mott were busily packing their precious belongings as Hurricane Georges bore down on their New Orleans home. About that time, their most precious belongings - a miniature pinscher named Bailey and Bailey's 5-month-old puppy, Toby - decided to take a stroll around the neighborhood.
She needn't have worried, for Bailey and Toby were having the times of their lives on a scenic tour of the deep South. The two miniature pinschers showed up at the door of Linda Wheat, six blocks away. Although allergic to dogs, Wheat saw little option but to put the dogs in the car with her canary and two cats before she fled the hurricane. The dogs enjoyed an all-expense paid vacation at a Comfort Inn, where they rubbed noses with other Louisiana dogs fleeing the storm, before returning to New Orleans and a reunion with the Motts.
Similar min pin tales are common. In April 1993, a miniature pinscher was found roaming the streets of Columbus, Ohio. The dog was taken to a veterinarian, who discovered a National Dog Registry tattoo on its hind leg. The registry contacted the breeder, who in turn called the dog's astonished owner. The dog had been stolen nine years previously. The miniature pinscher and owner were happily reunited.
Take the tale of Beau and Bonnie. Last year the two miniature pinscher puppies were stolen by thieves masquerading as prospective owners. Breeder Dawn Sutton contacted local pet stores directly after the theft, warning them to be on the lookout for the puppies and baby eclectus parrots also taken in the robbery. Sure enough, the crooks showed up at a pet store the next day, trying to pawn the purloined animals. The alert store owner called the cops; Sutton arrived a short while later and reclaimed her pups, who seemed to have enjoyed the abduction.
Into the Fray
Miniature pinscher owners probably aren't surprised by these adventurous tales, for they know their breed is a can-do, anything-goes kind of dog that occasionally leaps before it looks. Among the most energetic of all breeds, the min pin is always on the go in a constant search for action. When the dog finds that action, it never passes an opportunity to join in the fray.
The only thing small about the miniature pinscher is its size. The typical min pin stands between 10 to 12.5 inches. It is a square-proportioned dog with a compact, sturdy body. The American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standard describes the miniature pinscher as "naturally well groomed, proud, vigorous and alert. Characteristic traits are his hackney-like action, fearless animation, complete self-possession, and his spirited presence."
Despite its classification in the AKC's toy group, the miniature pinscher's aggressive, brash attitude has earned it a reputation as an excellent guard dog. The min pin loves to bark, particularly at people and other animals it does not know. Although they have little use for strangers, miniature pinschers attach themselves with a vengeance to their owners. The miniature pinscher doesn't back down to anyone or anything. This occasionally leads to problems with children, who can be deceived by the dog's small size into innocently believing the min pin can handle the same rough play children dole out to playthings of similar size. Parents be forewarned: few miniature pinschers tolerate this sort of rough handling. Children must be taught proper respect and care for the dog. On the other hand, the min pin is one of the few toy breeds that can hold its own with larger dogs, because of their cocky, bold attitude. This is particularly true if your min pin is raised with other animals and taught to be respectful.
Socialization of your min pin should start when the puppy is about 21 days old, with its training continuing for several months. Because these are athletic and fearless dogs, containing them can be a challenge. Many owners learn this lesson early, when trying to housebreak their min pins. Males especially are prone to leg-lifting problems.
The more exercise your miniature pinscher receives, the happier it will be. The dog requires several play sessions every day; however, because of its small size these exercise needs can be met indoors or out. In contrast to the dog's physical and mental needs, the min pin's grooming needs are minimal. The short, flat coat is virtually carefree, requiring only occasional brushing to remove dead hair. A min pin that receives regular brushing will seldom need a bath - shampooing washes away the natural oils that moisturize the coat and skin, so bathe only when necessary.
This is generally a healthy breed, with a typical lifespan of 12 to 14 years. Patella luxation, in which the kneecap covering the joint in the rear of the leg slips to one side and causes limping, is occasionally seen in min pins. Diabetes, progressive retinal atrophy and legg-perthes disease, affecting the hip, can also affect members of this breed.
Show Stopper
Like the Doberman pinscher, to which it is often erroneously compared, the miniature pinscher traces its roots to Germany.
The early miniature pinscher was called the reh pinscher, so named because Germans thought the dog resembled the small, nimble, red roe deer that populated their forests. The reh pinscher was the smaller version of a more common, medium-sized dog known as the German smooth-haired pinscher, now occasionally referred to as the old German standard pinscher. Today, the German smooth-haired pinscher is considered the stepfather of several German dog breeds, including the miniature pinscher, wirehaired breeds such as the schnauzers and affenpinschers, and the popular Doberman pinscher.
Initially, the primary difference between the German smooth-haired pinscher and the miniature pinscher was simply one of size. Both dogs were good ratters, with the larger dog working the grounds and barns and the smaller reh pinscher working inside the home.
Distinctive pinscher breeds, including the miniature pinscher, emerged in the mid-1800s. Many sources suggest early breeders incorporated dachshunds and Italian greyhounds into their breeding programs. The dachshund influence is displayed in the miniature pinscher's fearlessness and red coloration; the Italian greyhound influence can be seen in the min pin's elegance, playfulness and lithe movement.
An early breed standard for the smooth-coated pinscher varieties was published in Germany in 1880. Many breed historians mark the 1895 formation of the German Pinscher-Schnauzer Klub as the official beginning of the miniature pinscher. The club recognized six varieties of pinscher - the giant schnauzer, standard schnauzer, miniature schnauzer, affenpinscher, old standard German pinscher and the miniature pinscher - and demanded the varieties not be cross bred.
The smallest pinscher became a favorite in German show rings, and soon booming popularity played havoc with the breed's soundness and usefulness. The first min pins were often evaluated by sporting dog judges, who apparently believed little dogs were only useful as ladies' lap dogs. Soon miniature pinschers competed in ribbons and jeweled collars, and were judged in their owners' arms or sitting on satin pillows. Movement and soundness were disregarded for smallness and a pretty head. Following the judges' lead, breeders began specializing in tiny dogs with weak structure and tiny, feeble legs.
Josef Berta, a respected judge and a founder of the Pinscher-Schnauzer Klub, decided to put an end to these practices. When he judged, he demanded miniature pinschers be placed on the ground and moved in a gaiting pattern. If a specimen wasn't sound, it did not win. Berta's method was controversial, but it eventually led to a change in breeding practices so that soundness, balance and mobility were restored to the breed.
Urban Attitude
The miniature pinscher accompanied German immigrants to America in the early 1900s. Like the Germans, Americans were attracted to the dog's forceful, oversized personality. The breed was accepted into the American Kennel Club in 1925; by 1929, the Miniature Pinscher Club of America was recognized by the AKC and min pins were entitled to compete for championships.
The AKC originally designated miniature pinschers as terriers, so they began their competitive career in the terrier group. Nevertheless, the Miniature Pinscher Club of America was not happy with that classification and petitioned the AKC to reclassify the breed. In 1930, min pins were placed in the toy group.
In recent years the popularity of the miniature pinscher has increased exponentially. In the five year period from 1989 to 1994, the AKC registrations for miniature pinschers rose a whopping 197 percent. In 1999 the miniature pinscher was the 17th most popular dog, in terms of new AKC registrations.
This popularity appears, in part, because of the increasing urbanization of America. As more Americans move to apartments and condominiums, a stylish small dog with the alert attitude and brave demeanor of a larger dog appears to be very much in demand. For these people, the stylish, saucy miniature pinscher represents the perfect companion - a big dog in a small package.
Which Came First?
The miniature pinscher is not a bred down or miniaturized version of the Doberman pinscher. Actually the miniature pinscher is an older breed than the Doberman.
The persistent but false belief that the miniature pinscher evolved from the Doberman is probably the result of the breed standard prepared by the Miniature Pinscher Club of America in 1935. That standard described the dog as "a miniature of the Doberman pinscher, having on a modified scale most of its physical qualifications and specifications."
The standard authors probably thought the toy breed would be more easily recognizable if they compared it to the Doberman, which was extremely popular at the time. Later readers assumed the meaning was historical, rather than simply descriptive.
In 1950, the club revised the standard, removing all references to the Doberman pinscher in an effort to correct the confusion. But the damage had already been done. Today many people still wrongly assume the min pin is a small version of the Doberman.
Fashionably Dressed
Anybody who thinks dog clothes are for sissies has never met a miniature pinscher.
No one in their right mind would call a min pin a wimp, yet the dog's small body and short coat make it extremely susceptible to cold weather. In fact, most breed experts recommend wrapping your min pin up in a sweater or a jacket before taking it outside on a chilly day.
The dog apparel industry is booming, with styles ranging from high-tech sports gear to cute and fuzzy doggie pjs to indulge those canine fashion fantasies. Your miniature pinscher will thank you, and nobody is going to call you or your min pin a sissy.
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