miniature pinscher

The miniature pinscher originates from Germany , from crosses between the German pinscher , the Italian greyhound and the dachshund (sausage dog). Many people think that this pinscher is a miniaturized Doberman, but this is not true. Although both breeds share some ancestors, the Miniature Pinscher is much older than the Doberman .

Today the miniature pinscher is one of the most popular and beloved small dogs, although taking care of it can require more effort than for other breeds of small dogs, due to the character and dynamism of this dog. It is also known as min pin, min pin and dwarf pinscher. The original name of the miniature pinscher in German is zwergpinscher .

The miniature pinscher is the reduced version, without dwarfism, of the German pinscher . It is small, with a square profile (body length equal to height at the withers) and short hair. Its lines are fine and elegant. The height at the withers for males and females is 25 to 30 centimeters and the weight is 4 to 6 kilograms .

Some of the characteristics of the miniature pinscher are:

• The head of the miniature pinscher is elongated : with a soft but clearly defined naso-frontal depression (stop). The nose is black and the snout ends in the shape of a truncated wedge.
• The eyes are dark : they also have an oval shape.
• The ears are erect or folded in a “V” shape. In the past, it was customary to cut the ears to ensure that they remained erect, but fortunately that practice is disappearing.
• The body of the miniature pinscher is short, small and compact : the chest is moderately wide and the flanks are drawn back but not excessively.
• The tail must be in the shape of a saber or sickle : the breed standard accepted by the International Cynological Federation ( FCI ) indicates that the tail must be natural, that is, not docked.
• The miniature pinscher’s hair is short : in addition to being thick, shiny and close to the body.

Miniature Pinscher Dog Colors

As we have mentioned in the characteristics of the miniature pinscher, it has a shiny and thick coat, as well as short. The hair of the miniature pinscher dog can be unicolor :

• red deer
• Red brown
• Dark brown red
• Black
• Fire

Miniature pinschers are dogs that are full of life, dynamic, curious and fearless . They are dogs with a strong and brave temperament, despite their small size. The socialization of these dogs is very important and should not be taken lightly.

When they are not properly socialized they tend to be reserved with strangers, quarrelsome with other dogs and aggressive with other pets. When they are well socialized from puppies, they can tolerate strangers and other dogs willingly, but they are not usually very sociable animals. Of course, miniature pinschers are very affectionate with theirs .

Additionally, if you are considering adopting a Miniature Pinscher, you should know that they can be destructive if they get bored or if they are left alone for very long periods. They can also be somewhat noisy, but are generally not as barky as other small dog breeds.

How to socialize a puppy dog? Discover the answer in the following AnimalWised article.

Specific care for the miniature pinscher is as follows:

• Feeding : Both dry food and canned wet food will satisfy your miniature pinscher’s appetite. If it is between 2-6 months, you should offer it food between 3 and 4 times a day. From one year of age, we will dose the rations to 2 meals a day. It must be taken into account that the amount of food must be adjusted to the age, size and lifestyle of the dog.
• Exercise : These dogs are very active and need a good daily dose of physical and mental exercise , but due to their small size they can cover their exercise needs inside the house. That does not eliminate the need for daily walks, since in addition to exercise, they have to socialize. If you want to adopt a miniature pinscher, you should know that they adapt perfectly to living in small houses or apartments. Although they enjoy a garden to play, they are not dogs suitable for living outdoors. If you’re wondering how much exercise should a dog get a day? Do not hesitate to consult the following article that we recommend.
• Grooming : Caring for the coat is easy and does not require much time, as weekly brushing is usually sufficient. You only have to bathe your miniature pinscher when it gets dirty and not very frequently. How to bathe a dog at home? We’ll tell you then.

Dog training gives very good results with this breed if it is done with positive reinforcement. However, traditional training is not good due to the independent temperament of these dogs and because some of the traditional techniques are too violent to apply to such small dogs. Therefore, one of the solutions is clicker training , which gives excellent results.

We tell you more about Positive Reinforcement in dogs in the following AnimalWised post.

The Miniature Pinscher tends to be a healthy dog ​​and the breed is not particularly prone to canine diseases. Occasionally it occurs:

• Progressive retinal atrophy .
• Patellar dislocation : but not with very high incidences.
• Obesity : it can be a problem, because miniature pinschers tend to be very gluttonous. How to avoid obesity in dogs? We’ll tell you then.

After having read about the Miniature Pinscher and its temperament, you may have doubts about adopting a specimen of this breed of dog. The truth is that the dwarf pinscher can be found in both animal shelters and shelters , but if you do not find any specimen that suits what you are looking for, you can always try to find it in a breed club .

When you adopt him, you will probably wonder how to know if he is a true miniature or dwarf pinscher. In these types of situations, at ExpertoAnimal we want to remember that the important thing is not that the dog meets the official breed standards, but that we offer it the best possible life.