Min Pin, the Miniature Pinscher, is a purebred dog belonging to the small breed of the Pinscher group. Also called Zwergpinscher, these dogs are compact, athletic, loyal, robust yet lively and lovable. The Min Pins were initially bred to hunt rats and vermins in homes and stables. They resemble the Dobermans, and many believe they are the result of the breeding of Dobermans to progressive sizes. However, Min Pins are an older breed than Dobermans and have distinctive features. They are sturdy, elegant looking dogs that are also fearless and proud. Highly intelligent and curious, Min Pins are not a dog for the first time owners. They are affectionately called the “ King of Toys” and make a great family companion. They love to be around the humans and make them powerless with their puppy eyes.
Club Recognition:American Kennel Club (AKC), United Kennel Club (UKC)
History of Min Pin
Min Pin, also called Zwergpinscher,(Zwerg – dwarf, pinscher – dogs bred to hunt vermin) originated in Germany and is one of the oldest dog breeds known. Min Pin’s ancestors include the German Pinscher crossed with Italian Greyhounds and Dachshunds. Yet, the documentation of the breed began less than 200 years ago, and its exact origins are unknown. The Min Pins were initially bred to hunt rats and vermins in homes and stables. They resemble the Dobermans, and many believe they are the result of the breeding of Dobermans to progressive sizes. However, Min Pins are an older breed than Dobermans and have distinctive features. The Min Pins were developed in 1895, and Pincher Klub was formed by the German breeders, later renamed Pinscher-Schnauzer Klub. The breed’s standard was also written in the same year.
Min Pins came to be known to the world at the Stuttgart Dog Show in Germany in the year 1900. Since then, their popularity grew until World War I. Min Pins were first imported into the U.S around 1919 The Miniature Pinscher Club of America was formed in 1929, and AKC recognized the breed in the same year. Initially, they were classified into the Terrier group and later on reclassified as a toy breed and called Pinscher. In 1972, they were again renamed officially Miniature Pinscher.
Min Pin Highlights
Min Pins are robust and rusty but are small dogs and can be easily injured. They are best suited for families with smaller children.
Min Pins are sensitive to colder weather conditions and need extra care with a dog coat or sweater.
Min Pins need crate training and need to be supervised as they are very curious and have wanderlust tendencies.
Min Pins always try to rule the house and take up the alpha male position.
Min Pins are small toy breed dogs with tiny bodies but are excellent watchdogs.
They are known for their intelligence and peppy nature.
Apart from Germany, Min Pins are bred extensively in Scandinavia.
Min Pin Personality
Min Pins are Toy breed dogs that are compact, sturdy and robust. They are small and grow around 10-12 inches and weigh about 8-10 pounds. They shed low and are not hypoallergenic. The coat is short, sleek and has no undercoat. The coat colors include black, chocolate, tan, fawn, red, rust, and combinations. The eyes are dark and overshaped. The ears are high and perky, which adds to their alert look. Finally, Min Pins have tails set high and docked and a unique hackney gait movement, which adds to their attractiveness.
Friendliness Overview
Affection level
High
Family-friendly
High
Kid-friendly
Medium
Dog-friendly
Low
Stranger-friendly
Medium
Adaptability Overview
Good for apartment living
High
Good for new owners
Medium
Sensitivity level
High
Tolerates being alone
Low
Cold tolerance
Low
Heat tolerance
Medium
Min Pin Physical Features
Head: The head is in correct proportion to the body and balances with the skull. The eyes are slightly oval, clear, bright, and dark. Ears are set high and erect. Their skull is flat, and the muzzle is fine, delicate, in proportion to the head. The nose is black except for the chocolate colored and has a self-colored nose.
Neck: The neck is proportionate to the head and body. It is slightly arched, gracefully curved, muscular, and blends into the shoulders.
Topline: The backline slightly slopes towards the rear, wedge-shaped and muscular. Body: The body is compact, somewhat wedge-shaped and athletic. The forechest is well developed, and the ribs are well-sprung. The belly is moderately tucked up.
Tail: The tail is set high and held erect.
Forequarters: The shoulders are clean, sloping, muscled, and close to the body. The forelegs have sufficient bones and muscles to provide balance. Tiny feet and catlike, the toes are well arched and strong. Nails are thick and blunt.
Hindquarters: The hindquarters are well balanced and powerful. The hips and thighs are muscular, and the legs are straight and parallel. The declaws should be removed.
Coat: The coat is smooth, hard, short and lustrous.
Gait: The gait is smooth and elegant, exhibiting power and effortless speed. Well-balanced with good reach and strong drive.
Min Pin Temperament
Min Pins are small, robust dogs that are proud, fearless, and fun-loving. They are highly energetic, vigorous, and noun for their intelligence. Min pins are curious and are prone to wanderlust tendencies. They need to be leashed to keep them safe. Despite their small size, they are excellent watchdogs. They need constant supervision or should be leashed or put in a crate. These canines love to be with their families and crave the attention of their owners. Early socialization and training help them get along with children and other dogs. They are wary of strangers and bark a lot to alert their owners. They are best suited for families with older children. Min Pins have a high instinct to chase and do not suit families with smaller animals like cats and rabbits. Their overall temperament includes
Loyal
Fearless
Sensitive
Intelligent
Watchdog
Playful
Fun-loving
Athletic
Min Pin Training
The Min Pins are intelligent and stubborn and make training quite difficult. Just like other dogs, they need early socialization and puppy training classes. The training requires patience and consistency during the period. They are sensitive to any adverse reactions and need positive reinforcement while training. They love being around people, and treats and cuddling do wonders while training. They are active and look forward to the training sessions, playing fetch, which helps in training regarding behavioral corrections. They do not respond to harsh commands, and lots of praises, cuddles, and treats work wonders during the training. Obedience training and socialization help in behavioral correction and bring out the best in any dog. Min Pins become bored easily, so it is necessary to keep the training interesting. Their Training can include the following:
Min Pins are highly active and energetic and need ample exercise. A daily routine of 30-60 minutes of exercise is ideal for keeping the dog’s mental and physical stimulation intact. Walking 2-3 times a day with a bit of running and play keeps the dog happy and healthy. They are good at activities like agility and flyball. They enjoy running, walking, hiking, agility, and indoor games. A proper exercise routine helps the dog with the following benefits.
Social interaction
Weight Control
Stress Relief
Behavioral Corrections like excessive chewing, persistent barking
Brain stimulation
Strengthening Muscles
Routine Toileting
Mental health and happiness
Exercise Needs Overview
Energy level
High
Exercise needs
High
Intensity
High to medium
Playfulness
High
Min Pin Grooming
Min Pins have small bodies with a smooth coat. They shed less and require minimum maintenance. They are easy to groom, and the coat needs to be brushed 2-3 times per week. They may need extra brushing during their shedding season. Brushing helps remove clump hair and pull out the loose fur during shedding. One of the essential parts of grooming is bathing which keeps the dog clean. However, frequent bathing causes dry skin and itches. Bathing your dog using shampoos with pH.Balanced for dogs, pet wipes will keep your dog’s coat fresh, clean, and shiny. They can also be bathed once a week. However, daily brushing helps to keep the fur from knots and tangles.
They are prone to collect ear wax quickly. Hence,Ears should be cleaned and regularly checked as they are prone to ear problems. Brush their teeth daily to prevent plaque and other dental problems. Never brush the teeth with a stiff brush as it will harm the gums and teeth. Also, make sure to use dog-friendly toothpaste.
Also, clean their eyes and trim their nails as a part of everyday grooming needs. Their toenails need to be checked once a week as longer nails may harm and injure the dog. You can trim the toenails with a commercial dog nail trimmer or with the help of a vet or professional groomer.
Min Pin is a healthy and active dog. Yet, it’s always wise to be aware of the health conditions they are prone to.
Health Overview
General health
Medium
Weight gain tendencies
High
Size
Small
Progressive Retinal Atrophy: Many eye infections involve the retina’s slow deterioration. In the initial phases, puppies become night-blind. As it progresses, they lose their eyesight during the daytime as well. However, most canines slowly adapt to their slight or complete sight loss as long as their home surroundings remain the same.
Legg-Calve Perthes Disease: The blood supply of the femur is decreased, due to which the pelvis begins to disintegrate, and the hip becomes gradually weakened. Symptoms include limping and atrophies of the leg muscle. The diseased femur can be corrected with surgery.
Epilepsy: This is the most prevalent neurological disease in canines, concerning about 0.75 per cent of the population. Epilepsy is a broad name for disorders characterized by repeated, uncontrollable seizures caused by a brain defect.
Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism is a condition in which a dog’s metabolism is slowed due to the lack of thyroid hormone production. Among the signs and symptoms are:
Lethargy
Gaining weight
Reluctance to work out
Hair Loss
Patellar Luxation: It is also known as “slipped stifles,” a common problem in small dog breeds that is caused when the patella, which has three parts-the femur (thigh bone), patella (knee cap), and tibia (calf) — is not correctly bounded. This leads to lameness in the leg or an abnormal gait, like a hop or a skip. This condition is caused by birth, although the misalignment or luxation does not always occur much later. In addition, the rubbing caused by patellar luxation leads to arthritis. There are four patellar luxation grades, ranging from phase I, an occasional luxation causing unstable lameness in the joint, to grade IV, where the turning of the tibia is heavy, and you cannot realign the patella manually. This gives your dog a bow-legged appearance. Uphill grades of patellar luxation may require surgery.
Cardiac Problems: Dogs often suffer from cardiac problems. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the signs or symptoms that could lead to cardiac problems in dogs. The most common cardiac issue is left ventricular hypertrophy, an enlargement of the heart’s left ventricle. This enlargement can be caused by many factors, including high blood pressure, obesity, and old age.
Owners need to know how to recognize these symptoms and take their dogs to the vet for treatment. Dogs with a history of heart disease may show signs like coughing or breathing problems, fatigue, lethargy, and vomiting. These signs are often accompanied by decreased appetite and weight loss.
Spay or Neuter: In spay, the ovaries or uterus in females is removed, and in the neuter, the testicles of the male dogs are removed. It is done to eliminate the possibility of pregnancy or fathering unwanted puppies and decrease the likelihood of certain types of cancer.
Recommended tests for Min Pin
X-Rays
CT Scan
Eye Examination
Physical Examination
Blood Work
Vet-certified proof of genetic testing
Min Pin Diet and Nutrition
Min Pins need a large quantity of high-quality food, and they should eat 1/2 to 1 cup of meal every day. Each puppy is distinctive, and the correct amount and quality of food depend on their age, weight, activity level, health, and more. The meals can also be split into two 2 cups daily. They are prone to obesity, and hence overfeeding must be avoided. Min Pin pups can be given dry food, wet food, or both. Make sure the diet contains omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, chondroitin, and glucosamine. These dogs can also be fed with fruits and vegetables that give carbohydrate energy. Never hesitate to consult a vet to meet your pup’s dietary requirements to keep them happy and healthy.
Min Pin loves to be around their humans and follows them everywhere. Not apartment-friendly and need sufficient space or homes with bigger yards. They love outdoor activities like walking, running, playing, hunting, and visiting dog parks. They have high chasing instincts and wanderlust tendencies and always be leashed or put in a crate. When allowed in a backyard, the place should be adequately fenced. Min Pins should never be left alone without supervision. They love the attention of their owners and develop strong bonds. They suit homes with older kids and other dogs well with early socialization and puppy training. They cannot tolerate cold weather conditions and moderately tolerate hot temperatures. Min Pins need an extra dog coat or sweater outdoors in cold temperatures. They thrive on companionship, playtime, training, praises and cuddles.
Adding Min Pin to Your Family
Things to remember before adding Min Pin to your family
It is best to get a Min Pin from a reputable breeder to prevent unavoidable circumstances like health disorders and provide you with vaccination certificates. It is best to check with the puppy’s parents to ensure his health and happiness. Always remember the following red flags to avoid backyard breeders and puppy mills.
Puppies are available throughout the year.
You can choose from a variety of litter that is always available.
One will be promised any puppy they want.
Cost of a Min Pin Puppy: A Min Pin’s cost ranges from $1000 to $2000.
