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Miniature Pinscher Dog Breed Introduction
Miniature Pinscher ( also known as Zwergpinscher meaning little biter) is a toy dog of the pinscher dog breed from Germany. It is commonly nicknamed Mini Pin or King of the Toys. The latter comes from the breed’s dominance and confidence in the show ring. Miniature Pinschers look like the smaller version of Doberman Pinscher. However, they are two distinct breeds.
Dobermans were developed in the late 19th century by Louis Dobermann while Miniature Pinscher were developed in the 17th century probably from the cross between German Pinscher, Dachshund, and Italian Greyhound. Miniature Pinschers are popular for their distinct hackney gait ( a high stepping prance that resembles the trot of a horse). They may have cropped or natural ears that are both erect. Although toy-sized, Miniature Pinschers are active, assertive, outgoing, and self-possessed dogs with a big dog personality.
Miniature Pinscher History | Origin
A Miniature Pinscher was developed in the 1600s probably by crossing German Pinschers, Italian Greyhound, and Dachshund. However, documentation of this breed only exist from less than 200 years ago. Miniature Pinschers probably were bred for companionship or ratting.
These toy dogs increasingly became popular in America and Europe in the early 1900s. It was recognized by AKC as simply Pinscher in 1925 in the terrier group before it was moved to the toy group in 1930. This breed got the name Miniature Pinscher in 1972.
Miniature Pinscher Lifespan
According to the American Kennel Club, Miniature Pinschers have a lifespan of 12 to 16 years.
Miniature Pinscher Grooming
Prepare a Miniature Pinscher for a positive grooming process at home or with a professional groomer by getting it accustomed to touch on the paws, feet, face, ears, and body. Grooming at home offers great bonding time between the owner and the pet. Miniature Pinschers have a short hard coat that sheds at moderate levels all-year round. It lacks an undercoat. Weekly brushing using a hound glove or soft brush will help to remove the loose hair, dirt, and keep the coat looking healthy and glossy.
Miniature Pinschers require occasional bath every 6 to 8 weeks unless the pet rolls off into something stinky. Bath your pet using a mild shampoo and conditioner to moisturize the coat. In between baths, parents may use a damp washcloth dampened in warm water to remove the visible dirt. Wipe the eye corners with a clean washcloth or unscented canine wipes on a daily basis. During the cold weather, pet owners should buy coats, jackets, sweaters, or blankets to keep the Miniature Pinscher warm.
Trim the nails fortnightly using nail clippers to prevent splitting, overgrowth, and cracking. Overly grown nails are painful for your Miniature Pinscher while walking or running. Brush the teeth of a Min Pin at least twice a week if not daily to remove tartar buildup using a dog formulated toothpaste and toothbrush. Clean the ears on a weekly basis using an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls to remove wax and debris. While cleaning the ears look out for signs of dog’s ear infection such as redness, dark discharge, or odor.
Miniature Pinscher Shedding | Mini Pinscher Shedding
A Miniature Pinscher sheds at low to moderate levels all-year round. Weekly brushing using a soft brush or hound glove keeps shedding to a minimum and minimizes the lose hair on the surface.
Miniature Pinscher Coat
A Miniature Pinscher has a short, smooth, hard, and straight coat that lacks an undercoat. For this reason, this breed should be kept warm during the cold weather season.
Miniature Pinscher Hypoallergenic
Despite shedding at low to moderate levels all-year round, Miniature Pinschers are not hypoallergenic. A moulting coat releases dander and hair into the environment which aggravates allergies. Apart from dander and fur, saliva, urine, and mucus also contain a protein allergen that triggers inflammation.
Miniature Pinscher Training
A Miniature Pinscher is an energetic, active, intelligent, assertive, and independent breed. It likes to have a mind of its own. This may be a stubborn breed when it comes to training. Although, once trained they will obey commands well. Despite the diminutive size, Miniature Pinchers are not great pets for inexperienced or first time owners. They are strong-willed dogs that need an experienced pack leader to manage them.
A Pet parent can create a functional hierarchy by always getting through the door first, eating first, and allowing the pet to join them in their personal space following an invite. Eating first helps the dog to understand that the parent is the owner of all the valuable resources including pets, food, treats, and toys. Parents are cautioned against tolerating the small dog syndrome. This will make Miniature Pinschers to become headstrong, demanding, and will develop a habit of nuisance barking.
To raise a well-mannered, well-adjusted Miniature Pinscher, socialization and early training should kick off from an early age. Poorly socialized Miniature Pinschers exhibit aggression tendencies towards other dogs. Socialization training starts from the age of 3 weeks while the pup is living with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks after the pet has already settled in its new home. Normally, pet parents take their dogs home from the age of 8 weeks. This training may be a life-long process to ensure the pet matures to have a well-rounded temperament.
To socialize a Miniature Pinscher, expose it to a wide variety of people, animals, surfaces, sight, places, situations, smell, experiences, and sounds such as baby crying sounds, lawn mowers, sirens, washing machines, door bells, whistles, and vacuum cleaners. Enrolling a Miniature Pinscher in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. These classes provides a controlled environment where the canines get to interact. Puppy classes also enables the pet parents to not only identify and correct bad habits but also have access to training information and assistance.
Miniature Pinschers respond well to consistent, patient, and positive rewarding methods such as use of treats, toys, verbal praise, playtime, and petting. A Miniature Pinscher is sensitive to harsh correction methods such as the kicking, beating, yelling, or shoving. Harsh corrections methods are counterproductive. With the right approach to training, Miniature Pinschers are easy to train and can learn a wide variety of behaviors and commands. Keep the training sessions short, fun, and challenging for a span of 5 to 10 minutes to prevent boredom and distraction.
Start teaching basic commands words like sit, stay, leave it, lie down, wait, heel, come, etc. one at a time until a Min Pin is well-acquainted before proceeding to the next command word. Avoid issuing a command word while too frustrated or excited since it totally sounds different to your pet. Effectively housebreak a Miniature Pinscher by creating a feeding schedule, crate training, and potty training.
Miniature Pinscher Potty Training | How To Potty Train A Miniature Pinscher
A Miniature Pinscher has a stubborn streak and a small-bladder size which may make house training a bit difficult. However, patience, consistency, and frequent potty breaks is key in successfully potty training. The training starts immediately the pup comes home. The rule of thumb when potty training is understanding that the bladder and bowel muscles of a puppy strengthens as the it matures. Generally, an 8-week-old pet is able to hold for 2 hours before eliminating while a 12-week-old puppy is able to hold for a period of 3 hours.
This is especially true for small, medium, and large-sized dogs. However, Miniature Pinschers are toy-sized dogs that will go for frequent potty breaks. Therefore at the age of 8 weeks a Miniature Pinscher will be able to hold for a period of 30 minutes to one hour while a 12 week-old pup will go for potty breaks every one hour or so. Before bringing a pup home, choose a designated area where it will be relieving itself.
Parents should also decide whether the Miniature Pinscher will eliminate inside or outside especially for apartment dwellers who have a hard time accessing a yard or street. Indoor potty training utilizes puppy pads and litter boxes that are available for retail in the pet stores. However, a parent should not start indoor potty training if he or she wants the puppy to eliminate outside later on and vice versa. This will confuse the pooch hence having a relapse in house training.
During potty training, a crate has proven to be an indispensable tool. This device allows the owner to monitor a Miniature Pinscher for signs that it wants to eliminate such as whining, sniffing, circling, squatting, restlessness, and trying to lift a leg against the crate door. The crate should be able to hold a mature Miniature Pinscher. If the crate is too big, use a divider to adjust the crate size gradually as the pet matures. This will ensure the crate is not too big for the pooch to eliminate in one corner and sleep in the other corner. Although, dogs will naturally avoid soiling where they sleep.
If the owner is not comfortable to use a crate, he or she may use the umbilical cord method. This method uses a leash that is attached to the owner. The umbilical cord method enables the parent to monitor the dog within a 6-foot range. Before a Miniature Pinscher is fully housebroken, it should not roam freely in the house to minimize accidents. For positive outcomes while potty training, take a Miniature Pinscher to the delegated toilet area immediately it wakes up, 20 minutes after meals and drinks, every 30 minutes to one hour, following an exciting activity such as playtime and car ride, after naptime, and before bedtime.
In outdoor potty training, the designated toilet area should be far from the Patio deck or BBQ spot. Once you take your Miniature Pinscher to the delegated elimination spot, utter the command word “toilet” or “potty” to give the dog the cue to eliminate. Avoid interchangeably using the two command words even if they mean the same since it will be confusing for your pooch. Wait in the toilet area for a period of 15 minutes to allow the dog to relax the bowel and bladder muscles for a pee or poo. If the dog fails to eliminate, take it back to the house and return it to the delegated area after a period of 15 to 30 minutes.
Before a Miniature Pinscher is fully housebroken, it may experience accidents in the house. If you get your pup in the act, clap your hands to distract the dog and utter a firm No. Immediately scoop the pet to the delegated area. If the pet eliminates there, give it a treat so that it will associate the area with elimination. Always clean the mess using an iodine solution or an enzymatic detergent to get rid of the odor.
If the odor is retained, a Miniature Pinscher will likely eliminate in the same spot encouraging future accidents. Prior to the age of 16 weeks, pet parents should set an alarm to take the pet to the delegated area at least once during the night. From the age of 8 months, the potty breaks will be after every 6 hours since the bladder and bowel muscles have strengthened.
Miniature Pinscher Temperament | Traits
- Active.
- Outgoing.
- Assertive.
- Independent.
- Alert.
- Wary of strangers.
- Stubborn.
- Energetic.
- Fearless.
- Playful.
- Loyal.
- Affectionate towards its family.
- Curious.
Miniature Pinscher Exercise
A Miniature Pincher requires ample exercise inform of chasing a tennis ball, romping in a safely secured yard and having a couple of good walks with his owner everyday to ensure optimum physical and mental health. Furthermore, a Miniature Pinscher is an escape artist. Therefore, it should always go for walks on a leash and play in a secured yard.
Miniature Pinscher Barking
A Miniature Pinscher is a vocal breed that easily alert its owner of someone’s presence and if they are happy or lonely through a frequent high-pitched bark.
Miniature Pinscher Height
A full grown Miniature Pinscher has a height of 10 to 12.5 inches ( approx. 25 to 32 cm ).
Miniature Pinscher Weight
Miniature Pinschers have a weight of 8 to 10 pounds ( approx. 4 to 4.5 kg ).
Miniature Pinscher Size
A Miniature Pincher is a toy-sized breed that has a height of 10 to 12.5 inches ( approx. 25 to 32 cm ) and a weight of 8 to 10 pounds ( approx. 4 to 4.5 kg ).
Miniature Pinscher Aggressive
A Miniature is active, assertive, stubborn, and wary of strangers. However, it may exhibit aggressive tendencies towards other dogs if not socialized properly.
Miniature Pinscher Bite Force
Reportedly, a Miniature Pinscher has a bite force of 100 to 200 PSI.
Miniature Pinscher Hair Loss
A Miniature Pinscher experience the normal hair loss at low to moderate levels throughout the year in a process known as shedding. However, loss of hair in patches or thinning of the coat may be due to mange, color dilution alopecia, allergies, stress, hypothyroidism, and hormonal imbalance such an increase in estrogen levels during the heat cycle.
Miniature Pinscher Eye Problems
Some of the eye problems that Miniature Pinschers suffer from include:
Progressive retinal atrophy – This eye problem is caused by a group of degenerative diseases that affect the photoreceptor cells eventually leading to loss of vision.
Glaucoma – This eye problem is caused by the inadequate drainage of aqueous fluid leading to bluing of the cornea, watery eyes, and redness in the whites of the eye.
Cataracts – This eye problem commonly affects senior Miniature Pinschers. It makes the eye lenses cloudy and whitish eventually leading to blindness.
Miniature Pincher Health Issues | Health Problems
A Miniature Pinscher is a relatively healthy dog that has a lifespan of 12 to 16 years. However, they are affected by certain health issues including hypothyroidism, eye problems like progressive retinal atrophy, patellar luxation, epilepsy, heart defects, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, and cervical (dry) disc.
Miniature Pinscher Names
A Miniature Pincher parent may decide to get a name for this toy-sized pet before to joins them home from the breeder or a few days after the dog has settled in its new home to understand the personality of the dog. Miniature Pinschers owners may get name inspirations from the German heritage of the breed, coat colors, personality, celebrity Min Pins, movies, food, songs, book, historical figures, and nature.
Regardless of where you get your inspiration, ensure the name chosen freely rolls off your tongue without making you embarrassed when uttered out loud in the public places. Miniature Pinschers and other dog breeds better understand names that have vowels.
Avoid giving a Miniature Pinscher a name that rhymes with the command words to avoid confusion. If the parent has settled with a long name, he or she should find a cute nickname for the dog. If a Miniature Pinscher shares a name with any household member or guests who are frequent comers, it may create unnecessary confusion.
Miniature Pinscher Names Male
- Romeo.
- Diesel.
- Tyson.
- Thor.
- Jack.
- Max.
- Milo.
- Gus.
- Lexi.
- Buster.
- Benji.
- Remy, etc.
Miniature Pinscher Neck Size
A Miniature Pinscher has a neck size of 8 to 11 inches ( approx. 20 to 28 cm ).
Miniature Pinscher Names Female
- Maya.
- Abby.
- Maddie.
- Lulu.
- Rosie.
- Molly.
- Luna.
- Bella.
- Coco.
- Ginger.
- Arya, etc.
Miniature Pinscher Harness | Collar
A Miniature Pinscher may choose whether to walk the dog in a harness or collar while on a leash. This entirely depend on the leash manners of the pet. A harness is preferred for walking dogs that are likely to pull on the leash. The accessory distributes the pressure exerted evenly on the shoulders and back. A harness also allows the owner to have a better control over the pet. A collar is an accessory for a dog that is less likely to pull. If a dog pulls on leash while on a collar the pressure is put on the neck and trachea.
Miniature Pinscher Food | Food Amount
The amount of food that Miniature Pinscher feeds on depends on its age, activity level, metabolism, size, and body build. Puppies tend to eat small portions of food 3 or 4 times a day due to high metabolism rates from when they start weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, Miniature Pinschers feed on a total two meals a day. Avoid leaving a food bowl all-day long for the pup to graze on it since the breed is prone to obesity. Miniature Pinschers owners should also watch out for calorie consumption and weight level to avoid overfeeding.
Miniature Pinschers may feed on dry food, wet food, home made, or a raw diet depending on the budget and time(of preparation) of the pet parent. Regardless of the food type, parents should ensure that the dog feeds on a balanced diet to maintain a good health eventually allowing it to develop cognitively and physically. If a Miniature Pinscher parent decides to feed the pet with the commercial dry or wet food, he or she should ensure the first three ingredients are proteins from a known source.
The commercial dog food should neither contain preservatives, chemicals, additives, Meat by-products, generic meat products, nor fillers. The same goes to the snacks. Dry or wet food should also be formulated for toy-sized, puppies, adults, and senior depending on the age and size variety of your Miniature Pinscher. Check the physique of your pet to tell whether it is overweight or underweight.
If you can see the ribs, chances are the dog is underweight. However, if the ribs are not visible but can be felt without pressing hard, a Miniature Pinscher has an ideal weight. If the ribs can’t be felt, the dog is overweight and should be exercised. Owners who want to switch to another quality dog food should gradually do this over a period of four weeks by mixing both new food and old food. As the weeks progresses, the amount of old food reduces as the new food increases until the Miniature Pinscher is only feeding on new food during the fourth week.
Apart from Miniature Pinschers, other dog breeds include:
Miniature Pinscher Colors
According to AKC, a Miniature Pinscher should have a solid red, chocolate and tan, black and tan, or stag red ( this is a red coat with an overlay of black hairs ). However, some Miniature Pinschers may have certain coat colors such as fawn stag red, blue stag red, chocolate stag red, grey, chocolate, and blue.
Miniature Pinscher Allergies
A Pinscher is prone to various forms of allergies as discussed below:
Food Allergies – Although rare, Miniature Pinschers suffer from food allergies that result in an immune response.
Skin allergies – Skin allergies in Miniature Pinschers are caused by food, contact, and environmental allergies.
Contact Allergies – This allergy causes inflammation once the skin of a Miniature Pinscher comes in contact with the allergen. Some of the contact allergens that affect Miniature Pinschers include plastics, lawn chemicals, grooming products, bed linens, carpet cleaning detergents, certain fabrics, medications, and latex.
Environmental allergies – Some of the environmental allergies that affect Miniature Pinschers include grass, pollen, trees, ragweed, mites, dust and dust mites, house molds, and fleas. Symptoms of environmental allergies include congestion, nasal discharge, sneezing, and itchiness on various body parts such as paws, feet, around the eyes, tail, groin, ankles, muzzle, underarms, ears, and between the toes.
Miniature Pinscher Food Allergies
A true food allergy is less frequent in Miniature Pinschers. However, when it occurs it causes an immune response that is normally accompanied with a wide range of symptoms including skin issues ( hives, sores, facial swelling, itchiness on paws and ears, pruritus, and dermatitis) as well as gastrointestinal stress such as acute vomiting and/or diarrhea, bloating, and weight loss.
Miniature Pinschers parents may often confuse food allergies to food intolerance. However, the two are not the same. Food allergies occur as a response to an offending ingredient in the diet or snacks of the dog. Some of the ingredients that cause food intolerance in Miniature Pinchers include fillers, corn, preservatives, chemicals, additives, chicken, wheat, soy, fish, beef, lamb, turkey, pork, milk, eggs, etc.
Symptoms of food intolerance include poor skin and coat, itchiness, vomiting, diarrhea, foot infections, or ear infections. Pet owners are urged to closely work with the vet to manage the symptoms exhibited and find the offending ingredient. Food allergies are often treated through the elimination method. This is where Miniature Pinschers feed on one type of carbohydrate and protein for a period of 8 to 12 weeks.
Miniature Pinscher Ears
A Miniature Pinscher has erect ears whether cropped or natural.
Miniature Pinscher Tail
According to AKC, Miniature Pinschers have a docked tail according to the size of the dog. The tail is held erect.
Miniature Pinscher Teeth
During birth, Miniature Pinchers puppies are whelped with no teeth. However, the deciduous teeth start growing in from the age of 2 to 3 weeks. At the age of 6 to 8 weeks, Miniature Pinschers should have a total of 28 milk teeth. After the age of 12 weeks, the deciduous teeth start falling out as the permanent teeth erupts beneath them. At the age of 6 to 8 months, Miniature Pinschers should have a total of 42 adult teeth.
Where Do Min Pins Come From
Miniature Pinchers originated in Germany around the 17th century from probably crossing the German Pinscher, Italian Greyhound, and Dachshunds.
Do Min Pins Bark A Lot
Yes. Miniature Pinchers are excellent watchdogs that bark to alert the owner when someone is approaching. Although, at times they may bark at the absence of anything alarming.
Are Miniature Pinscher Good Dogs
Yes. Miniature Pinschers are active, playful, outgoing, alert, watchful, loving, and affectionate dogs towards their family members. Although, they have a stubborn streak and may challenge the owner especially if they don’t assume pack leadership.
Are Miniature Pinscher Hypoallergenic
No. Miniature Pinschers are not hypoallergenic dogs. They have a moulting coat that sheds at low to moderate levels all-year round. Shedding allows dander and fur to spread into the environment aggravating allergies.
Are Miniature Pinscher Aggressive
No. However, if Miniature Pinchers are not properly socialized they may manifest aggressive behaviors towards other dogs.
Are Miniature Pinschers Smart
Yes. Miniature Pinschers are smart, active, outgoing, playful, and curious dogs.
Miniature Pinschers Quick Facts
- They have a distinctive hackney gait.
- Miniature Pinschers and Doberman Pinschers are not related.
- A Miniature Pinscher has a stubborn streak during training. Although, once trained they fully respond to the issued command.
