Miniature Pinscher

Temperament:

Spirited, Playful, Confident
Size: Small
Height: 25-30 cm
Weight: 3-6 kg
Lifespan: 14-15 years
Coat: Shorthair
Colors: Black, Red
FCI Group: Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs

The self-confident Miniature Pinscher is suitable for all living conditions. The family and companion dog seems like a lap dog, but needs a lot of exercise. Despite its tiny size, it pays close attention to everything going on around it. With his tireless watchful instinct, the Miniature Pinscher does a great job. In the attitude he shows himself uncomplicated. Nevertheless, he needs a lot of exercise and is ideal for owners who are active and spend a lot of free time with him.

Miniature Pinscher
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Characteristics

The Miniature Pinscher was registered by the FCI as a German dog breed with the standard number 185. It belongs to group 2 section 1.1. With a height (from withers) of only 25 to 30 cm, the Miniature Pinscher is one of the small dog breeds. It weighs 3 to 6 kg. He reaches an age of about 14 to 15 years. Some of these breed dogs live up to 18 years.

His square build is similar to the German Pinscher. The height of his body and the length are almost the same. The Miniature Pinscher is a small, elegant muscular dog. His dense, shiny coat shimmers in the colors black and red.

The color shades range from deer red to dark reddish brown to black. The coat has brown or red markings. This can be conspicuous on the underside of the neck, on the forelegs at the metatarsus, on paws or inside on the sides of the hind legs, or on the tail.

The lively Miniature Pinscher has no undercoat. The coat is short and smooth. The main hair of the black Miniature Pinscher shines lacquer black. The flat, wrinkle-free forehead with V-shaped ears are reminiscent of a deer. Therefore, the deer-red Miniature Pinscher is also called a deer Pinscher. The ears either have a folding crease or are standing. The tail of the Miniature Pinscher is bred to be sickle or sabre shaped and not docked.

The lively Miniature Pinscher seems cute, but is not suitable as a lap dog. His desire for exercise and sport is insatiable and keeps his owner on his toes. The self-confident little Pinscher is a loyal and devoted companion to his owner.

He gets along well with small children, he also has no problem with other dog breeds. For seniors, the Miniature Pinscher is suitable, as long as they are still able to keep up with his need for exercise. The small size of the Miniature Pinscher does not bring any health disadvantages. His body is powerful and robust. As a companion dog when jogging, cycling, hiking or riding, he can let off steam.

The playful Miniature Pinscher does not want to stay alone. He is very fixated on the person he loves. He directs all his affection to one person. Of course, he accepts other family members and obeys when they take him for a walk. But no matter how much they coddle him, he does not feel complete without his favorite chosen human. In this point, the always good-humored Miniature Pinscher is not bribable either.

The task inherited to him to the guard dog he takes gladly. When it comes to his beloved caregiver, the Miniature Pinscher takes no joke. He has by nature a low threshold of irritation. It should be stopped in the puppy age with a consistent education immediately. Otherwise there is the danger that he mutates into an aggressive permanent barker.

Coat care:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Shedding:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Energy level:

Little
Medium
High

Trainability:

Little
Medium
Good

Children suitable:

Less
With supervision
Perfect

The right food

In general, all dogs need meat. The Miniature Pinscher has an increased energy requirement. Due to his urge to move, it must be a food whose meat content is high and the grain content is low.

According to weight, age and the characteristics of the breed you should choose the right food. Miniature Pinscher does not have great needs in the choice of their diet. As with all small dogs, you should make sure that he does not accumulate fat. Excess weight puts a strain on your dog's joints.

Whether you give dry food or wet food doesn't matter. Let your dog decide for himself. Some connoisseurs of the breed also feed raw. As long as the wet food contains the necessary nutrients and he likes it, your dog will stay healthy. You should always adjust the amount of food to your dog's energy metabolism and activity level.

Health & Care

The Miniature Pinscher does not have an undercoat. Therefore, you do not need to trim it. It is enough if you just brush the smooth, short coat. The protective skin layer of a dog should always remain undamaged.

Many dog owners tend to bathe their dogs regularly. This damages the dog's skin. Only bathe your Miniature Pinscher when it is extremely dirty. Then use a special dog shampoo or only a mild baby shampoo. Otherwise, it is enough to dry the dog and brush out the dry fur. A regular check of the eyes for redness and the paws for foreign bodies or grass mites and his teeth are a must.

At the vet you can get special drops for cleaning the ears. Especially in the ear area Miniature Pinscher is very sensitive to cold. He can even come home with frostbite in extreme temperatures. Inflammation at the edge of the ear, where tissue can die, often occurs. Check regularly during the winter to see if the dog shows any itchy or sore spots on the ear. If this is the case, you should immediately present him to the veterinarian. To prevent further serious consequences, he must be treated.

Start getting your Miniature Pinscher used to brushing his teeth when he is a puppy. A clean set of teeth protects against plaque. It is rare for dogs to have dental damage. If your Miniature Pinscher is used to brushing his teeth, you can prevent a piece of his health. If he can not stand the toothbrush, chewing sticks from the range of food for dogs will help.

If your Miniature Pinscher has bald patches in his coat, you should clarify whether it is a pathological hair loss or whether there is a food allergy. If it is a stencil disease, you can assume that it does not affect the health. This disease is only an aesthetic problem.

You should also watch out for some vulnerabilities. It can happen that the kneecap of the Miniature Pinscher has a tendency to pop out. If he is in pain, see a veterinarian immediately. A genetic tendency to retinal detachment, which can blind the dog in some circumstances, has also been documented. Therefore, observe your dog regularly.

Suitable accessories

Pull around the neck does not like any dog. Especially for lively Miniature Pinscher is a compact, lined harness. A collar is less suitable. A telescopic leash with automatic retraction and extension gives him the freedom of movement he needs when walking.

The Miniature Pinscher freezes very quickly due to its lack of undercoat. For walks in winter or on wet and cold rainy days you can find dog fashion in many variations and for all seasons. For a raincoat or lined winter protection for the body, the animal will be grateful to you.

Miniature Pinscher likes to cuddle on soft blankets and loves to sleep in a dog cave. He lies there protected and warm because his own breath provides warmth in the cave. For small dogs, you can find these dog caves everywhere. The Miniature Pinscher also often develops a great love for small stuffed animals to cuddle with in his basket.

The Miniature Pinscher loves any kind of play. As long as he can satisfy his urge to move, he will do anything. Ball games, fetching sticks he loves as much as other dogs. In addition, the Miniature Pinscher is the ideal dog for obstacle course or agility training. Dogdancing is also a lot of fun for owner and dog.

Origin & History

The Miniature Pinscher is said to have a history of 1000 years. His ancestor is listed as a peat dog of the pile farmers. It was used by them to hunt mice and rats. That is why the Austrians call this type of dog Rattler. Finds of skulls and bones prove its existence. Ancestors of the Miniature Pinscher joined the people already at that time.

At the end of the 19th century, Pinschers were found almost on every farm. Their skill in hunting rodents was known by farmers everywhere. The alertness of the Miniature Pinscher was also a favorite trait at that time. His skill in keeping all plagues away from the farm enjoyed general popularity.

Josef Berta founded the first Pinscher Club in 1895. At that time, the Pinscher was not only smooth-haired, there was also a rough-haired version. In the 19th century, the Miniature Pinscher was a mascot for the distinguished ladies of society. With the pure breeding of Josef Berta, the rough-haired Schnauzer was distinguished from the smooth-haired Pinscher. This happened only at the beginning of the 20th century.

Josef Berta realized that the Miniature Pinscher was so not a lap dog. Berta, one of the first breeders, made the Miniature Pinscher what it is now. Berta's colleagues did their part. The best qualities such as alertness, hunting instinct, loyalty and sociability were bred on. A distinctive breed dog was created:

The Miniature Pinscher with a wonderful character, robust genes and great temperament.