Miniature Pinscher

Breed: Miniature Pinscher | Size: Small | Average lifespan: 14+ years | Temperament: Gentle, calm, and energetic | Coat: Short | Origin: Germany.

Despite the size of the Miniature Pinscher, this dog breed is robust and energetic. Their body is harmonious with their size. Even though they are alert and always on the lookout, it doesn’t stop them from having fun. They are very intelligent dogs, which allows them to get along with their owners. They are family dogs.

The origins of the Miniature Pinscher

A small dog with a short history

Miniature Pinscher dogs are generally thought to have origins from long ago, as they are descendants of the famous bog dog. A miniature version of the Pinscher, this breed originated in Germany, more precisely in the province of Württemberg in the Duchy of Bavaria, in the second half of the 19th century. This breed enjoyed rapid success in its home country, and its numbers grew rapidly after its appearance.

Unexpected origins

Miniature Pinschers descended directly from the line of Dobermanns. The breed is a miniature dog that was originally used to hunt rodents and accompanied the coachmen and their carriage. They were very appreciated in the American continent where the breed strongly evolved after the creation of the Miniature Pinscher Club of America. They have been known in France since the 1950s, but it wasn’t until 1955 that they were officially recognized by the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale).

The character of the Miniature Pinscher

What are the qualities of the Miniature Pinscher?

These dogs are very appreciated family dogs thanks to their gentle, calm, energetic, vigilant, alert, and dynamic nature. Furthermore, this dog is intelligent and it doesn’t go unnoticed. They have a lot of confidence and are very playful. Miniature Pinschers can integrate easily and are good playmates for children. They are pleasant to live with and easy to train and educate.

Despite their small size, the Miniature Pinscher knows how to be protective and loyal when they create a bond with people. While they are restless, moments of tenderness are also very good for them. They can be friendly with all: small or large, you will easily become their friend. These dogs like to feel surrounded. Moreover, this breed integrates easily with other animals, making friends with all regardless of size.

In summary, it is an affectionate dog that gets attached easily. This makes it easier to train them. With that being said, it is important to remain firm with them, as they could easily pick up bad habits.

What are the downsides of having a Miniature Pinscher?

While the breed’s energetic character is pleasant, their restlessness is also one of the downsides of having this breed. The Miniature Pinscher has a really hard time staying in place. These dogs have a hard handling their emotions. After playtime, calming down becomes complicated for them. In addition, they need a lot of physical exercise. If their quota isn’t met, their owners can expect them to become depressed.

Their alert character makes them bark a lot. They bark to express their discomfort and when they feel threatened. This barking can become quite beastly.

It is also a paradoxal dog. This is because they know how to be gentle, but there is also no doubt on their ferocity. They also alternate a lot between phases of autonomy and strong dependance.

The trend is for small dogs to have more freedom and autonomy, as their actions have few consequences. But be careful with these dogs. Despite its size, the Miniature Pinscher can quickly make life difficult for its owner if they are not properly trained.

The physical characteristics of the Miniature Pinscher

General

They are small, but muscular. As mentioned earlier, their origins come from the Dobermann. They are rather well-proportioned. Their back is short and descends slightly towards the tail in the form of the saber or a rather tall sickle.

They are athletic dogs, which is why they need to exercise regularly. It helps them to stay in good form and meet their dynamic needs. The size does not vary much between males and females, they measure between 25 and 30 cm on average. Their average weight being between 4 and 6 kg.

They have a rough and smooth coat, without an undercoat.

Head

This dog breed has a long and thin head. In addition, it is rather elongated, with a straight muzzle. This dog has large black eyes, that are oval-shaped. Their eyes give them charm. When it comes to their nose, it very black. Their ears are folded or erect, large and out of proportion compared to the rest of the face. As they are set high, they are V-shaped if they fall forward.

The lips are black, firm, and are against the jaw, and the commissure of their lips are tight. It has a powerful maxilla and mandibles.

Body

The topline of the Miniature Pinscher’s body slopes slightly backwards from the withers, which is also the highest point of the breed’s upper body. The back is solid, but short and firm. When it comes to the chest, it is of moderate height and rather broad. It reaches down to the elbows. The underline is slightly arched.

The distance between their last costal arch and the hip is short, making this dog breed appear to be small and compact. The croup is imperceptibly blended and slightly rounded into the root of the tail.

Coat, colors, and care

Coat

They have a rough coat that is full and silky. It lies down flat and is shiny. As they do not have an undercoat, they do not have a molting period.

Colors

This breed comes in two colors, either unicolor from stag red or reddish-brown to dark reddish-brown, or bicolor with black and tan. Its black and tan is a jet-black coat with red or brown markings.

The tan markings are as dark as possible, intensely colored and well-defined. They can be found above the eyes, on the throat, on the metacarpals, on the legs, on the inner sides of the hind legs, under the root of the tail and in the shape of two triangles that are regular and separated from each other across the chest.

How do you care for a Miniature Pinscher?

When it comes to grooming the Miniature Pinscher, it does not take too much effort. This is because the Miniature Pinscher does not molt. They just need to be brushed regularly, at least once a week. This will allow them to keep the shine of their coat.

It’s a good idea to clean your dog’s eyes and ears from time to time to avoid infection.

When it comes to food, this breed is not too difficult. They can eat both fish and meat, as well as foods such as raw carrots. Other starchy foods include rice and pasta.

Did you know?

This small dog is often nicknamed the Miniature Dobermann. This is because they resemble the Dobermann breed. The nickname also comes from the breed’s propensity for aggression if it feels threatened, even towards much larger animals.