Miniature Pinscher

The Miniature Pinscher is fearless and makes a terrific watchdog. Known as the “King of the Toys”, he is proud and also fun-loving.

Daily Care

Grooming Tips

Min Pins are really easy to groom — there’s almost nothing to it because of their short, smooth coat. Just use a bristle brush once or twice a week. They shed an average amount, but their small size means that there is less fur shed than from a larger dog with the same kind of short coat.
Bathe the Min Pin as you desire or only when he gets dirty. With the gentle dog shampoos available now, you can bathe a Min Pin weekly if you want without harming his coat.
As with all Toy breeds, dental issues are common. Brush your Min Pin’s teeth daily with vet-approved pet toothpaste and have your veterinarian check them regularly. Nails should be clipped about every two weeks; you should not be able to hear the toenails click when the dog walks.

Exercise Tips

The Miniature Pinscher is very active and athletic, and requires ample exercise. Regular exercise is a big priority in the world of the “Min Pin,” so make sure that it gets plenty of opportunities to roam. Having your own land or at least a larger-spaced neighborhood will give your Miniature Pinscher more opportunities to exercise without the prospect of having to bark at other dogs.
A couple of good walks with his human every day will help ensure his optimum mental and physical health. He can enjoy relaxing on the sofa with his owner but will be equally eager to go outside and chase a few tennis balls or run around and play.

Feeding Tips

A small breed with plenty of capacity for exercise given its farmhand roots, the Miniature Pinscher can eat plenty but this diet should only correspond to a regular exercise regimen. The normal dog foods are encouraged as well as whole, natural ingredients when possible.
Remember that the Miniature Pinscher should maintain a low weight of around 10 pounds and that each pound to a Pinscher is approximately 10 percent of its weight. Gaining a pound as a human is not a big deal but for a Miniature Pinscher, it can be.
Theyshould do well on high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval. Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior).
Treatscan be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about whichhuman foodsare safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet.Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.

Health Tips

The Miniature Pinscher is a long-lived breed, with an average life expectancy of 15 years or more. Breed health concerns may includeintervertebral disk disease, epilepsy, chronic superficial keratitis (pannus),glaucoma,cataracts, generalizedprogressive retinal atrophy, cystine urolithiasis,hypothyroidism,Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, shoulder luxation and patellar luxation. The Min Pin is prone toobesityif not regularly exercised and is particularly sensitive to cold temperatures.

Trainability

The Miniature Pinscher should not really be treated like a toy dog – it’s not a great socializer and will have a high tolerance for work and exercise. Consequently, if you want to make sure that your dog is properly raised according to the breed’s characteristics, it’s a good idea to make sure that your Miniature Pinscher has plenty of outdoor exercise on a regular basis. Miniature Pinschers aren’t ideal for large families and are generally regarded as a dog for one or two people.
Miniature Pinschers are very smart and love their families, but they can also be independent and may try to test their owner’s limits, soobedience trainingis a good idea. Earlysocializationandpuppy training classesare recommended and help to ensure that the dog grows into a well-adjusted, well-mannered companion.

History

Well-known as the “Min-Pin”, the Miniature Pinscher has been bred in Germany for hundreds of years. One theory is that it was developed by breeding theGerman PinschertoDachshundsandItalian Greyhoundsto obtain a smaller-sized dog. It was one of the breeds included in the Pinscher-Schnauzer Club formed in Germany in the 1890s. Some of the Miniature Pinscher’s talents are competitive obedience, watchdog and agility.