FOP MINPIN RESCUE

Breed Profile

Min Pins love to snuggle with their people. They will burrow under covers to go to sleep. They are great for active adult homes. Older Pins love to be lap warmers for elderly folks. They thrive on human interaction: obedience, lap sitting, agility, walks, anything that keeps them near their people. Min Pins are not dogs that do well left alone for long periods of time. Hopefully the information provided here will enable you to decide if the "King of Toys" is meant to "Rule" in your home - and act as the resident "Court Jester" more often than not.

About the Breed
The Miniature Pinscher dog or Min Pin was developed in Germany from small German Pinschers crossed to Italian Greyhounds and Smooth Dachshunds. From the three, it inherits its traits, and qualities. Pinscher means terrier. It's no wonder it is frisky, feisty and with prey instincts, courageous like a Dachshund, playful and nimble with its charming high-stepping "hackney" gait verifying Italian Greyhound genes. It became a distinct breed in the early 1800s, known as the "Reh Pinscher" after a small Rhineland deer which, it was said, it resembled. This breed development predates the Doberman Pinscher by about 100 years, and therefore cannot be considered a miniature Doberman Pinscher. The Minpin was a very popular show dog in Germany before WWI, but its numbers declined severely afterwards. Fortunately, many had been exported to other countries of Europe and to North America, where it flourished, gaining AKC recognition in 1929, and by the CKC in 1937-38.

The Miniature Pinscher is a hardy, intelligent, fun loving, small dog breed with high self esteem, one good reason it does well at shows. Some claim it is the most energetic of all breeds. The Minpin is terrier like, not caring for other pets or dogs, and will chase small animals. Reserved with strangers, it makes an excellent watchdog, keener than a dog twice its size, but inclined to be rather noisy. A Miniature Pinscher puppy makes a good pet for older, responsible children who understand that toy breeds have delicate bones, easily broken. Playing ball in a backyard with an adult Miniature Pinscher or a Miniature Pinscher puppy is a sure way to break bones.

The close, slick coat of the Minpin requires scant grooming. It is always neat and clean, ready for business. Although its activity level is high, daily exercise needs are minimal. The Min Pin appears fragile, but in fact, it's a sturdy dog, rugged for his size. The erect ears are usually cropped, but may be natural. A Min Pin puppy needs early, persistent housebreaking, especially the males.

Height: 10 - 12½ in. (25.4 - 31.7 cm).
Preferred: 11 - 11½ in. (27.9 - 29.2 cm).
Weight: 8 - 10 lbs. (3.6 - 4.5 kg).
Watchdog: Excellent.
Names: Reh Pinscher; Zwergpinscher.
Life Expectancy: 12 - 14 years.

Is this breed good with children
Children and dogs should never be left alone and unattended, even for a moment. Young children do not have proper dog etiquette, and dogs do not understand a child's behavior. This can result in tragedy with any breed of dog. Like children, each dog is different in personality, energy and patience levels. So, each dog and child relationship should be considered individually.

Some Miniature Pinchers can be good with children, if the children are mature enough to be good with dogs! While this is a Toy breed, they are not toys. While Miniature Pinchers will tolerate a certain amount of attention from a child, grabbing, pinching, sudden moves and aggressiveness will be met with defensive reactions. If the Miniature Pincher is raised around children who treat them in a gentle way and are taught responsible dog ownership, they will adore children. However, if children are allowed to grab at them, hit them or treat them roughly in any way, the Min Pin will run from or bite a child. It is important to realize that even as a full grown adult, the Miniature Pincher is a very small dog. The wrong type of play and handling can easily result in broken bones and worse. Even though the Mien Pin is a bundle of energy and will bounce from sofa to chair to floor to bed...dropping one from that same sofa can easily result in unnecessary injury. Always let the Min Pin approach the child, not the other way around and you should have a wonderful companion. Patience, love and good old common sense make a great recipe for raising a Miniature Pinscher with children or adults