Meet the Miniature Pinscher
FEARLESS ANIMATION AND COMPLETE SELF-POSSESSION
Don’t let the small size fool you—the Miniature Pinscher, or “Min Pin,” is a bold, fearless Toy with a big-dog attitude. With a smooth, tight coat, high-stepping gait, and confident stance, the Min Pin is often called the “King of Toys.” They have a proud and fearless demeanor, and a very curious nature. Independent but loyal, Min Pins need socialization, structure, and plenty of attention to thrive.
Hey! Is that a Miniature Doberman? For those of us who live and play with Miniature Pinschers, our first inclination is to holler a great big emphatic “No!”—but we don’t. We gently smile and say, “No, this is a Miniature Pinscher. He is a totally different breed from the Doberman.” Now, let me explain why.
History tells us the Miniature Pinscher breed originated in the far away country of Germany. The breed first appears in a 17th century painting showing a picture of a cat-sized dog resembling the Miniature Pinscher of today. The Miniature Pinscher is, in fact, an older breed than the Doberman Pinscher, which doesn’t come into play until the late 1800s.
The breed was developed in Germany, and agreement among dog historians tells us the Miniature Pinscher breed comes from genetic crosses of the German Pinscher, the Dachshund, and the Italian Greyhound. From these ancestors, the Min Pin (as we lovingly call him) gets his feistiness, fearlessness, and his playful speed and grace. By the 19th century, the Reh Pinscher, as he was called in Germany, was developed. The feisty and quick little dogs were used as vermin hunters (rats, mice, moles and such creatures). Their size, 10 to 12-1/2 inches, and speed enabled them to get close to the home threats and keep the pests from eating food and destroying man’s home.
“Hey! Is That a Miniature Doberman?” by Kim Byrd SHOWSIGHT October 2013
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