Cherrybeau Kennels Miniature Pinschers
Miniature Pinscher - Breed Information
Miniature Pinscher (aka Zwergpinscher, Min Pin) is one of the German breeds popular around the world. Lively, spirited, self assured and even tempered, these qualities make him an agreeable family and companion dog. Miniature Pinschers are fun loving extroverts with bags of courage. They have high energy, and are ideal for those looking for an entertaining, loving and loyal pet. Miniature Pinschers should range in height from 10 – 12 inches and weigh between 4 & 6 kg. Min Pins have a compact muscular build, with dark eyes and high set ears. The tail is carried high with a sabre or sickle carriage. You should exercise great care in walking a min pin off leash as the hunting instinct is still quite strong. They are very fast and curious.
The Miniature Pinscher is often referred to as the “King of the Toy Dogs”. In America, UK, and Canada - min pins are shown in the Toy Group. However in Ireland which is affiliated to the Federation Cynologique International, (FCI) – Miniature Pinschers are listed in Group 2, along with other pinscher dogs such as Doberman Pinscher, German Pinscher, Austrian Pinscher, and Affenpinscher. The term pinscher comes from the English word “pincher” which describes the biting action the breed uses when holding prey. Min Pins are a working dog, with many terrier characteristics; you should not mistake them for “Handbag Dogs”. Min Pins are very flexible and agile and will curl up in almost any position to get comfortable, however this agility also makes them good escape artists and any owner’s back yard should be “dog proofed” to reflect this.
Miniature Pinscher - Breed Standard
The breed standard between the American Kennel Club, UK Kennel Club and the FCI are different. The AKC and (uk) KC specify that the movement of the dog should be characterised by a hackney like action “a high-stepping, reaching, free and easy gait in which the front leg moves straight forward and in front of the body and the foot bends at the wrist. The dog drives smoothly and strongly from the rear. The head and tail are carried high”. The FCI standard (Ireland and Europe) does not require this high stepping action as the original miniature pinschers did not move like this. For showing purposes this action is deemed a fault. Under the FCI standard “The Miniature Pinscher is a trotter. His back remains firm and rather steady in movement. The movement is harmonious, sure, powerful and uninhibited with good length of stride. Typical of the trot is a ground covering, relaxed, fluent movement with strong drive and free front extension.
Miniature Pinscher - History
The Miniature Pinscher originated on German Farms in the 1700s. They were bred to be ratters and were developed by crossbreeding various terriers and other dogs, including the German Pinscher, Dachshund and possibly the Italian Greyhound.
Despite a great similarity in appearance, the Miniature Pinscher is not, as many believe, descended from the Doberman Pinscher. The breed is, in fact, older than the Doberman Pinscher. The Doberman Pinscher was bred by Karl Frederich Louis Dobermann in 1880, and Dobermann had noted that he was looking to create a dog resembling the Miniature "Zwergpinscher" Pinscher but 15 times larger.
The Miniature Pinscher – or at least a similar looking dog – was first depicted in paintings and sculptures beginning in the 17th century. It was not documented in writing, however, until some 200 years ago. Many people confuse the relationship between the Miniature Pinscher and the Doberman Pinscher, incorrectly believing that the Min Pin is a miniaturized Doberman. During the 1930s, the Miniature Pinscher American Breed Standard stated that the dog should resemble a small Doberman Pinscher, when in fact the Doberman had been created in 1890 by Louis Dobermann to resemble the Miniature Pinscher. Therefore, it is actually the Doberman that is named and modelled after the Min Pin, not the other way around.