Miniature Pinscher

Size
Small (under 11kg)
Exercise
No daily exercise
Training
No training
Size of home
Some outdoor space
Time at home
Mostly home
Grooming
Low maintenance
Barking preference
Low
Personality
Independent + affectionate

Breeder List

Breeder - Ms Nina Morgan (YARRABURRA)

ninamorgan@me.com
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Breeder - Ms Kathy Potts (MARNIECHAR)

marniechar@gmail.com
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History

The Miniature Pinscher and the Dobermann are not related; there is no relationship between the two breeds. The Miniature Pinscher was first recognised around 230 years ago, compared to the Dobermann approximately 120 years ago.

The Miniature Pinscher is still known in Germany today as Zwerg (or dwarf) Pinscher. However, it can also be referred to as the Reh (or deer) Pinscher, because of its resemblance to a small red deer. The German word pinscher conveys a similar meaning to Terrier. Bred to catch rats, it was capable of doing its work in confined spaces and has plenty of Terrier characteristics.

A breed standard for the Miniature Pinscher was created in 1895 when the Pinscher Club was formed in Germany. Stud records and breed standards were also established at that time. Prior to that, its ancestry is a bit of a puzzle. It may have been bred down from the German Pinscher and other breeds, but as there are no written records, this has not been proven.

George Byron of Sydney introduced the Miniature Pinscher to Australia in 1958. He imported a pair of red dogs from England, both of which were of American bloodlines. After a short time, well-known veterinarian, Dr Harold Spira worked to promote the breed, helping to get it off the ground in Australia. More imports followed as the Miniature Pinscher grew in popularity.

Temperament

The Miniature Pinscher is naturally a proud and alert dog, with a spirited presence and temperament to match.

Appearance

The Miniature Pinscher is a well balanced, sturdy, compact, elegant, short coupled, smooth-coated toy dog. Naturally well groomed, proud, vigorous and alert. 1.

It has a precise hackney gait, fearless animation and complete self-possession. It stands between 25 and 30 centimetres high at the withers.

The Miniature Pinscher comes in all shades of red, black with tan markings, chocolate with tan, and blue with tan. It is most commonly seen as the red or the black with tan, followed by chocolate with tan and then the rare blue with tan.

Maintenance

The breed is very low maintenance. An occasional bath and a regular rub down sees a Miniature Pinscher looking smooth and smart. Nail trimming is also recommended fortnightly.

Health

It has very few health problems and requires little veterinary care, other than its annual vaccination and health check. Luxating patellas do occur occasionally, as with many toy breeds. But this has recently become a rarity in the Miniature Pinscher, which can live up to 14 years.

Suitability

The Miniature Pinscher is suitable for any size premises, from a large house to an apartment. It is an extremely good watchdog, which is a great advantage for an elderly owner or people who live alone.

It loves to play games and go for a regular run or walk in the park. The breed is very trainable and is also prized as a willing Obedience and Agility exhibitor.

While the Miniature Pinscher isn’t normally an escape artist, it’s still a good idea to check fences for any small holes that it might be able to fit through. If a hand can fit through the hole, so can a Miniature Pinscher.

As with any other breed, it is not wise to let them off lead in unfenced areas if they aren’t well trained.

It is a robust, high-spirited dog with a big attitude. Fearless and easy to care for, the Miniature Pinscher truly is the King of the Toys.

Words: Jackie Hollings (June 2011)
1. Source: DOGSAUSTRALIA.org.au

In Conclusion

Now you know a little about the Miniature Pinscher, you may think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Miniature Pinscher and its needs, and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 22 May 2009)

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A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

Well balanced, sturdy, compact, elegant, short coupled, smooth-coated toy dog. Naturally well groomed, proud, vigorous and alert.

Characteristics

Precise hackney gait, fearless animation, complete self-possession and spirited presence.

Temperament

Fearless and alert.

Physical Standards

Head and Skull	More elongated than short and round. Narrow, without conspicuous cheek formation. In proportion to body. Skull flat when viewed from front. Muzzle rather strong and proportionate to skull. Nostrils well formed. Nose black with the exception of chocolate and blue in which it may be self-coloured.
Eyes	Fitting well into face. Neither too full nor round, nor too small or slanting. Black or nearly black.
Ears	Set on high, as small as possible, erect or dropped.
Mouth	Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Neck	Strong yet graceful, slightly arched. Well fitted into shoulders. Free from throatiness.
Forequarters	Forechest well developed and full, moderately broad; shoulders clean, sloping with moderate angulation. Legs straight, medium bone, elbows close to body.
Body	Square, back line straight, sloping towards rear. Belly moderately tucked up. Ribs well sprung, deep rather than barrelled. Viewed from top slightly wedge shaped.
Hindquarters	Parallel and wide enough apart to fit in with a properly built body. Hindquarters well developed, muscular with good sweep of stifle, and hocks turning neither in nor out. Legs straight, medium bone.
Feet	Cat-like; nails dark,.
Tail	Docked: Short. Continuation of topline. Carried a little high.Undocked: Continuation of topline. Set and carried a little high. Length to give an overall balanced appearance.
Gait/Movement	Co-ordinated to permit a true hackneyed action.
Coat	Smooth, hard and short. Straight and lustrous. Closely adhering to and uniformly covering body. Hair forming ridge on any part of head, body or legs highly undesirable.
Colour	Black, blue, chocolate with sharply defined tan markings on cheeks, lips, lower jaw, throat, twin spots above eyes and chest, lower half of forelegs, inside of hindlegs and vent region, lower portion of hocks and feet. All above colours have black pencilling on toes without thumb marks except chocolates which have brown pencilling. Solid red of various shades. Slight white on chest permissible but undesirable.
Size	Height: from 25cm - 30cm (10 - 12 ins) at withers

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.