I love dogs and I enjoy educating others about various breeds.

Carter, 7 weeks old

The Min Pin

Miniature Pinschers, or Min Pins, also called Zwergpinscher, are a toy breed
given the nickname “The King of the Toys.” This is a well-deserved title. They
have the biggest personalities packed into a small package. They have the word
Pinscher in their name and look just like a miniature Doberman Pinscher, but
they are completely unrelated, contrary to what most people think.

The Min was actually around long before the Doberman. The breed was originally
bred for ratting, or flushing out rats and other small rodents from holes and
tunnels. Traditionally, the ears were cropped and the tails docked in order to
keep them short in an effort to keep those parts from being bit by a rodent or
small animal. It’s a practice that is still done today, though ear-cropping is
less common than tail-docking since it is a controversial practice.

Here’s my personal opinion: While none of my Pins have their ears cropped, I’m
not against the practice of ear-cropping; I simply prefer the natural ear
look, and in my breeding line, the ears stand up naturally. If they don’t
stand up, I prefer cropped. My Pins’ tails are all docked, except for one, my
male, which I wanted to keep natural at the time. But ultimately, I prefer the
tail docked, and all of my puppies (litters) have their tails docked. It just
looks more “Min Pin-y” to me, and I like to follow the breed standard. Min
Pins have a gait referred to as a “hackney” gait, where they lift their front
legs high, but extended, almost fully. It’s simply the most charming and regal
gait of any dog breed.

Josephine, chocolate and tan coloring

Coloring, Coat, and Size

The Miniature Pinscher has a short, smooth coat. It comes in the following
colors:

• Black and tan
• Chocolate and tan
• Solid red
• Stag red
• Blue stag red
• Chocolate stag red
• Fawn
• Blue

Other color variations are not accepted in the AKC show ring and are usually a
sign of another breed being mixed in.

They are a toy breed, and they generally weigh between 7 to 12 lbs., though
the AKC calls for an 8 to 10 lb. weight. But a Min Pin can easily weigh 20
lbs., or even more. three of my Min Pins are between 8 and 12 lbs., but one,
Josephine, weighs 19 lbs. About 2 to 3 lbs. of that is her being overweight.
She’s a larger Min Pin in general. They can be prone to extra weight, which
isn’t good for their smaller frames. That being said, so-called “Teacup Min
Pins” are not an accepted size for the breed, and they usually (but not
always) have poorer health, weighing as little as 2 to 4 lbs.

Tallulah-Belle, chocolate and tan

Temperament: Not Just a Cute Little Face

While this is a wonderful breed, it’s definitely not for everyone. I recommend
it for experienced dog owners. They are extremely stubborn and notorious for
being difficult to housebreak. If not socialized early on, they can be
aggressive at times.

Barking

They are also big-time barkers. They bark if the wind blows past their butt.
They just love to bark. So while their size makes them ideal for apartments,
your neighbors may not appreciate their sometimes incessant barking. Their
barking can be curtailed to a certain degree with training, but stopping them
from barking altogether isn’t going to happen—it’s just part of their breed.
Training them and housebreaking them early is essential if you do not want a
tyrant on your hands (I personally have four little tyrants on my hands).

Personality

Min Pins are very spry and have larger-than-life personalities. They act as
though they are 100 lb. dogs, and they generally have a lot of bravado. Pins
can be very territorial, especially when it comes to food, treats, and toys.
So again, early socialization and training is key.

They are extremely loving and will do well in a family atmosphere, though they
can sometimes attach more to just one or two people. They are in the Terrier
family, so they have a lot of energy. However, being smaller means they can
get pretty good exercise running about inside the house and in the backyard.
Walking them daily is a great thing, and it gets rid of pent-up energy, though
as long as they are getting moderate exercise, a daily walk is not a must. But
they do love going on walks and checking everything out. They think they own
the neighborhood, and they make sure everyone knows that.

They are bursting with personality and are really quite the little characters.
Many Pin owners will tell you they would much rather turn off the TV and watch
the antics of their Pins instead, which can provide hours of entertainment.
They will jump, “dance,” “talk,” and “sing.” If they want your attention, they
will stop at nothing to get it. Mine will firmly nudge my arm while I’m on the
computer, over and over, until they get my attention. And they really will
keep at it until they get what they want. They are type-A personalities, and
when other dogs live in the house, are almost always the alpha dog.

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Stag red coloring, cropped ears and docked tail

Dominance

When there’s more than one Pin living in the house, the pecking order usually
follows the order in which they came into the family. They are good with
children if socialized early and properly. Because of their smaller size, they
can get injured more easily than most breeds. They are, however, not quite as
delicate as a Chihuahua or an Italian Greyhound for instance. Their bones
aren’t built as slight as those breeds. Children should be supervised when
around the breed, both for the children’s safety and the dogs’ safety.

Min Pins and Other Animals

Min Pins do well in groups as long as they are socialized with other dogs
early and often. Because of their barking and fast-paced energy level, they
can annoy cats very easily. While some Pins may chase cats, most of the time
they are more interested in playing with them, so it can depend more upon your
cat’s personality whether they can put up with the perceived “annoyance” that
Pins can be to the cat.

As for small animals, like rats, rabbits and guinea pigs, because of their
original breed purpose, you need to be very careful. In my household, it’s
quite the paradox, as I am an avid rat lover and owner and have been for over
15 years. Min Pins were bred to “rat,” flush them out, and kill them if
caught. But I’ve never once had an issue with my rats and Pins in that sense.
Never once. In fact, my Pins seem to almost know that the rats rule the school
in my house. They will step aside for the rats and know under no uncertain
terms, that the rats are off-limits for them to haggle or chase. Yet they will
hunt down and kill a wild house mouse in a millisecond. The dogs have grown up
with the rats and were supervised intensively until I knew there was not any
kind of potential issue. All that being said, my experience is not the norm.
Pins can have a very high prey drive, and despite my experience with my rats
and Pins, I do not recommend this breed for a household with small animals
like rats, mice, guinea pigs, or rabbits (especially). Again, it’s not
impossible, but not advised either. It’s hard to rid them of that prey drive
for small animals.

Burrowing and Snuggling

A charming habit of the Min Pin, which stems from their ratting heritage, is
loving to burrow under blankets, pillows, anything they get into, and “hide”
under. If your Pin is allowed to sleep in the bed, they will almost certainly
sleep under the covers, as opposed to on top of them. Special “sack-like” beds
for dogs that like to burrow, are a great idea, and becoming more popular, and
easier to find. They like to snuggle, and many Pin owners (including myself),
will happily report that when sleeping, they just have to be touching some
part of your body (though waking up in the middle of the night, with them
somehow taking up most of the queen-sized bed, and me having the very smallest
few inches of the bed to lay on). They really are sweet dogs and a lot of fun
to have. They love to make you laugh and entertain you.

Brother and sister, just a week and a half old

Health and Happiness

The health of the breed is generally good. They can live to be around 16 years
old, but usually live to be around 13 or so. I’ve even seen some that have
lived to be 19! They can be prone to patellar luxation (slipping of the
kneecap), and certain types of cancers. A yearly checkup at your vet is
recommended, but beyond that, they won’t require frequent veterinary visits
barring any emergencies or accidents (God forbid). After the age of six or so,
a professional teeth cleaning is recommended, and then every couple of years
thereafter, though this is the case for pretty much any breed, all dogs (and
cats).

Grooming

Grooming-wise they require very little. Their short coats require only a brief
brush with a soft-bristled brush once a week or so, especially during shedding
season. They do shed, and you’ll see tiny little short hairs on your furniture
and clothing sometimes. But it’s nothing like a longer-coated dog or a dog
with double and triple coats.

Pins are not hypoallergenic (and contrary to popular belief, NO dog is
hypoallergenic, though some are better for allergy sufferers in general). Min
Pins, though they have short hair, are not one of those dogs, which is
commonly true in terriers. Because of their short fur, they should be kept
warm in the cold winter months, fitted with a sweater when going for a walk,
and NOT left outside for any real length of time. They are NOT outdoor dogs.
Conversely, in the hot summer months, they should be kept out of the sun for
long periods of time, and using some sunscreen for dogs is never a bad idea.

Jack, chocolate and tan, un-cropped floppy ears and un-docked tail, (grass and
dirt in mouth from digging)

Diet

Keeping them on a quality diet is important, and really keeping an eye on
their weight is important as well. Like I said earlier, one of mine is
overweight by a couple of pounds. And a couple of pounds on a toy breed dog is
a much bigger deal than a couple of pounds on a larger breed dog. My three
other Pins are of normal weight, which can also make it difficult to get
weight off of your Pin, depending upon how you feed all of your dogs.

All of my dogs have a semi-dry “moist” food down 24/7 next to their water
bowl, and they get canned “wet” food 4 times a week. The wet food is a nice
thing to add because it really helps with their coat, which can have a
tendency to get dull. Moist and wet food can add sheen and brightness to their
coat.

Min Pins are pretty easy to care for and make for a good choice in a dog for
those who don’t want to spend a ton of money in frequent vet visits because of
lots of hereditary conditions and illnesses (such as the Pekingese and
Bulldog). They’re also ideal for those who do not enjoy lots of grooming. They
do need to keep their nails trimmed, and this is something that Min Pins are
not known to be good with having done. A groomer is a good choice if possible
to have their nails trimmed.

Lillian, 4 weeks old

Like Potato Chips

Again, the Miniature Pinscher is not for everyone, and not for novice dog
owners. Too often, people get a Pin puppy solely based upon their small size,
and cute as hell face, only to quickly realize that they don’t have the time,
patience, or experience to properly train and socialize their new pup, which
in turn leads them to being dumped in shelters and on Craigslist, looking for
a new home. I’m seeing more and more of this as the breed becomes more popular
and commonplace.

But, if the breed works well with your schedule, family type, and preference
in breed type, they are one hell of a dog. You won’t find a more entertaining,
loving, and loyal companion, and each one has its very own LOUD personality,
which you’ll love! Often said by Min Pin owners; “You can NEVER have just
one!”

Tallulah-Belle, guarding her hidee-hole that she dug up in the backyard

Comments

Leigh Ann Bowers on August 31, 2020:

Im still looking for a Min Pin since i lost mine last year i had him 17 years
his name was Dino and i am lost withot him sure wish there were more in my
area in Virginia.

Erik on July 21, 2020:

I have a min pin/chihuahua mix bred dog, Rocco and he fits every description
listed. I agree….no reason to dock or crop.

Garyhbrickler@ Gmail.com on July 01, 2020:

Looking for min pin male il pup chocolate and tan. Central Florida area

Alexander Coutu on August 21, 2018:

I have two min pins one is a female named daisy the other is a boy named
Charlie he is very intelligent a daisy however is a little stubborn

Lola’s daddy on August 14, 2018:

The breed standard needs to be updated. Today, there is absolutely no reason
to crop OR dock! Terrible. Also, I’m not sure how or why any dog owner,
especially a small dog / min-pin owner keeps food out in a bowl 24/7. That
might be why you have an overweight dog. Min-Pins DO NOT regulate their intake
of food. Sorry, but this is a fact. Put the food out, and if they don’t eat
it, pick it up and make them “weight” for the next offering/meal.

Kathy Alexander on January 24, 2017:

Loved your hub. I have two Min Pins, mother and daughter, and couldn’t be
happier with them. You are correct though that they are hard to housebreak and
very vocal. The best advice I can give about housebreaking is to just paper
train them. Mine did very well this way and will still go outside just fine.
Both have tons of personality and rule the roost around my home. They make me
smile everyday.

Ronda on March 17, 2015:

could someone please point me in the right direction to find a CKC Registered
breeder for MIN PIN PUPS in the windsor and sorrounding area? That is windsor
and surrounding area , ontario , Canada . Just had one stag red min pin and
OMG the love I have for this breed is BEYOND words. He was only 8 years of age
and had a stage4 heart mirmir and died in my arms early February and the loss
is SO PROFOUND. He was and will always be MY BABY and I want another , it’s
just that simple, what a WONDERFUL BREED And having said all this here come my
tears , I miss him . Can someone out there help me? Respectfully , ronda

Amanda Hibbs on August 23, 2014:

I knew they were bread to be ratters but not that they were a terror oops
terrier breed! Just got my first minpin, sarge, to be my ESA and he is
delightful and dosnt usually bark, then again he is only 13 weeks old. And he
is oddly calm- not sure f that’s before the storm or if that’s the real him
and he is really good with my three year old!

Mary Craig from New York on December 12, 2013:

Being a Min Pin lover and owner I had to read this hub. You’ve done a nice job
and made a good point of their tendency to gain weight, probably because they
want to eat all the time and will eat anything and everything.

I’ve written a few hubs about my Min Pin and agree with everything you’ve
said.

Loved your pictures too!

Voted up, useful, and interesting.