Origin story
Connoisseurs of the German language understand by the name that the homeland of miniature pinschers is Germany. The first mentions date back to the fifteenth century. Dogs were owned by farmers who raised horses. The little pinschers did an excellent job of keeping rats out of the stables.
A little later, small animal hunters noticed them. The dog turned out to be very useful: it ate little, did not get tired for a long time, was very nimble and strong. Already in the nineteenth century, breeders paid attention to the breed. The breeding of an even smaller pinscher began. And in 1880 a breed standard was created.
The breed has gained recognition and fans around the world. The main purpose of the dog from now on is as a companion. It is interesting that the breeders managed to maintain the line, even despite the wars that raged in Europe.
Miniature Pinscher history and origin of the breed
The direct ancestor of the Miniature Pinscher is the German Pinscher, which has been around for a long time. Breeders took advantage of this and, using strict selection, which consisted in choosing the smallest animals for breeding, they managed to breed a dog that did not exceed 30 cm at the withers. The Miniature Pinscher appeared in German territories and Scandinavia long before it was recognized as a separate breed. For many years they were used by farmers to catch rats.
In 1895, the German Club of Miniature Pinscher Fans was created, later transformed into the Club of Pinscher and Schnauzer Fans.
The miniature pinscher first announced itself to the world at an exhibition in Stuttgart in 1900. Before the First World War, it was the most widely represented breed at dog shows, with as many as 60 entries. During the turmoil of war, reproduction completely collapsed. Although miniature pinschers have not gone extinct, their quality has declined significantly.
During the interwar period, miniature pinscher farms flourished quite well. Every year about 400 dogs are entered into the stud book. World War II also caused chaos among this race. But several farms survived difficult times to begin operations on a larger scale at the right time.
It is also worth adding that Americans made a significant contribution to the development of the breed. After the exhibition in Stuttgart, they were so impressed with this dog that they immediately began improving it. They did this very well - because the US miniature did not have dwarf features such as bulging eyes, an overbite or a round head. In 1929 they founded the Miniature Pinscher Club of America. In 1950, the Miniature Pinscher gained many supporters in France and England.
Today it is a very popular dog, among others in Belgium, Sweden and in recent years in Russia. Their current role is as a companion dog, although despite their small size they are also excellent as guard dogs. In the face of a potential threat, they can make a really loud noise that can scare a burglar.
Description and standard
The International Canine Association classifies the Mini Doberman as one of the smallest service dogs. It is recommended to use the dog in agility and freestyle.
Standard:
- Height from 25 to 35 cm;
- Weight from 4 to 7 kg;
- The body is elongated, with very smooth shiny hair, embossed;
- The dog's paws are quite long and thin, but powerful and developed;
- Eyes black or brown;
- Scissor bite;
- The dog's ears are protruding, straight and without creases;
- The tail is high and straight;
- The color can be one-color (various shades of brown) or two-color (black and brown).
Many people believe that in order to participate in the exhibition, a miniature pinscher must have cropped ears, like the Doberman breed. However, there is no such rule. The exhibition includes individuals with any type of ear design. The same goes for the tail.
Character traits
The highly sociable nature of the Miniature Pinscher means that this dog does not tolerate being alone very well. He needs not only constant contact with his owner, but also great interest on his part.
Stubbornness.
The Miniature Pinscher not only learns quickly, but also follows instructions very accurately. Despite this, he is stubborn and may refuse to cooperate during training. Excessive demands combined with austerity will certainly not bring the desired results in the field of education and organization of the Miniature Pinscher
Barking.
These small dogs can be very noisy. They bark often and loudly, even when they are bored or just want to attract the attention of their owner.
Tendency to escape.
Although highly attached to the guard, like any hunter, the Miniature Pinscher may have a tendency to run away, especially if it follows a lead. It is worth remembering this when walking with him, for example, in the forest.
Tendency to destruction.
A miniature pinscher, deprived of the owner's interest, becomes a "big" destroyer. Left unattended for long periods of time, he can become violent with things around him.
Glutton.
Despite the fact that Miniature Pinschers are very small, they are huge greedy dogs with a clear tendency to gain weight. Therefore, his diet should be rational - especially since due to weak bones, excess weight is harmful to their health.
Guard dog.
Miniature Pinschers are alert and perceptive. Nothing escapes them. Anything that worries them will likely alert their guardian. However, they are not suitable for the average watchman because - due to their small size - they are unlikely to scare an intruder.
Character and behavioral characteristics
This mini dog has a very difficult temperament. Many people mistakenly associate this with the fact that he is supposedly related to the Doberman Pinscher. This is wrong. The Doberman Pinscher was bred by a breeder who admired miniature pinschers and decided to breed a similar dog, but larger. The ancestor of these dogs is the German Pinscher.
The owner will have to be very careful. There is a great temptation to force your pet to obey, since he is very small. This will lead to problems. It takes a lot of patience.
In addition to its complex character, the dog is very inquisitive and playful, good-natured and very active. They love children and outdoor games with them. However, they can become an excellent companion for older people.
There are some disadvantages that are worth paying attention to:
- They do not tolerate competition from other pets in the family;
- Passion for digging. Everything in the apartment that they can get to will be subject to digging;
- They chew objects throughout their life;
- The guard instinct is highly developed, so they often provoke other dogs.
Nature
Miniature Pinschers are very funny dogs. They really love to play. He likes to be singled out and pampered. The Miniature Pinscher would be hard to call a calm dog. By nature he is very cheerful, lively and energetic. However, proper training of the Miniature Pinscher allows him to adapt to a more relaxed lifestyle. He is very smart, learns quickly and willingly if he is properly motivated. Its training requires some time and dedication on the part of the owner, mainly due to the rather strong, determined nature of the Miniature Pinscher.
He is also a very good hunter. It has a hunting instinct that allows it to hunt smaller animals such as mice or rats. Miniature Pinschers can also follow a scent when tracking down potential prey, so be careful when walking with them.
He is very reserved and distrustful with strangers. He reacts with loud barking to contact with strangers who feel insecure in his company, thereby trying to scare away a potential threat.
Education and training
From an early age you will have to take a leading position in relation to the pinscher, otherwise he will take it himself and become uncontrollable and stubborn. Amenable to training if you turn it into a game, he will happily follow any orders. For this breed, if it is trained, a simple raising of the owner's voice or gaze is sufficient. Physical force is unacceptable under any circumstances.
Lifestyle
Miniature pinschers do well in an apartment, even a small one. But they are completely unsuitable for life on the street.
Movement and exercises.
Dogs are very energetic and need to move. However, they do not have to be strenuous exercise. For complete happiness, it is enough to take a walk with the owner and play with him.
Travel and ease of transportation.
Due to their small size, the Pinscher is a dog that can be a good travel companion, provided it is properly socialized and accustomed to new places and situations.
Communication with others.
- Pinscher and cat
This is a breed that does not get along well with other pets living in the house. The Miniature Pinscher's jealous nature causes him to often become mean to his roommates, especially cats. As a hunter, smaller animals may also be considered potential prey.
- Miniature pinscher and dogs
These miniature dogs, despite their size, tend to get angry at other dogs, often causing conflicts with them, especially when they become jealous.
- Miniature Pinscher and children
Dogs of this breed do not get along well with small children, who are too unpredictable for them. They are not tolerant of them, and are very irritated, they may even bite them.
- Miniature pinscher and old people
This dog is ideal for people of all ages (except small children), including the elderly, although it is very energetic.
Diseases
Life expectancy is quite long - on average 15 years. This is a lot for a small dog. Health is good; with proper care, the dog is little bothered by illness.
There are specific health problems and threats:
- They are very at risk of frostbite during cold periods;
- Development of diabetes mellitus;
- Pathologies of the thyroid gland;
- Eye pathologies: cataracts, glaucoma;
- Joint dislocations;
- Deafness;
- Epilepsy.
To prevent all diseases, you need a high-quality diet, care and a lot of attention. The dog is very susceptible to temperatures, low and high. Therefore, in the heat, you must always have water with you to cool your pet, and insulate it in winter. For them, clothes are not a funny accessory, but a necessity.
Maintenance and care
This breed is exclusively for indoor use, not outdoors. An animal should have its own place in the house. You need to understand that a representative of this breed will jealously guard it, so it is better to clean it in his absence.
Needs long walks outside, during which the owner will play outdoor games with him. It's better not to let him off the leash. When leaving him at home alone, you need to offer him a whole arsenal of toys.
Rules of care:
- Mini Dobermans are very rarely dirty. Therefore, after a walk, it is enough to dry your pet’s fur with a towel;
- Pinschers are washed several times a year. More frequent washing leads to colds and flaking of the skin;
- Shedding is insignificant; no brushing is required;
- Ears and claws need attention.
Never carry your Pinscher by the scruff of the neck. The dog will have a painful tendon injury.
In order to protect your pet from diseases, he needs to purchase clothes for the cold season. It should not be tight and made of warm and water-repellent material.
Maintenance, care, health
A Doberman can be kept in a city apartment if all the necessary requirements are met, which mainly relate to organizing a fairly active rhythm of life. If you keep it outside the house, you need a heated and dry room.
Long walks full of physical exercise are necessary. At least 40 minutes daily and, in addition, the opportunity to run around without a leash for 10 minutes.
In addition, thanks to its short coat, this dog is very easy to care for. It is enough to comb it once a week with a special brush, and also wipe it with a damp towel.
In general, the Doberman is in good physical health and usually does not cause big problems for its owners. Of course, he, like other dogs, has a tendency to certain genetic diseases, but in the general population their percentage is small.
One and a half to two and a half standard diets are recommended. It is useful to add yeast tablets and fish oil to food, especially in winter. Doberman Pinschers thrive on raw meat.
Feeding
Pinschers eat little, so the owner has more opportunities to create a varied diet. It should include:
- Almost 40% of the daily diet is protein (raw or cooked meat);
- Oatmeal and buckwheat in the form of porridges;
- Be sure to add boiled vegetables with a drop of vegetable oil.
Food is given according to a schedule, otherwise overeating is possible. Water is not limited. If the owner decides to feed the animal with ready-made food, then you need to choose only the super premium class. There are no unnecessary impurities in these feeds. It is worth choosing specialized food, labeled “for small breeds.”
How to choose and where to buy a puppy
When choosing, pay a lot of attention to the breeder. Is it just business for him or is he a true dog lover. This will be evident in the way he talks about the puppies.
Pinscher litters are very small - on average one or two babies. Choosing a puppy on your own is difficult. Voice your plans for the dog to the breeder, and he will recommend you a specific baby.
You only need to buy a kitten from a nursery; this is the only way to be guaranteed to buy a friend who will be free from diseases and will become a prominent representative of the breed. The breed is not rare and there are many breeding kennels.
The price of miniature pinscher puppies ranges from $300 to $900.
