Miniature Pinchers: Description, Character, Choice and Care

Despite the fact that miniature pinscher is not the smallest dogs (on average 2 times more than a chihuahua), they can delight us with their slim miniature figure.

Of course, the nature of these animals is far from angelic. This little doggie can be aggressive towards strangers. He is not afraid even of many big dogs, which speaks of his bold character. It is worth noting that in German "pinscher" means "tweezers", which perfectly characterizes this breed.

Today there are three types of German pinscher: Doberman, medium pinscher and miniature pinscher. According to the breed, they all have the same structure and differ mainly in size. The smallest of them occurs in a straight line from the average pinscher and is the result of crossing the smallest dogs selected among the representatives of this breed.

As a result, a dog was obtained, whose height did not exceed 30 cm. It is believed that the smallest sleek-haired dachshunds and Italian greyhounds took part in creating the miniature pinscher. On the way to creating this small breed, not everything was smooth. The work of breeders to reduce the size of the breed led to the appearance of dogs with signs of dwarfism: with round heads and bulging eyes, excessively noisy and hyperactive.

Over time, thanks to the consistent work of the breeders, the miniature pinscher aroused great interest and became popular. These dogs are very energetic. Despite its small size, the miniature pinscher has excellent guard qualities, as their ancestors used to hunt and exterminate domestic rodents.

Miniature pinscher - a smaller version of the average pinscher. The dog is distinguished by a stately figure and a strong muscular body.

He has an elongated head, planted on a noble curved neck. The length of the head (measured from the tip of the nose to the occiput) is half the length of the back (measured from the withers to the base of the tail). The top of the head is flat with a profile parallel to the back of the nose. Ears high, V-shaped, are both standing and semi-hanging. The cupping of the ears is allowed. The muzzle is elongated, with a well-marked transition of the forehead to the nose. Eyes are dark, oval, eyelids closed. The nose and lips are black. Strong jaws, full dentition, scissor bite.

The body is compact, proportional. Upper line lowers slightly from withers to back. Chest moderately wide, oval, reaching to the elbows. Tail set high, saber or crescent. The front legs are short, strong, straight, wide apart. The forearm is well developed and muscular. Hind limbs slightly longer than the front. The paws, when viewed from the side, are well sloping, when viewed from the rear, parallel, at some distance from each other. Fingers clenched and protruding, claws black.

Mini Doberman's coat is short, shiny, dense. Therefore, they are called smooth-haired. The color of the dogs is presented in two versions: black and tan and red (from light to brown). These dogs look compact and visually square-shaped, as the length of their body corresponds to their height. The growth of the miniature pincher usually does not exceed 25-30 cm, and the weight varies from 4 to 6 kg.

According to breed standards, dogs should not have dwarf features, such as a disproportionate large head or thin, weak legs.

As for the content, the miniature pinscher does not need to create special conditions for living. The dog can live in a small apartment, and in a house with a large garden. Miniature Pinscher prefers long and active walks in the fresh air, so it is ideal for people involved in sports.

When keeping a dog in a private house, it’s worth remembering that the miniature pinscher is a born hunter. He can search the whole territory in search of rodents or moles.

Also you should not leave your pet alone for a long time, he will be very sad, and it doesn’t matter in an apartment or a large yard, the long absence of the owner will be very weary for this little pet. Therefore, before starting the miniature pincher, the future owner should understand that it will take a long time to care for him.

Dogs of this breed require great attention and love and in return are ready to give their boundless loyalty. Best of all, these miniature pets feel close to the person they love. At night, they also prefer to be close to their master, so they need to equip their own bed with a soft and warm blanket.

Contrary to a fairly common opinion, the miniature pinscher does not always bark a lot, but the barking obviously gives him pleasure. If mistakes are made in education, it will become noisy, which can adversely affect both the atmosphere in the family and relations with neighbors. Therefore, do not admire the barking of the dog, on the contrary, all unreasonable attempts to give a voice must be stopped.

The miniature pinscher is an excellent watchman, he always feels and immediately notices that there is a stranger standing behind the door. If he feels threatened by his family, despite his small size, he will protect them without hesitation.

Miniature Pinscher is tied to all family members, but usually allocates one person, the one who devotes the most time to him. Unfortunately, it happens that this devotion quickly becomes a serious problem. Since a pinscher is a hunting dog, it is very easy to become addicted to him. Then he becomes painfully jealous and will try to scare away anyone who dares to approach his master. It can be not only strangers, but also family members. He will launch a whole arsenal of tools - from barking and growling to showing or even using teeth. This behavior must be stopped immediately.

Pinscher loves comfort: a warm blanket and a comfortable seat on the sofa. But his favorite place is on the lap of his owner. Pet jealously guards him and does not like to share it with someone else. It is necessary to pay special attention to such behavior, to educate the dog correctly.

A miniature pinscher is not a caring newfoundland that will allow your child to do anything. The dog is good to children, but if they hurt him or scare him, he may even bite.

A particularly delicate moment is the appearance of a newborn in the house, especially if before that the dog was the center of attention in the family and extremely spoiled by everyone. Do not push the pet into the background and even more so to isolate it from the family. He perceives this as a great injustice and quickly associates this change with the appearance of a new family member. This is a very common mistake.

It is necessary to show the child's pet, let him smell, teach him to be careful, to clearly establish the boundaries that he should not cross. It is important to convince him that the child is not a competitor and not a threat to him.

Miniature Pinscher gets along well with animals living with him under the same roof, especially if they are raised together. The only thing that is difficult is to count on friendship with rodents, given the past successes of a representative of this breed as an extremely effective rat catcher.

As befits a descendant of terriers, he has a very strong hunting instinct, so you need to keep an eye on him so that he does not run after some sort of scurrying rodent.

This little pet adapts very easily to the lifestyle of his family. Suitable for those who love to walk, and for people who love to travel with a dog. It tolerates travel and adapts easily to any place.

For the miniature pincher, one thing is important - to be close to the owner. Changing or losing the owner is a disaster for him, so when deciding to have such a miniature pet, you need to keep this in mind.

Breed pros:

• ideal companion dog for the family;
• suitable for maintenance in any apartment;
• unpretentious care;
• does not require large maintenance costs;
• good caretaker;
• active and positive dog;
• lends itself well to education.

Breed minuses:

• it is hyperactive;
• quite noisy dog, loves to bark;
• can be very jealous and aggressive.

A miniature pinscher is the best illustration of the saying “in a small body a great spirit”. This is a dog full of energy, constantly ready to act. She has a good, but somewhat demanding character. Therefore, it is necessary to treat her the same way as any big dog, because it is not as harmless as it looks. This dog is ideal for training and sports and tolerates even long loads. But the first signs of fatigue should be a signal for a break.

By nature, miniature pinscher is very lively, he likes to be in the center of events. He constantly demands the attention of the family and tries to engage everyone in the fun. Communicating with him, you need to be vigilant and not indulge all his desires. Therefore, from the first days it is necessary to teach him that there is time for fun and time for rest. Over-indulging his games will make the pet very demanding and capricious.

Pinscher is very smart, he needs a variety of activities, but those that entice him both physically and mentally. He can jog with his master, bring toys, search for a hidden object, execute various commands or jump over obstacles. Such an active pastime makes the dog and its owner happy.

The basis for success in raising and training a dog is early socialization and very consistent behavior. Despite its small size, the miniature pinscher should not be perceived as a toy. Socialized and educated, he will grow into a wonderful family companion.

By nature, he is very stubborn, so the owner must remain vigilant and always seek to fulfill the task. Thanks to the natural mind, the miniature pinscher eagerly learns, especially in the game. Good effect on the result of training the promotion of the owner and delicious treats. The use of physical force is not allowed, as this will adversely affect the relationship between the dog and the owner.

These dogs do not like strangers and communicate with them cautiously. Communicating with young children is also not a pleasure.

Miniature Pinchers are not aggressive, but thanks to their natural hunting instinct, they are excellent watch dogs.

It is worth choosing a pet only from professional nurseries and from bona fide breeders. This will help to avoid problems with the health of the dog, but it is especially important if the goal is to participate in exhibitions and further breeding.

Diseases that are often found in small breeds are quite rare for miniature pinschers. Miniature Pinschors are considered healthy dogs. Too small individuals that weigh just over 2 kg in adulthood come mainly from mass uncontrolled breeding. They are usually not recognized by nursery federations.

The miniature pinscher is highly sensitive to cold. Their thin ears are especially prone to frostbite. At low temperatures it is better to wear a pinscher in warm clothes.

When choosing a breeder, it is imperative to check whether he is guided by the breed standards recognized by the International Nursery Federation. To be sure of the conditions in which dogs breed, it is better to personally visit the breeder and get acquainted with puppies. The breeder should describe in detail the properties of the breed of interest to you and advise on many issues related to raising and feeding the dog.

Naturally, a serious breeder will also be interested in the appropriate conditions for the proper development of the dog in your home. He wants to make sure his pets fall into good hands.

The nickname of a pet is selected taking into account individual features: nature, size, temperament of the animal. Some owners prefer to call the dog a simple and common name, others show creativity.

Here are some examples of nicknames for a boy:

• Oscar;
• Spike;
• Max;
• Thunder;
• Alex;
• Ball;
• Pluto;
• Ruby;
• Jimmy;
• Diamond;
• Randy

Variants of nicknames for girls:

• Flora;
• Fiona;
• Jesse;
• Burma.

Miniature Pinscher is a very active dog, therefore it should receive high protein, healthy and properly balanced food. It is best to choose one of the ready-made mixtures intended for small breeds. It is necessary to feed the dog in accordance with its age. It is worth remembering that puppies during active growth need completely different nutrients and vitamins than adult dogs.

In the first days after birth, puppies should eat their mother’s breast milk. At the age of 4 weeks it is already possible to feed the puppy from the bowl. Puppies aged 1-2 months are fed 6 times a day, 2-4 months - 5 times, older puppies - 4 times a day. At the age of 7-12 months, adolescents eat 3 times a day. By 12 months, you need to transfer the dog to two meals.

For the production of dry dog ​​food, manufacturers often use cheaper ingredients that can cause allergies or digestive problems. If a puppy has allergic symptoms after eating a certain food, you should contact your veterinarian and change the dish. When feeding with a dry product, the puppy should periodically be given fruits and vegetables for food.

In the first three months of puppy life, they must first be soaked with dry food in warm water. It is worth remembering that feeding dry food increases the animal's need for drinking water.Dry product give puppies according to the instructions of the manufacturer of the feed.

At home you can eat natural foods. In this case, the dog should be given boiled buckwheat, oats and rice. Boiled vegetables are also added there. For feeding is also used beets, carrots and cabbage. Meat (calf, lamb, lean beef, chicken, and sometimes by-products) is an important ingredient in home feeding. Add olive oil and vitamins to your meal. Puppies need to add cottage cheese, eggs (once a week), fresh or boiled fish to the diet, which must be carefully picked from the bones so that the puppy does not choke. Be sure to teach him to fresh herbs and vegetables. Beans and potatoes are not allowed, because dogs do not have enzymes to digest them.

Once a week it is recommended to give babies finely chopped garlic cloves - this is an excellent prevention of worms.

The dog is fed from a bowl on a stand, the height of which should change as the dog grows. Cups should be two: with food and water. In order for the dog's skeleton to properly form, the puppy must reach for the bowl while eating - its upper edge must be at the level of the animal's chest. Dogs must have access to water at any time.

There is a widespread opinion that smooth-haired dogs almost do not need care. Indeed, they have no problems with felting, tangle of wool. But their unpleasant feature is short, bristly hair that falls out almost all year round. They stick to carpets and upholstery and are very difficult to remove. Regular treatment can solve this problem or significantly reduce it.

Daily care of the miniature pincher is simple and does not take much time. It is enough to regularly brush the fur of the dog with thick bristles. The rubber brush is also very good, but only with soft, flexible tips adapted to the size of the dog. Metal brushes for this type of wool do not apply.

It is enough to bathe a little pinscher four times a year or as the wool is contaminated. Baths should use special shampoos, adapted to this type of wool. It is important to thoroughly rinse the animal's fur so that the shampoo remains do not cause skin irritation. Sometimes it is allowed to simply wipe the fur with a damp sponge.

Preparation of wool for the exhibition consists mainly in maintaining it in good condition. Wool will look great if, before you go to the podium, spray it with a conditioner for shine. Before use, the conditioner should be shaken, as oils usually settle on its surface. This simple procedure will enhance the color and accentuate the muscles.

It is also necessary to pay attention to the paws - the claws must be of such length that they do not touch the floor. If the dog does not grind them naturally, it is best to do this a few days before the show. It is also worth checking whether there are any wounds or abrasions between the finger pads, and if there is, you need to treat the wound with medicinal ointment. This is very important, because the dog will limp and will not be able to present himself correctly at the exhibition.

If the exhibition is held in the hall, on a smooth floor the dog may slip and lose balance. There is a special balm that creates a non-slip film on the pads of her fingers, increases adhesion and helps to eliminate this problem.

Excess weight can sometimes be hidden in dogs with very thick coat, but in smooth-haired dogs, this is impossible. As a result, the dog loses proportions, elegance and sportiness, and hence the chance of success. Therefore, it is advisable to keep an eye on the weight of the dog, not allowing it to overfeed.

Miniature Pinscher has excellent health, excellent physical condition. Usually these animals live to 15 years.

Therefore, you should take care of providing them with additional warm clothing - it can be overalls, jackets and pants. For colder weather, you should choose warmer clothes, preferably with a hood. It would be ideal to use boots to keep paws warm.

For a walk in wet weather, you should wear clothes made of waterproof fabric. Miniature Pinscher loves to walk, but does not like moisture and cold. He quickly copes with physiological needs on cold days and does his best to return home as soon as possible. And warmly dressed, he can forget about winter and plenty of frolic in the snow.

Of the diseases that, although not very often, but occur in dogs of this breed, visual impairment should be mentioned. Therefore, when deciding to buy a puppy, you need to look for a nursery, where breeders conduct relevant tests and can confirm that dogs used for breeding are not susceptible to this disease.

Many Pinschers have a tendency to be overweight, so it’s worth controlling not only the weight of the dishes, but also limit the number of additional delicacies eaten by the animals. It will be useful not only for health, but also for beauty, because a fat pinscher looks unattractive.

In the initial period of life should be aware of regular deworming and protective vaccinations. Until they are completed, the dog should be quarantined.

The miniature pinscher is a stubborn and active dog, therefore it requires constant training and good education. She chooses one master, to whom he unconditionally submits and is absolutely devoted. Usually there are no problems with the education and training of the Miniature Pincher, as he likes to work with people and learns quickly. In the process of education must be present elements of the game, in this case the dog will be happy to carry out the necessary commands.

This dog performs very well in competitions. Thanks to the hunting instinct, she loves to follow the trail and look for hidden objects.

Owners of this miniature breed say that these dogs are sociable and friendly, but prefer silence. In homes where there is noisy and constant turmoil, the dog can become nervous, which often causes an irrational barking.

Miniature Pinscher is a great friend for active people who spend a lot of time on nature or on the street and are able to provide their pets with physical activity.

Miniature Pinchers are sociable dogs, therefore it is important for them to be constantly close to the person. The best option for them will be the owners who will not leave them alone for long.

The dog chooses one owner. Usually it is an adult who is her authority.

Many owners agree that the tsvergpinchery do not like small children: they do not allow children to play with them, hold them in their hands, hug or stroke. There are cases when dogs bite too persistent or noisy children. Sometimes problems are possible due to the dog’s zealous attitude towards the owner.

The owners of miniature pinschers note that they are clean, beautiful, loyal, unpretentious in their care.These dogs are easy to train, also have good health.

In this video you can learn about the features of the training of miniature pinscher.