Let’s Take a Look at Miniature Pinschers

The Miniature Pinscher breed calls to mind those tiny black dogs from cartoons that come up to people and other cartoon characters and pinch them. In reality, these little guys look similar to small Dobermans; however, that's where the similarities stop, as these two breeds are not related to each other in a direct manner.

Bred way ahead of the Doberman, the Miniature Pinscher was born by breeding a German Pinscher with a smaller dog. Classifieds by The American Kennel Club as a member of the Toy Group, Miniature Pinschers are indeed aggressive little guys.

So right away here's a clue:

If you are looking for a gentle lap dog, keep on looking. The buck does not stop here :)

Other interesting tidbits about Miniature Pinchers follow for your enjoyment.

1) This dog averages nine pounds. From the shoulders, they stand an average of 11 inches high.

2) A Miniature Pincher has muscles like a Doberman Pincher, but is a compact, roughly one hundred pound lightweight version.

3) These little guys generally look black, but are actually dark brown.

4) Nicknamed a Min Pin's, the Miniature Pincher boasts a short coat, not much for a large variety of grooming supplies, with colors ranging from reds to rust, black or chocolate. Note: do check for overgrown nails with this breed!

5) While this dog's tail is docked, its ears are cropped by some owners, but not all, as they develop ears that are described as pricked as they mature, so cropping in not needed beforehand. Just have some dog mats and crate pads handy during those early potty-training years, as you do with other puppies.

6) Miniature Pinschers have lots of energy, so if they are confined to small housing environments like apartments, make sure to take them on walks regularly. Fenced backyards, of course, rate highly here!

Note: These little guys like to wander and could get out and run over, as they are so small. So take caution with their confinement and keep them safe.

7) Watch the weight with these guys. They don't need a lot of food, but they are chow hounds. In addition to weight gain, seek help for these ailments from your vet: hip dysplasia, heart conditions, epilepsy and thyroid conditions.

8) These little dogs are not overly friendly with youngsters, so beware. Seek training as early as possible, too, to nip the aggressive bug in the rear.