Dog Breed Guide

Miniature Pinscher

Profile

Size

Extra Small

Country of origin

Germany

Origin

Around the 17th century

Bred for

Ratting, Watchdog, Companion

Height

25 - 30cm (10 - 12in)

Weight

4 - 6kg (9 - 13lb)

Life span

12 - 15 years

A compact little dog with erect ears and an alert, keen expression. The short, glossy coat comes in black and tan, chocolate and tan, and red.

Its distinctive bouncy gait, lifting its front legs high, resembles the high-stepping trot of Hackney carriage horses. Known as the hackney gait, it is the breed's trademark.

Small as it is, the Min Pin is bold and fearless. Alert and quick to bark, it makes an excellent watchdog. It is curious and active and shows a cuddly side with its family. It is also clever and an expert escape artist that can slip through the smallest gap, so check fences and doors carefully. It feels the cold, so a coat in winter is a good idea.

Good to know

Because the two look so alike, people often assume it is a "miniature Doberman," but it is a separate breed with no blood relationship. In fact the Miniature Pinscher is the older of the two and is said to have existed more than 100 years before the Doberman was created.

It was originally kept on German farms and in stables as a watchdog that kept rats under control. Its small red body resembled the roe deer (Reh) of German forests, so it was once called the Reh Pinscher.

With the confidence and presence of a big dog in a tiny body, it is known among fans as "the King of Toys."