Information on AKC Miniature Pinscher Puppies
AKC MEET THE BREEDS®: Miniature Pinscher
Known as the "King of the Toys," the Miniature Pinscher is a compact, smooth-coated dog who is alert, spirited and fearless, with a unique high-stepping, hackney-like gait. With his black and rust coloring, cropped ears, and docked tail, he resembles his cousin the Doberman Pinscher, but he is not a miniature Dobie. Coat colors include red, stag red (red with black hairs), black with rust markings, or chocolate with tan.
A Look Back
"Pinscher" means "Terrier" in German, and the Miniature Pinscher is a distinctly German breed that originated several centuries ago as an efficient barnyard ratter. The Miniature Pinscher is reported to include the Dachshund and Italian Greyhound among its ancestors, along with the shorthaired German Pinscher.
Right Breed for You?
The Miniature Pinscher can really spice up a person’s life. This dog is small, but he doesn’t know it! He’s quick and active, with a lively curiosity. They are good family companions and look out for their family, bravely challenging intruders with their bold, insistent bark. The "Min Pin" will be happiest with a family that treats him like a standard-sized dog. He may be stubborn, but he’s also smart. Their small size makes them a good choice for apartment life. Play and a daily walk will take care of most of their exercise needs. His short, easy-care coat requires occasional brushing and shampooing.
If you are considering purchasing a Miniature Pinscher puppy, learn more here.
- Toy Group; AKC recognized in 1925.
- Ranging from 10 to 12½ inches tall at the shoulder.
- Rat hunter.
© The American Kennel Club, Inc.
Miniature Pinscher Breed Standard
General Appearance
The Miniature Pinscher is structurally a well balanced, sturdy, compact, short-coupled,
smooth-coated dog. He naturally is well groomed, proud, vigorous and alert.
Characteristic traits are his hackney-like action, fearless animation, complete
self-possession, and his spirited presence.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size -10 inches to 12½ inches in height allowed, with desired
height 11 inches to 11½ inches measured at highest point of the shoulder
blades. Disqualification -Under 10 inches or over 12½ inches
in height. Length of males equals height at withers. Females may be slightly
longer.
Head
In correct proportion to the body. Tapering, narrow with well fitted but
not too prominent foreface which balances with the skull. No indication
of coarseness. Eyes full, slightly oval, clear, bright and dark
even to a true black, including eye rims, with the exception of chocolates,
whose eye rims should be self-colored. Ears set high, standing
erect from base to tip. May be cropped or uncropped. Skull appears
flat, tapering forward toward the muzzle. Muzzle strong rather
than fine and delicate, and in proportion to the head as a whole. Head well
balanced with only a slight drop to the muzzle, which is parallel to the
top of the skull. Nose black only, with the exception of chocolates
which should have a self-colored nose. Lips and Cheeks
small, taut and closely adherent to each other. Teeth meet in a
scissors bite.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck proportioned to head and body, slightly arched, gracefully
curved, blending into shoulders, muscular and free from suggestion of dewlap
or throatiness. Topline -Back level or slightly sloping toward
the rear both when standing and gaiting. Body compact,
slightly wedge-shaped, muscular. Forechest well developed. Well-sprung
ribs . Depth of brisket, the base line of which is level with points
of the elbows. Belly moderately tucked up to denote grace of structural
form. Short and strong in loin. Croup level with topline.
Tail set high, held erect, docked in proportion to size of dog.
Forequarters
Shoulders clean and sloping with moderate angulation coordinated to
permit the hackney-like action. Elbows close to the body. Legs -Strong
bone development and small clean joints. As viewed from the front, straight
and upstanding. Pasterns strong, perpendicular. Dewclaws should
be removed. Feet small, catlike, toes strong, well arched and closely knit with
deep pads. Nails thick, blunt.
Hindquarters
Well muscled quarters set wide enough apart to fit into a properly balanced
body. As viewed from the rear, the legs are straight and parallel. From
the side, well angulated. Thighs well muscled. Stifles well
defined. Hocks short, set well apart. Dewclaws should be removed.
Feet small, catlike, toes strong, well arched and closely knit with deep
pads. Nails thick, blunt.
Coat
Smooth, hard and short, straight and lustrous, closely adhering to and uniformly
covering the body.
Color
Solid clear red. Stag red (red with intermingling of black hairs). Black with
sharply defined rust-red markings on cheeks, lips, lower jaw, throat, twin spots
above eyes and chest, lower half of forelegs, inside of hind legs and vent region,
lower portion of hocks and feet. Black pencil stripes on toes. Chocolate with
rust-red markings the same as specified for blacks, except brown pencil stripes
on toes. In the solid red and stag red a rich vibrant medium to dark shade is
preferred. Disqualifications -Any color other than listed. Thumb mark
(patch of black hair surrounded by rust on the front of the foreleg between
the foot and the wrist; on chocolates, the patch is chocolate hair). White on
any part of dog which exceeds one-half inch in its longest dimension.
Gait
The forelegs and hind legs move parallel, with feet turning neither in nor out.
The hackney-like action is a high-stepping, reaching, free and easy gait in
which the front leg moves straight forward and in front of the body and the
foot bends at the wrist. The dog drives smoothly and strongly from the rear.
The head and tail are carried high.
Temperament
Fearless animation, complete self-possession, and spirited presence.
Disqualifications
Under 10 inches or over 12½ inches in height.
Any color other than listed. Thumb mark (patch of black hair surrounded
by rust on the front of the foreleg between the foot and the wrist; on chocolates,
the patch is chocolate hair). White on any part of dog which exceeds one-half
(½) inch in its longest dimension.
Approved July 8, 1980
Reformatted February 21, 1990
