Meet the Breeds:

Miniature Pinscher

© 2007 The American Kennel Club, Inc.

The Miniature Pinscher is known for being proud and vivacious.  He is said to not know how small he is, and it is true that despite his small body, he is praised for his watchdog qualities as well as recognized for his intelligence and proud spirit.

A Look Back

Although historical artifacts and paintings place the “Min Pin” as a very old breed, factual documentation on the breed’s origin began less then 200 years ago.  The Miniature Pinscher is reported to include the Dachshund and Italian Greyhound among its ancestors, along with the shorthaired German Pinscher.

Although the breed is native to Germany, the Miniature Pinscher has gained great popularity in the United States since the first one was registered with the AKC in 1925.  Although later (and currently) classified as a Toy breed, the “Min Pin” was originally in the Terrier Group.

Names (and Looks!) Can Be Deceiving

Despite what many people think, and some similarities in appearance, the Miniature Pinscher is not a smaller version of the larger Doberman Pinscher!  “Pinscher” means “terrier” in German, and the Miniature Pinscher is a distinctly German breed that originated several centuries ago as an efficient barnyard ratter, and is not related in any way to either the Doberman or Manchester Terrier.

wIn addition to Germany, the Min Pin has been bred extensively in Scandinavia.

wThe “Min Pin” was ranked 23rd in the nation according to 2006 AKC Registration Statistics.