WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF

TOY & MINIATURE PINSCHERS
We have been raising the Pinscher breed for many years and have found them to be a accumulation of fun, full of energy, eager to please with a touch of stubbornness at times.  They tend to lean to be more one family oriented.  They also tend to be determined to voice their opinion if things aren't going to their liking.  They are easily trained to obedience and housebreaking ASSUMING that YOU do your part (*see housebreaking tips).  We started with the Reds, Browns and Black/Tan (*Black/Rust) and quickly became intrigued with the Blues and Fawns and of course when we learned about the 'extinct' Harlequin pattern Miniature Pinschers our life took on new zest as we had a new untaken path that we knew without even having to think about that we would be journeying down.

Min-Pins are small dogs in a dynamite package.  They may be SMALL in size but they are packed with TNT.  Very few things scare a Miniature Pinscher.  They will be the first to jump in to save their masters life and hit with a zest that startles the unsuspecting.  Most Min-Pins use a hit and retreat type of defense.  Even though they are tenacious when the need arises they are overall generally very personable and loving dogs to those they consider to be their masters.

We have been working toward more NATURAL erect ears in our guys and gals as the time is approaching where cropping will be banned in the United States.  With our Harlequin Program we will also be fortunate enough to add a few Natural Bobtails in the mix as well making us light years ahead of the future legislation to be passed down.

History of the Miniature Pinscher

By:  Nancy Anderson
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       The Miniature Pinschers native land and place of origin is Germany.  The first German documentation  for the Miniature Pinscher was established in 1880.  The first Breed Standard was established in 1895 by the Germany Pinscher Klub now called the Pinscher-Schnauzer Klub.  The colors listed were Red/Yellow, Gray-Yellow, blue/tan, Black, Gray like iron or Silver Gray, either one color or with yellow-brow or light red marking at the eyes, muzzle and legs.  Of one color, blond, or dirty gray-white or white with black spots.   In my personal opinion of the standard I see this as being, Chocolate/Tan being the Red/Yellow with marking.  Gray-yellow would be Fawn/Tan.  Black is self explanatory, Gray like iron or Silver Gray would most likely be the Blue version.  The blond would be Red, Dirty Gray-White would most likely be Merle/Harlequin and my guess is that the white with black spots was the Double Merle version of the Harlequin or it could be possible that it was actually Piebald in the breed as well.

 
The American Kennel Club allowed the first registration of a Miniature Pinscher on March 31, 1925 which was an imported one from Germany and was listed as being "black, red, brown".

The Miniature Pinscher Club of America, Inc., was formed in 1929 and became the AKC Breed Club for the Miniature Pinscher.  Prior to the formation of the MPCA the Miniature Pinscher was shown in the Miscellaneous class but was changed to the Toy Class. 

The August 1935 AKC Breed Standard allowed Blues, Brown, Yellow, Red and Black and that standard was still in effect up to 1950.  The size was 11.5 inches being 6-10 pounds in weight.  Light color or white, very dark or sooty spots, - in listed markings were considered faults.  The tail was to be 1 to 2 inches in length cropped.

The Blues and fawns became a MPCA FAULT of the breed standard for AKC on February 11, 1950 as they were said to be of poor coat quality and with health issues when the AKC approved the breed standard revisal submitted by the MPCA.   This in no way meant however that AKC would still not recognize them and register them as their actual color as a Miniature Pinscher and even to be shown.  It simply meant they were no longer allowed the privilege of being able to be shown in the sanctioned AKC dog shows without being given Fault Reduction in points.  In 1950 the breed standard called for them to be 10-12.5 inches tall being 6 to 10 pounds in size.  The tail standard was to be docked 1/2 to 1 inch in length.

The AKC approved a revised Breed Standard on May 13, 1958 for the Miniature Pinscher which included only Black, Red and Brown as approved colors by the standard.  Other colors at that time were still listed as FAULTS.  The weight requirements in that revision were removed and it again became only 10-12.5 inches in height with no weight qualifications.   The tail was to be 1/2 to 1 inch in length docked.

The last known Miniature Pinscher registered with the AKC with the Harlequin pattern is  ???????.

The July 8, 1980 revised Breed Standard for AKC make ALL other colors other than Solid clear red, Stag red, Black/Rust-red, and Chocolate/Rust-red disqualifications.  The tail was to be docked in proportion to the body.  Height was 10-12.5 inches with no weight classification.

American Canine Registry accepted into it's sister registry, American Pedigree Registry, the first documentation to the re-development of the Merle Miniature Pinscher for pedigree documentation only in 2004.  The requirement was that a one time cross could be achieved with a Merle Rat Terrier of superior quality and health and the Merle offspring from that cross was to continue the development by being bred only to Miniature Pinschers and upon 7th generation they would be accepted as purebred Merle Miniature Pinschers with documented lineage.  Many years before 2004 a trio of elderly ladies had already done the Merle Rat Terrier and Miniature Pinscher cross and had already established several generations of Merle Miniature Pinschers that became later classified as F-series (*i.e. F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6) Miniature Pinschers in the Merle pattern.  Nancy Anderson was able to trace these dogs lineage back with enough documentation to get them accepted into the foundation lineage and go from that point forward to where we are today with not only MERLE Miniature Pinschers but Harlequin Pinschers in Merle, Brindle and Merle/Piebald as well. 

The MERLE breeding rules are VERY STRICT and are to be abided by and WILL BE UPHELD WITHOUT EXCEPTION whereas ONLY 1 PARENT may be Merle and ONLY 1 PARENT may be of the F-hybrid Merle variety with the subsequent parent being that of a Purebred Miniature Pinscher of the NON-Merle pattern. 

The Miniature Pinscher is kissing cousins to the Miniature Schnauzer and were bred from the same bloodlines in the beginning of the breeds development.

                   

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2008
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