"A big dog in a little body" or "The king of toys" is the best description of the miniature pinscher. This lively little dog displays few of the characteristics found in other toy breeds. The minpins' ancestry give him traits of a larger dog rather than a toy. His terrier lines are expressed through his spunk and fearlessness. His "working dog" lines are expressed through his "watchdog" instincts. Minpins generally will show no fear and will gladly "guard" his owners' home and hearth. Typically this is with his authoritative bark, but they have been known to fearlessly grasp "intruders" by the pants leg!! Like the Doberman, he shows guarding and "property" instincts. The minpins' alertness, liveliness, entertaining spirit, boldness, neat and clean appearance and affection for his owners make him a very popular companion.

Unlike the Miniature Poodle, which is a scaled-down version of the Standard Poodle, the Min Pin is not a smaller version of anything, especially not the much-larger Doberman Pinscher. Both may have descended from the German Pinscher, a medium-sized black and tan dog bred to control vermin in the barnyard, but there the relationship ends. The Doberman includes Rottweiler and perhaps the Black and Tan Terrier; the Min Pin reportedly came from crosses with breeds as diverse as the Dachshund and the Italian Greyhound.

Part of the confusion in origin comes from the word "pinscher," which is a descriptive term like "terrier" or "setter" that denotes the dog's method of working, not his heritage. In German, "pinscher" means "biter" and derives from the dog's habit of jumping on and fiercely biting its quarry. The German pinscher family includes the Affenpinscher, a toy breed with a wiry coat, and the schnauzers. The name may also be borrowed from the English "pincher," meaning "one who seizes or pinches."

Temperament

Min Pin temperament is described in the breed standard as "fearless animation, complete self-possession, and spirited presence."  "You should find dynamite in a small package or something is wrong," according to a pamphlet from the Miniature Pinscher Club of America.

The Min Pin is curious, suspicious of strangers, vigorous, curious, inquisitive, funny, fearless, curious, energetic, and mostly curious. He will escape from confinement whenever possible to satisfy his curiosity and indulge his need for activity.

Many Min Pin breeders recommend that buyers purchase an exercise pen with a lid for backyard respites as the tiny dog will leap out of a pen in the blink of an eye and can disappear before a human can react. The tiny dogs are so quick that they should never be allowed outside the yard unless carried or attached to a leash. He should also be watched whenever a door is opened, for he will take advantage of every opportunity to explore.

Physical appearance

The Miniature Pinscher ranges from 10-12.5 inches in height with the preferred size being 11-11.5 inches. Dogs shorter than 10 inches or taller than 12.5 inches are disqualified from the show ring. Males are square-bodied; females may be slightly longer than tall.

The whole picture of the Min Pin is one of refined elegance, both standing still and moving. The strong but not coarse head, slightly arched neck, level topline, and sleek, well-muscled body give the little dog the appearance of strength in a Lilliputian package. The coat is smooth, hard, straight, and lustrous in solid red, stag red (with black hairs intermingling), black-and-rust, or chocolate-and-rust. The rust markings are well-defined, not bleeding into the black or chocolate and are found on cheeks, lips, lower jaw, throat, lower half of forelegs, inside of hind legs and lower portion of hocks and feet, and in twin spots above the eyes and on the chest. Small spots of white not to exceed one-half inch in size are acceptable.

The ears can be left natural or be cropped although they must stand up to go into the show ring. As a pet, it is totally up to the new owner.

 Natural Ears Flopped                Natural Ears Standing                     Cropped Ears