BEES-N-TEES
Miniature Pinscher Standards
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.

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Miniature Pinscher Breed Standard

Toy Group

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