Coplins Book of breeds

Presents: The miniature pincher

The "Minpin"

The miniature pincher is a small breed,classified as a toy breed. Don't think that makes them easy to keep! Minpins has the same time perspective as the common house fly. This make them able to react to the world around them with extreme speed. Also, this is why you need to be very patient to train a minpin. Since in their world time is perceived as much slower they think they have obeyed any of your commands satisfactory, long before you have reacted to their obedience.

The minipin has a very special way of walking. A bouncy airy gait that is described to look like the way a hackney pony walks.And if you don't know how a hackney pony walks - it looks like the gait of a minpin.

Them being so lightweight and bouncy makes any furniture accessible to them. Dinner tables especially.....But beware, their legs are delicate and they might break them jumping down from things!

The gait...

The physics...

The minpin has a constantly wagging tail. This make it very hard to Xray them beacause the wagging will make the plates blurry. In many countries they solve this problem by simply cutting the tail off. This is called docking. Sometimes they cut off part of the ears too while they're at it. This fills no function except for relieving the owner of the embarrassment of getting their dog's lineage mixed up with that of Nobby the house elf from Harry Potter.

The true reason for their bouncy hackney-like action can only be seen on Xrays. Instead of having ordinary straight bones in the legs, some parts has developed into springs! This is a very well kept secret amongst the breeders.

Temperament...

Minpins have a proud bearing with an intense, bordering on manic, look in teir eyes. Those eyes evolved so they can entrance you to give them all your food.Their pride is reflected in their meeting with other dogs. They might be nervous about a lot of things, but they're fast to make sure any dog knows that they're the Boss, no matter which size the other dog might be.In the 1870's Karl Freidrich Louis Dobermann the tax collector met a minpin and got determined to create a breed with the attitude of a minpin but with size to match it to protect him in his work. So the Dobermann pinscher was born. The minpin came first. But both breeds share german pinschers in their ancestry.

Activity level...

The minpin can sleep in and snuggle with the pillow as good as any dog, but they are energetic and curious and has an overall high level of energy. Toy size or not, this is not a dog you carry around in a bag.

The springy structure of their bones needs to bounce not to get brittle. And their interest in food puts them in the risk of getting fat without proper bouncing every day.

The food issue...

The minpin is very food oriented. They really like food. They're experts on finding it. They will solve any problem to get to the food (except for obedience commands). And once they get a hold of the food they will not stop eating it. This puts them in the risk of getting diabetes or looking like balloons.

Focus...

Walking a minpin in not easy. It takes a long time to off leash train a minpin. It takes time to leash train them too. They're simply too interested in the world around them to be bothered.

They care nothing for the collar around the neck, and should you stop they will hardly notice, they'll just keep hopping on two legs on the end of the leash.

What' s that? Can we go there?Oh a squirrel! Can you smell that hotdog? Can I go there? I can see our hose from here!! Did you hear that?? A monster!! Or maybe a rabbit! Let's go there so I can chase it? Please please please can I? Why are you pulling my leash? We're not supposed to go that way. Look! Dog!! barkbarkbarkbark bark bark bark bark bark bark bark!!! Ha ha ha! Sure got him! Wait, where is the squirrel? I need to pee. Here. And here. and here. What is this? No, what is that? I want to go this way! Stop tugging the leash!

The end...

This is a satirical take on the miniature pinscher. If you want to know more serious stuff - google it! ;-)

If you enjoyed this however you can stop by at Coplins.com for more!

You can mail me at helena.zeegers@coplins.com

Art, photo and text by

Helena Zeegers