|
"I felt absolutely sick when I found out they were gone,"
Wendy told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "My husband
and I stayed up all night looking for them with flashlights."
The next day the hurricane forced them to abandon the search
and head for higher ground, but a distraught Wendy returned
immediately after the storm and spent the next three days
handing out fliers and scouring the neighborhood for her beloved
pooches.
She needn't
have worried, for Bailey and Toby were having the times of
their lives on a scenic tour of the deep South. The two miniature
pinschers showed up at the door of Linda Wheat, six blocks
away. Although allergic to dogs, Wheat saw little option but
to put the dogs in the car with her canary and two cats before
she fled the hurricane. The dogs enjoyed an all-expense paid
vacation at a Comfort Inn, where they rubbed noses with other
Louisiana dogs fleeing the storm, before returning to New
Orleans and a reunion with the Motts.
Similar
min pin tales are common. In April 1993, a miniature pinscher
was found roaming the streets of Columbus, Ohio. The dog was
taken to a veterinarian, who discovered a National Dog Registry
tattoo on its hind leg. The registry contacted the breeder,
who in turn called the dog's astonished owner. The dog had
been stolen nine years previously. The miniature pinscher
and owner were happily reunited.
Take the
tale of Beau and Bonnie. Last year the two miniature pinscher
puppies were stolen by thieves masquerading as prospective
owners. Breeder Dawn Sutton contacted local pet stores directly
after the theft, warning them to be on the lookout for the
puppies and baby eclectus parrots also taken in the robbery.
Sure enough, the crooks showed up at a pet store the next
day, trying to pawn the purloined animals. The alert store
owner called the cops; Sutton arrived a short while later
and reclaimed her pups, who seemed to have enjoyed the abduction.
Into
the Fray
Miniature
pinscher owners probably aren't surprised by these adventurous
tales, for they know their breed is a can-do, anything-goes
kind of dog that occasionally leaps before it looks. Among
the most energetic of all breeds, the min pin is always on
the go in a constant search for action. When the dog finds
that action, it never passes an opportunity to join in the
fray.
The only
thing small about the miniature pinscher is its size. The
typical min pin stands between 10 to 12.5 inches. It is a
square-proportioned dog with a compact, sturdy body. The American
Kennel Club (AKC) breed standard describes the miniature pinscher
as "naturally well groomed, proud, vigorous and alert. Characteristic
traits are his hackney-like action, fearless animation, complete
self-possession, and his spirited presence."
Despite
its classification in the AKC's toy group, the miniature pinscher's
aggressive, brash attitude has earned it a reputation as an
excellent guard dog. The min pin loves to bark, particularly
at people and other animals it does not know. Although they
have little use for strangers, miniature pinschers attach
themselves with a vengeance to their owners. The miniature
pinscher doesn't back down to anyone or anything. This occasionally
leads to problems with children, who can be deceived by the
dog's small size into innocently believing the min pin can
handle the same rough play children dole out to playthings
of similar size. Parents be forewarned: few miniature pinschers
tolerate this sort of rough handling. Children must be taught
proper respect and care for the dog. On the other hand, the
min pin is one of the few toy breeds that can hold its own
with larger dogs, because of their cocky, bold attitude. This
is particularly true if your min pin is raised with other
animals and taught to be respectful.
Socialization
of your min pin should start when the puppy is about 21 days
old, with its training continuing for several months. Because
these are athletic and fearless dogs, containing them can
be a challenge. Many owners learn this lesson early, when
trying to housebreak their min pins. Males especially are
prone to leg-lifting problems.
The more
exercise your miniature pinscher receives, the happier it
will be. The dog requires several play sessions every day;
however, because of its small size these exercise needs can
be met indoors or out. In contrast to the dog's physical and
mental needs, the min pin's grooming needs are minimal. The
short, flat coat is virtually carefree, requiring only occasional
brushing to remove dead hair. A min pin that receives regular
brushing will seldom need a bath - shampooing washes away
the natural oils that moisturize the coat and skin, so bathe
only when necessary.
This is
generally a healthy breed, with a typical lifespan of 12 to
14 years. Patella luxation, in which the kneecap covering
the joint in the rear of the leg slips to one side and causes
limping, is occasionally seen in min pins. Diabetes, progressive
retinal atrophy and legg-perthes disease, affecting the hip,
can also affect members of this breed.
Show
Stopper
Like the
Doberman pinscher, to which it is often erroneously compared,
the miniature pinscher traces its roots to Germany.
The early
miniature pinscher was called the reh pinscher, so named because
Germans thought the dog resembled the small, nimble, red roe
deer that populated their forests. The reh pinscher was the
smaller version of a more common, medium-sized dog known as
the German smooth-haired pinscher, now occasionally referred
to as the old German standard pinscher. Today, the German
smooth-haired pinscher is considered the stepfather of several
German dog breeds, including the miniature pinscher, wirehaired
breeds such as the schnauzers and affenpinschers, and the
popular Doberman pinscher.
Initially,
the primary difference between the German smooth-haired pinscher
and the miniature pinscher was simply one of size. Both dogs
were good ratters, with the larger dog working the grounds
and barns and the smaller reh pinscher working inside the
home.
Distinctive
pinscher breeds, including the miniature pinscher, emerged
in the mid-1800s. Many sources suggest early breeders incorporated
dachshunds and Italian greyhounds into their breeding programs.
The dachshund influence is displayed in the miniature pinscher's
fearlessness and red coloration; the Italian greyhound influence
can be seen in the min pin's elegance, playfulness and lithe
movement.
An early
breed standard for the smooth-coated pinscher varieties was
published in Germany in 1880. Many breed historians mark the
1895 formation of the German Pinscher-Schnauzer Klub as the
official beginning of the miniature pinscher. The club recognized
six varieties of pinscher - the giant schnauzer, standard
schnauzer, miniature schnauzer, affenpinscher, old standard
German pinscher and the miniature pinscher - and demanded
the varieties not be cross bred.
The smallest
pinscher became a favorite in German show rings, and soon
booming popularity played havoc with the breed's soundness
and usefulness. The first min pins were often evaluated by
sporting dog judges, who apparently believed little dogs were
only useful as ladies' lap dogs. Soon miniature pinschers
competed in ribbons and jeweled collars, and were judged in
their owners' arms or sitting on satin pillows. Movement and
soundness were disregarded for smallness and a pretty head.
Following the judges' lead, breeders began specializing in
tiny dogs with weak structure and tiny, feeble legs.
Josef
Berta, a respected judge and a founder of the Pinscher-Schnauzer
Klub, decided to put an end to these practices. When he judged,
he demanded miniature pinschers be placed on the ground and
moved in a gaiting pattern. If a specimen wasn't sound, it
did not win. Berta's method was controversial, but it eventually
led to a change in breeding practices so that soundness, balance
and mobility were restored to the breed.
Urban
Attitude
The miniature
pinscher accompanied German immigrants to America in the early
1900s. Like the Germans, Americans were attracted to the dog's
forceful, oversized personality. The breed was accepted into
the American Kennel Club in 1925; by 1929, the Miniature Pinscher
Club of America was recognized by the AKC and min pins were
entitled to compete for championships.
The AKC
originally designated miniature pinschers as terriers, so
they began their competitive career in the terrier group.
Nevertheless, the Miniature Pinscher Club of America was not
happy with that classification and petitioned the AKC to reclassify
the breed. In 1930, min pins were placed in the toy group.
In recent
years the popularity of the miniature pinscher has increased
exponentially. In the five year period from 1989 to 1994,
the AKC registrations for miniature pinschers rose a whopping
197 percent. In 1999 the miniature pinscher was the 17th most
popular dog, in terms of new AKC registrations.
This popularity
appears, in part, because of the increasing urbanization of
America. As more Americans move to apartments and condominiums,
a stylish small dog with the alert attitude and brave demeanor
of a larger dog appears to be very much in demand. For these
people, the stylish, saucy miniature pinscher represents the
perfect companion - a big dog in a small package.
Which Came First?
The miniature
pinscher is not a bred down or miniaturized version of the
Doberman pinscher. Actually the miniature pinscher is an older
breed than the Doberman.
The persistent
but false belief that the miniature pinscher evolved from
the Doberman is probably the result of the breed standard
prepared by the Miniature Pinscher Club of America in 1935.
That standard described the dog as "a miniature of the Doberman
pinscher, having on a modified scale most of its physical
qualifications and specifications."
The standard
authors probably thought the toy breed would be more easily
recognizable if they compared it to the Doberman, which was
extremely popular at the time. Later readers assumed the meaning
was historical, rather than simply descriptive.
In 1950,
the club revised the standard, removing all references to
the Doberman pinscher in an effort to correct the confusion.
But the damage had already been done. Today many people still
wrongly assume the min pin is a small version of the Doberman.
Fashionably
Dressed
Anybody
who thinks dog clothes are for sissies has never met a miniature
pinscher.
No one
in their right mind would call a min pin a wimp, yet the dog's
small body and short coat make it extremely susceptible to
cold weather. In fact, most breed experts recommend wrapping
your min pin up in a sweater or a jacket before taking it
outside on a chilly day.
The dog
apparel industry is booming, with styles ranging from high-tech
sports gear to cute and fuzzy doggie pjs to indulge those
canine fashion fantasies. Your miniature pinscher will thank
you, and nobody is going to call you or your min pin a sissy.
|
www.dogandkennel.com
