Zwergpinscher

History of the Zwergpinscher breed

The Zwergpinscher, also known as the dwarf or miniature pinscher, is a breed whose formation began at least two centuries ago in Germany. Experts have no doubt that the dominant role in breeding the breed belonged to short–haired German pinscher dogs, known in Europe since the Middle Ages. They were famous for their unpretentiousness in maintenance and their versatility: they served as watchmen on farms, had a reputation for excellent hunters and dexterous rodent exterminators. In addition to the German Pinscher, among the distant ancestors of the Zwergpinscher are also called tax and levretok - the shortest dogs of their greyhound group.

It is known that at the beginning of the XIX century, the height of a standard pinscher was from 45 to 50 cm at the withers, and their miniature varieties, which were already called dwarf smooth-haired pinscher in 1936, were characterized by a height from 35 to 40 cm.

In the second half of the XIX century, purposeful pinscher breeding began, and in 1880 the first official breed standard appeared, developed by the German cynologist Richard Strebel. Five years later, the German breeder Joseph Berta founded the Pinscher Club, under the auspices of which there was a division of pinscher different in appearance into separate breeds.

Miniature pinscher dogs were first shown at the Stuttgart Dog Show in Germany in 1900. At that time, outside of their homeland, these dogs, nicknamed tsvergpinchers ("tsverg" in German – "gnome") for their small stature, were practically unknown. However, over time, the breed began to gain popularity both throughout Europe and overseas. In 1905, the first dwarf pinscher was registered in the French Stud Book. However, he was described as a German smooth-haired terrier. In the USA, where the miniature pinscher began to be imported after the First World War, the breed was also originally included in the category of terriers. In 1929, when the American Kennel Club (AKS) officially approved the pinscher breed, a Miniature Pinscher Club was also created, whose members petitioned for the smallest of their species to be identified by the AKS in the "pinscher (toy)" group. In 1972, this name was changed to the wording "miniature pinscher".

These days, this small but brave dog has a lot of fans in all corners of the planet. In various countries, it is often called differently in everyday life and when sold, but since 1955, in the classification of breeds of the International Cynological Organization (FCI), the smallest representative of pinscher is called a tsvergpinscher.

Video: Zwergpinscher

Appearance of the zwergpinscher

Today at international exhibitions it is possible to see tsvergpinchers belonging to different intra-breed types. This is due to the fact that the breeding of these dogs in many countries is based on their own traditions in the breeding of this breed. So, dogs bred in the USA, Great Britain, Canada, have a special, elegant manner of movement. Tsvergpinchers originally from Israel differ in almost absolute external similarity with miniature Dobermans , they are characterized by confident wide, sweeping movements. German aborigines can always be recognized due to their stockiness and muscularity, and representatives of Scandinavia are the most balanced, calm and confident individuals. However, for all tsvergpinchers, rigid growth limits (25-30 cm), colors, and a certain body structure are established.

Housing

The Tsvergpinscher is distinguished by high-legged, but a well-developed withers, which is the highest point of the topline, gives its body depth, so the dog does not look upturned on its feet. The back line is slightly inclined from the withers to the base of the tail. The chest is wide enough, has an oval shape, its front part expressively protrudes forward. A short, elastic and strong back, a strong and also short loin give the miniature pinscher a compact appearance, while its body looks almost square.

Head

The dog's head is proportional to the body, has the shape of a blunted wedge. The transition from the forehead to the muzzle is clearly marked, but not sharp. The muzzle itself is slightly shorter than the skull, which is strong, oblong in shape. The back of the nose is straight. The nose is painted black, the nostrils are well developed. Lips are dry, smooth, black. They fit snugly to the jaws, their corners are closed.

Jaws and teeth

The jaws of the zwergpinscher are strong, the teeth are white, strong, the bite is scissor-like, closing tightly and firmly. The masticatory muscles are well developed.

Ears

The ears of the zwergpinscher are set high. Standing or hanging on the cartilage, they have a triangular (V-shaped) shape. The inner edges of the hanging ears should be adjacent to the cheekbones. The standard does not say that cupped ears are a disadvantage of the breed, however, in countries where there is a ban on cupping ears, dogs subjected to this procedure are not allowed to participate in exhibitions and championships.

Eyes

are small in size, have the shape of an oval, their color is dark brown. The black eyelids fit snugly to the eyeball.

Neck

This part of the dog's body is characterized as dry, without suspension, slightly elongated. It is nobly curved, which emphasizes the proud character of the zwergpinscher.

Tail

The tail of the dwarf pinscher is set high, but cannot be directed to the head. At exhibitions, judges, as a rule, give preference to dogs whose tails have a saber-shaped or sickle-shaped shape.

Limbs

are characterized by distinctly pronounced angles of all joints and a moderately wide posterior. The front limbs in full face and in profile look straight. Forearms are well developed, muscular, wrists and pasterns are strong, strong, elastic. The hind limbs, when viewed from the side, look slightly set aside, when viewed from behind, they are parallel to each other. The hips are wide enough, with well-developed muscles. The shins are long and strong. The paws of the miniature pinscher have a rounded shape, the fingers are closed, the claws are short, strong, and painted black. The hind legs are slightly longer than the front ones.

Movement

The Zwergpinscher moves energetically, demonstrating confidence and strength. It is characterized by a free, sweeping trot with a strong push and a wide sweep of the forelimbs. During the movement, the dog balances, its back remains flat and stable.

In countries such as the USA, Great Britain, Canada, the most important natural feature of the Zwergpinscher breed is its prancing gait (hackney-gait). This specific feature is characterized by the fact that the dog seems to be drumming with its forelimbs in the air. Such a gait appears only when the shoulder angle is straightened, as a result of which the step of the forelimbs becomes much shorter than the step of the hind legs, which forces the dog to raise its front legs high in movement so as not to step on them with its hind legs.

But the FCI standards do not recognize this kind of movement and attribute it to breed defects.

Wool

Tsvergpinscher is the owner of a thick, shiny, smooth coat. Receding hairlines are not allowed.

Color

Today, the FCI standard allows only two colors of the dwarf pinscher: fawn or fawn-red (from reddish-brown to dark red-brown) and black-toed (lacquer-black with red or brown markings). The scorch marks should be intensely dark, clearly outlined. They should be distributed in a certain way: above the eyes, in the lower part of the throat, on the pasterns and paws, on the inside of the hind limbs, under the base of the tail. Two identical well-defined tan marks in the shape of a triangle should be located on the dog's chest.

American and Canadian cynological organizations recognize other colors of miniature pinchers: chocolate, blue, isabella with tan.

Disadvantages of the breed

• Too heavy or, on the contrary, too graceful physique.
• Elongated, soft or humped back.
• Short-legged or excessive high-legged, elbow joints protruding inwards or outwards.
• Wrinkled skin on the forehead.
• Shortened or pointed, too narrow muzzle.
• Excessively small or too large eyes, their light color.
• Long or low-set ears.
• Rare wool.

Photo of a miniature pinscher

The character of the zwergpinscher

Tsvergpinscher is not at all concerned about his small size – he is so self-confident and brave. Incredible aplomb and energy combined with intelligence and cunning allow this kid to become a key participant in all the events happening around – at home, on the street, at an exhibition, that is, everywhere.

The zwergpinscher shows his love and devotion to the owner very emotionally, while preferring to feel equal with him. This dog needs a "firm hand", otherwise it will certainly manifest an innate passion for domination and manipulation. If this cunning irrepressible imp realizes that by putting on a plaintive look, he can get everything he wants, then there will be no limit to his extravagance. This dog will demonstrate the desire to occupy the highest possible position at every opportunity, both in relations with people and when communicating with his fellow tribesmen, even the largest of them. In order to avoid problems, the miniature pinscher should be taken for a walk on a leash.

The dog is aggressive towards small animals, especially rodents, birds, and he does not like cats. Peaceful coexistence between miniature pinchers and representatives of the feline family is possible only if the pets were brought up together from a tender age.

Incredibly agile, with an excellent grip, strong teeth and lightning-fast reaction, the miniature pinscher feels like a defender of the family and a watchman. If someone decides to harm his owners, the dog will rush at a potential enemy before he has time to carry out his plan. At the same time, the nervous system of the miniature pinscher is strong, and his courage is not reckless – he always soberly assesses the situation and his strength.

Tsvergpinscher is constantly overwhelmed by a thirst for activity, he is incredibly inquisitive, inventive, observant and, like a detective, always ready to investigate. If the dog wants to make a certain venture, then he will find a way to escape from anywhere, overcoming all obstacles in an unimaginable way. He can easily climb on a table, a windowsill, crawl through the narrowest crack. His antics amaze with their creativity, and the ability to perform various dizzying tricks suggests that he clearly likes the role of a clown: laughter and attention of the household is a true reward for him.

Education and training

Endowed with intelligence and intelligence, the zwergpinscher is well trained. However, the owner should take the pet's upbringing seriously, taking into account the characteristic features of this breed: the dog will not miss the opportunity to imperceptibly establish its own control over the training process if the owner makes even the slightest mistake. The manifestation of excessive love and forgiveness in the upbringing of a miniature pinscher is unacceptable, as well as rudeness.

The training methodology should be based on the principles of consistency and repetition, therefore, training a miniature pinscher in discipline, obedience and good tone takes more time than working with most other breeds. The dog must understand that the owner is calm, confident and firm in his intention to teach her to order – in this case, she will demonstrate her willingness to serve and carry out commands with the zeal of a true careerist.

Tsvergpinscher masters projectiles on the training ground with stunning agility and speed, and it is not difficult for him to overcome an obstacle five times his height from the spot. Such abilities combined with excellent maneuverability make the Miniature Pinscher one of the best breeds demonstrating outstanding success in agility.

Care and maintenance

Tsvergpinscher is a companion dog, so he certainly must live under the same roof with his owner, keeping an animal in an aviary is absolutely unacceptable. The dog himself will feel great both in a city apartment, even a small one, and in a country house: he will always figure out what to do with himself, and he will not be bored. The owners of a miniature pinscher should understand that their irrepressible pet should be able to realize its activity. Otherwise, his energy will acquire destructive forms, and you can forget about the calm atmosphere in the house. The "citizen" dog needs to be walked at least three times a day, and it is desirable that he has the opportunity to frolic without a leash in some suitable place.

Walking a miniature pinscher in bad weather, the owner must take into account some points. Frosts, for example, are not terrible for this short-haired dog, but provided that it is constantly on the move. But if a cold rain or sleet catches the dog during a walk, he needs to be picked up, covered with whatever he has to, taken home and dried thoroughly, otherwise he may not only catch a cold, but also get kidney and genital diseases. Caring owners, as a rule, purchase seasonal clothing for their miniature pets – waterproof and windproof overalls.

Despite the fact that tsvergpinchers periodically shed, caring for their fur will not become burdensome. It is enough to comb out the dog once a week prophylactically with a special soft brush for smooth-haired dogs, it would be useful to periodically wipe his fur with a damp natural cloth. A general washing of the pet can be arranged in the event that he is pretty dirty in his adventures.

Two or three times a week the dog needs to brush his teeth, the claws are cut once or twice a month.

The appetite of the miniature pinscher is quite moderate, but in the cold winter, the dog, as a rule, begins to show a remarkable interest in food, because it needs more energy. During this period, many dogs gain excess weight, which is highly undesirable. The owners should not change the usual diet of their pet, but it will be quite appropriate to add products with a high protein content to it.

An adult miniature pinscher should be fed twice a day, preferably at the same time. If you prefer to buy natural products for your pet, keep in mind that at least 40% of their volume should be meat. Choose beef and horse meat, poultry meat is more suitable for puppies. Meat products should preferably be combined with cereals: oats, millet, buckwheat. Make sure that there is always water in the dog bowl. Don't forget about plant foods. Vegetables can be steamed and make a salad, seasoning it with low-fat sour cream or sunflower oil.

From ready-made feeds, choose a premium or super-premium product designed specifically for small breed dogs.

Health and diseases of the zwergpinscher

Tsvergpinchers are in good health, but this breed still has a tendency to some diseases. Among them:

• progressive retinal atrophy, leading to gradual deterioration and even complete loss of vision;
• Perthes' disease, or osteochondropathy of the femoral head, the first symptoms of which (lameness, muscle atrophy) can manifest in puppies at 4-6 months of age;
• epilepsy is a neurological condition that leads to mild or severe seizures when the dog behaves inappropriately;
• hypothyroidism is a violation of hormonal metabolism, leading to pathologies such as alopecia (hair loss), obesity, lethargy, hyperpigmentation, pyoderma;
• congenital or acquired dislocation of the kneecap is a very common ailment among all small breeds of dogs.

How to choose a puppy

In Russia, an excellent number of miniature pinchers have been bred, among which there are champions of Europe and the world, prize-winners of the largest international exhibitions. It will not be difficult to find a decent kennel where you can buy an absolutely thoroughbred puppy, equipped with the necessary documents.

When choosing a baby, pay attention to how all puppies belonging to the same litter behave, how they play with each other, how their mother treats them. Take a closer look at the bitch: a well-groomed, healthy, attentive mother and children are appropriate, and if she is sad, emaciated, has a painful appearance, then her babies are likely to be weakened. Watch the feeding of puppies: healthy dogs show an excellent appetite. Among the cheerful company of brothers and sisters, choose an active, but not aggressive strong man, he should be curious and ready to communicate with you.

It is necessary to check the bite of the baby tsvergpinscher, assess the condition of his teeth, the purity of his eyes, make sure that the dog has clean ears without secretions exuding an unpleasant odor. The coat of your chosen one should be beautiful, smooth, shiny, without bald spots and dandruff. Light scratches on the puppy's body should not frighten you – most likely, these are the consequences of games, because the tsvergpinchers demonstrate their temperament from the most tender age.

Photos of miniature pinscher puppies

How much does a zwergpinscher cost

To date, the price of tsvergpinscher puppies varies from $100 to $300. If the dogs are sold at a lower price, it means that they do not have a pedigree or belong to a tribal marriage.

Purebred healthy puppies with all the necessary documents, but without obvious exhibition prospects, cost from $100 to $200. The descendants of champion parents, to whom breeders promise a brilliant exhibition career, will cost more.