Official U.K.C. Breed Standard
Copyright 1992, United Kennel Club, Inc.
History
Well known as the "Min-Pin," the Miniature Pinscher has been bred in Germany
for hundreds of years. One theory is that it was developed by breeding the
German Pinscher to Dachshunds and Italian Greyhounds to obtain a smaller-sized
dog. It was one of the breeds included in the Pinscher-Schnauzer Club formed
in Germany in the 1980's.
The Miniature Pinscher was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1936.
General Appearance
The Miniature Pinscher is structurally well balanced and sturdy. It is compact,
short coupled. The breed is smooth coated and naturally well groomed. In
character, it is proud, vigorous and alert.
Faults: Structurally lacking in balance. Too long, too short coupled.
Characteristics
Characteristic of the breed is its hackney-like gaiting action. It shows
fearless animation and complete self possession, accompanied by a spirited
presence.
Head and Skull
The narrow, tapering, well-balanced head is in proportion to the body. There
is only a slight drop to the muzzle. The well-fitted, but not too prominent,
foreface balances with the skull. The head shows no indication of coarseness.
The skull appears flat, and tapers toward the muzzle. The muzzle, which is
in proportion to the head as a whole, is strong, rather than fine and delicate,
and is parallel to the top of the skull. The lips and cheeks are small, taut
and closely adherent to each other.
TEETH -- A full complement of strong, white teeth meet in a scissors bite.
EYES -- The full, slightly oval eyes are clear, bright and dark, almost a
true black. The eye rims are black, except in chocolate-colored dogs, which
have self-colored eye rim pigment.
NOSE -- The nose is black, except in chocolate-colored dogs, which have
self-colored noses.
EARS -- The ears may be cropped or uncropped. They are set high and stand
erect from the base to the tip.
Neck
The slightly arched, clean, muscular, gracefully curved neck blends into
the shoulders. It is in proportion to the head and body.
Forequarters
The clean, sloping shoulders have moderate angulation, coordinated to permit
the hackney-like action.
FORELEGS -- The forelegs have strong bone development and small, clean joints.
When viewed from the front, they are straight and upstanding. The elbows
are close to the body The pasterns are strong and perpendicular. Dewclaws
should be removed from the forelegs.
Fault: Weak pasterns.
Body
The muscular, compact body is slightly wedge shaped. The ribs are well sprung.
The forechest is well developed. The base line of the brisket is level with
the point of the elbows. Whether gaiting or standing, the backline is level
or slopes slightly. In males, the length of the backline is equal to the
height measured at the withers. In females, it may be slightly longer. The
croup is level with the backline.
The loin is short and strong. The belly is moderately tucked up.
Hindquarters
HIND LEGS -- Viewed from the rear, the hind legs are straight and parallel.
Viewed from the side, they present a well-angulated appearance. The thighs
are well muscled. The stifles are well defined. The rear pasterns are short
and set well apart. Dewclaws should be removed from the hind legs.
Feet
The small, catlike feet have strong, well-arched, closely-knit toes. The
pads are deep. The nails are thick and blunt.
Tail
The tail is set on high and held erect. It is docked in proportion to the
size of the dog.
Coat
The short, smooth coat is hard, straight and lustrous. It closely adheres
to, and uniformly covers, the body.
Faults: Thin, too long, dull coat.
Color
Acceptable colors include:
Solid clear red;
Stag red, which is red with an intermingling of black hairs;
Black, with sharply defined rust-red markings on the cheeks, lips, lower
jaw, throat, twin spots above the eyes and chest, on the lower half of the
forelegs, inside of the hind legs and vent region, on the lower portion of
the rear pasterns and on the feet. Black pencil stripes are found on the
toes.
Chocolate, with rust-red markings found as specified for the Black dogs,
except that brown pencil stripes are found on the toes.
Blue, with rest-red markings found as specifired for the Black dogs.
In the solid red and stag red, a rich, vibrant medium-to-dark shade is preferred.
Disqualifications: Any color other than those listed; a thumb mark, which
is a patch of black hair surrounded by rust, on the front of the forelegs
between the foot and the wrist (On chocolate-colored dogs, the patch is
chocolate.); white on any part of the dog which exceeds one-half inch in
its longest dimension; albinism.
Height and Weight
The acceptable height range is from 10 inches to 12½ inches. The desired
height is 11 to 11½ inches. The height is measured at the withers.
Disqualifications: Height under 10 inches or over 12½ inches.
Gait
The fore and hind legs move parallel, with the 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. There is a smooth, strong drive from the
rear. While gaiting, the head and tail are carried high.
Disqualifications
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Any
color other than those listed. A thumb mark, which is a patch of black hair
surrounded by rust, on the front of the forelegs between the foot and the
wrist (On chocolate-colored dogs, the patch is chocolate.). White on any
part of the dog which exceeds one-half inch in its longest dimension. Albinism.
Height under 10 inches or over 12½ inches.
