Miniature Pinschers?

[Winnie Pooh Fan]

After a lot of thought we are ready to bring another dog into our home.

I've always had a dog in our home and we now have the time - DF and I work different hours, teen DS loves dogs - to raise a pup.

We are considering a mini pin. The size, temperament (big attitude in a little body), and looks appeal to us. We have a large property with horses and one other dog - Miniature Australian Shepherd.

Anyone with insight into these dogs?

Animals come to a forever home when they enter our lives so we want to make the right choice

 

[jlewisinsyr]

We have a MinPin, she's almost 12 years old. She's a very faithful dog and you have the small dog, big attitude spot on. Ours is on the smaller size of MinPins, which range from about 5 - 6 lbs to around 15 lbs (not counting obese dogs), she is about 7 lbs.

Some things that we've learned about her. MinPins are not really a bread of Dobermans, they actually are from the terrier line and they love to "burrow", so they love to be under blankets, in bed under the covers, etc. Ours really loves to snuggle under our shirts and a jacket in the winter is almost a requirement.

They tend to be pretty hyper and again, they are very loyal/protective so they tend to be jumpy at loud noises and fast movements. Like any small dog, you should be careful of them jumping off beds or other high places because they will hurt themselves (ours is on joint pills to help with some of the discomfort she gets just as she ages).

Most of them are somewhat food minded, not so much agressive, but very interested in food and you really need to monitor their intake because they will eat more then they should. Additionally, most don't tend chew their food very well, so you should look to either give them chews or other items to help keep their teeth and gums healthy. For us we give her chews, rice cakes (rice puffs) and we brush her teeth frequently (she lost 6 teeth over the past few years too).

Other health wise, they are actaully pretty healthy dogs without a lot of genetic specific diseases (I've heard they can have knee issues, but I don't know).

Let me know if you have other questions.

 

[horseshowmom]

After a lot of thought we are ready to bring another dog into our home.

I've always had a dog in our home and we now have the time - DF and I work different hours, teen DS loves dogs - to raise a pup.

We are considering a mini pin. The size, temperament (big attitude in a little body), and looks appeal to us. We have a large property with horses and one other dog - Miniature Australian Shepherd.

Anyone with insight into these dogs?

Animals come to a forever home when they enter our lives so we want to make the right choice

I have one, and he's a major character! My mother says he's a genius, but she's a little prejudiced in his favor. He's long legged and about 10 lbs. (black and rust) - lean and streamlined - fast as lightning!

Mine was about 8 months old when we adopted him (have had him a year and a half). He had been abandoned in the parking lot at our vet. Like you, we are well known as being a forever home, and our vet asked me about taking him after my Chihuahua died.

He had issues - some of which were breed specific and some that were related to his background, I'm sure. When I brought him home, I really wasn't sure he would ever be able to go out without being on a leash (he wasn't very obedient at that point). Now, I don't worry about it at all. When I call, he comes immediately (sometimes I do have to use my stern voice first ).

He took a little while to house train but once he had it, that was it. He was bad about chewing things - that improved dramatically but still pops up from time to time even though we leave out plenty of chew things. I just have to make sure to put up things that are tempting (shoes, anything with a strap on it, etc.). He was a barker - and still is. He is definitely a burrower and loves sleeping with us. He never moves a muscle and is very well mannered.

He has LOTS of energy, is super cute, and absolutely adores me! Unfortunately, he's not so crazy about DH. If my DH is sitting on the couch, then he likes him fine - otherwise, not so much. The same goes for our son-in-law. Everybody else, he likes fine (absolutely loves DH's best friend).

Honestly, if my DH would go along with me, I'd get another one of these little characters. He definitely thinks he's big (loves to play with our Lab and mixed breed).

ETA: Right now, he's on the back of the recliner waiting for the cat to come out for a sneak attack (this goes both ways, one is as bad as the other! LOL), but as soon as I say "ready for bed", he'll take off down the hallway.

 

[Hutchy]

I have 2 and I don't think I'll ever have any other kind of dog! They are perfect for my lifestyle! I have a red min pin and a black and tan. Mine are almost 7 now and they are very laid back but I really think this is a dog that molds to their owner. I am very laid back and love to sleep and so do my girls! My MIL also has a min pin the same age and that dog is a SPAZ and she has said a few times that people have told her that Reesey is her in dog form and it's true. They are very smart, sometimes I think my red dog is too smart for her own good. My black dog is pretty happy go lucky but she can get into the mode of thinking she's a full size doberman instead of a minnie. lol We have to keep her dominance under control around other dogs. My dogs travel wonderfully and I have spent A LOT of time on the roads with them. They are the perfect lap size to cuddle with on the sofa and mine are very much lap babies. I've noticed that they usually attach to 1 person in the family. My red dog is my baby and for the longest time didn't pay my husband any attention at all, in the last couple of years she will go sit with him for and gets more excited to see him when he comes home from deployments. Black dog is my husband's baby all the way!

My girls. Kiowa

Miss Pooh (she loves wearing clothes. SO funny and because she's cold natured she wears a sweater a lot in the winter.)

We had the same issue with ours for years! They got off the leash and would take off! Now they are really good and the last time we were in Destin we were able to let them off the leash while we walked around the condo area (it was Nov so very few people/cars around

He took a little while to house train but once he had it, that was it. He was bad about chewing things - that improved dramatically but still pops up from time to time even though we leave out plenty of chew things. I just have to make sure to put up things that are tempting (shoes, anything with a strap on it, etc.). He was a barker - and still is. He is definitely a burrower and loves sleeping with us. He never moves a muscle and is very well mannered.

My black dog trained so fast but my red dog was SPITEFUL she would look at you and pee on the floor minutes after coming back inside. Now we haven't had any issues in year but those first couple of months were trying. She was also a chewer but that hasn't been an issue in years. As I'm typing she's on the sofa under a blanket and the other one is in the bed under the covers. At 9pm she considers it bedtime and heads in there with our without us. lol Mine are much more protective of the house when my husband is away than when he's home. When he was here for R&R I think a bear could have walked in the front door and they would have looked at DH like "yah, get that" but the night that he left every single noise had them up and barking at the front window.

 

[ems_mom]

Our girl is a Min Pin mix. We were told she was a minpin/chihuahua mix; but given her 14 pound weight, we're doubtful. She is precious, a beloved member of the family. She came to us very early (8 weeks) due to some unscrupulous dealers, no doubt.

Despite our best efforts at puppy-rearing, Tess flew down the steps of our deck onto our brick patio and broke a bone equivalent to our elbow. Our 10 week old baby had major surgery and permanent pins and screws put in her little chicken arm.

It's six years later and she is fully recovered, but I would caution anyone adopting/buying a dog thats body/bones are so fragile to be very careful and willing to go the distance if their dog gets hurt. Tess's surgery cost over $2000. Worth every penny to us but still a big expense.

 

[Disneylover79]

I don't have a min pin but have thought about getting one in the next few years so I want to join in to read all the stories....

 

[mjkacmom]

Don't do it! I had a puppy mill min-pin (any puppy you buy from a petstore, or in this case, a puppy store - I was young and stupid), and she was a handfull! She was never fully housebroken, barked all of the time, and ended up getting hit by a car at the age of 8. We had a fenced in yard, but she kept digging holes under the fence, in her quest of catching squirrels. Two of my friends ended up getting min-pins, and judging by their facebook updates, they didn't do much better. She slept with me, and if I got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, she'd growl when I tried to get back in bed.

 

[nancycg56]

There are a couple that come to the dog park and they are great dogs! They always give my Jack Russell a run for his money which I always appreciate ~ any dog that can wear out my dog is OK in my book!

 

[horseshowmom]

We had the same issue with ours for years! They got off the leash and would take off! Now they are really good and the last time we were in Destin we were able to let them off the leash while we walked around the condo area (it was Nov so very few people/cars around

I was fortunate. It only took him about 6 months or so. I had Swine Flu in September 2009 (about a month after I got him) and let him out the back to do his business (we live in a very rural area). He wouldn't come back when I called him, and I had to drag myself out to the barn (he had gone up in the pastures with my other dogs). When I called, they came back, and he didn't. I kept thinking that he was going to run up in the woods and get lost , but sure enough, he came back in his own sweet time and looked at me like he was asking what the problem was. It was a looonnnggg time before he went back out without a leash!

I'm typing she's on the sofa under a blanket and the other one is in the bed under the covers. At 9pm she considers it bedtime and heads in there with our without us. lol Mine are much more protective of the house when my husband is away than when he's home. When he was here for R&R I think a bear could have walked in the front door and they would have looked at DH like "yah, get that" but the night that he left every single noise had them up and barking at the front window

That's funny, mine considers 9 p.m. to be bedtime too. Sometimes he'll go on his own, and sometimes he'll keep begging me to go too. He's very intelligent, and you can tell there's always something going on in that brain of his.


OP, let me add here that if you check out animal shelter/humane societies in your area, the odds are that you can find a MinPin (a lot cheaper than buying one, and you'll save a life as well).

Mine had been at the vet for a couple of months (after being abandoned in the parking lot as I said before). I suspect that somebody bought him and wasn't prepared to handle him (at that point he was probably chewing everything in sight and not progressing with his house training). His tail had been broken so I suspect somebody either mistreated him, or he got it caught in a door. Our vet asked me about him because they knew I would be patient with him (the vet had neutered him and given him his shots - in fact, they've provided him with free vet care so far - said "he's still under warranty" ). I absolutely adore him and wouldn't trade him for anything, but he does still require patience from time to time.

 

[2Kds2K9]

My Dad has one and she's great. I had the good fortune of keeping her for a week right after he got her, therefore, I had fun of house training her. Had her trained in about 4 days! They are very smart!

Good luck!

 

[horseshowmom]

My Dad has one and she's great. I had the good fortune of keeping her for a week right after he got her, therefore, I had fun of house training her. Had her trained in about 4 days! They are very smart!

Good luck!

I wanted to add that mine has a bed on the hearth of the fireplace. He knows that when I come home from school, the first thing I do is turn the fireplace on (much to his delight). One day I came in and had to do something else first. When I came back into the den, he was up on the hearth looking down into the logs. I could tell he was thinking that that fire was supposed to be down in there somewhere.

 

[Hutchy]

horseshowmom, I live in a neighborhood so mine are used to being in a fenced in back yard so when I would go visit my parents in the country they LOVED to RUUUUNNNN! lol Now they would be fine out there but my grandfather's driveway goes down beside my parents house and since my girls aren't afraid of cars at all we still have to keep a close eye on them in case someone comes down the driveway. Otherwise they are to the point that we could leave them out alone with the other dogs.

I just left today to travel for a few days and my neighbor is keeping them (we have a gate in our fence and we both have dog doors so they are very used to being around her and her dogs) but I know my red dog is going to be furious.

They are without a doubt a handful but they are so much fun. I love mine to death and they have kept me sane through my husband's deployments. He asks me every single time we talk how his girls are doing and he misses them so much.

I love this picture of them from when he came home for R&R.

 

[horseshowmom]

horseshowmom, I live in a neighborhood so mine are used to being in a fenced in back yard so when I would go visit my parents in the country they LOVED to RUUUUNNNN! lol Now they would be fine out there but my grandfather's driveway goes down beside my parents house and since my girls aren't afraid of cars at all we still have to keep a close eye on them in case someone comes down the driveway. Otherwise they are to the point that we could leave them out alone with the other dogs.

I just left today to travel for a few days and my neighbor is keeping them (we have a gate in our fence and we both have dog doors so they are very used to being around her and her dogs) but I know my red dog is going to be furious.

They are without a doubt a handful but they are so much fun. I love mine to death and they have kept me sane through my husband's deployments. He asks me every single time we talk how his girls are doing and he misses them so much.

I love this picture of them from when he came home for R&R.

The picture is great! First off, please tell your husband how much his service is appreciated (and yours too there at home )!

My Charlie loves that running too. We've just come through a LOT of snow. I don't ever remember this much, and it was over his belly. My husband teaches 4th grade and drives a school bus for extra money. The bus was parked in our driveway so I would take Charlie out there to go to the restroom. He would run from one end of the bus and back to the other, over and over (no snow under there, just gravel).

I don't have a picture on this computer, but he's a cutie. As I said before, he has long legs and is lean. He has the classic black and rust markings with a white cross on his chest. He still has his tail. Right now, he's stretched out in front of the fireplace "catching" one of his chew bones.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

All three...very cute!

 

[Winnie Pooh Fan]

Bummer..... DF spoke with a good friend that owned one of theses guys. Lots of barking is a huge issue with our different work hours so he doesn't even want to consider one.

Thanks everyone for your pictures - vert cute

 

[horseshowmom]

Bummer..... DF spoke with a good friend that owned one of theses guys. Lots of barking is a huge issue with our different work hours so he doesn't even want to consider one.

Thanks everyone for your pictures - vert cute

Your different hours could matter. While I love my boy, his bark is very shrill (not sure that's what I'm looking for, but it can be hard on the ears), and while he will quiet down some when I correct him, he likes to get the last word.