the show. He was a bit on edge, and so was his dog, but into the ring they stepped. It was so exciting! He lis - tened to the judge intently, and fol - lowed his instructions to the letter… as they started to go around the ring, the lead slipped off his dog’s head! He bent down, called his dog to him, and slipped the lead back on. They fin - ished going around and he hid in the corner for them to relax. To his surprise, the judge was calling him to the front of the line! He was in the fourth spot! What did that mean? He and his dog were Select Dog! He definitely would have to talk to his mentor; where was she? At the end of the line? Oh, this is really good. Remember, a mentor can help you un - derstand the competition when you wish to begin. They will teach you how to train, enter the show, and share ideas as to how to succeed and enjoy yourself. So you say, “What makes us want to be - lieve what you just wrote?” Well, twen - ty-five years of experience handling, showing, breeding, playing, and just living with Miniature Pinschers. Cur - rently, I write for the American Kennel Club Gazette and prose for many other articles for different magazines. I have been honored with many cham - pions that have competed to Best in Show, Best in Specialty Show, Na - tional Specialty winners, and I have shown all over the world. Most of all, breeding and showing has allowed me to meet wonderful people, enjoy some great times and, most of all, live with some great dogs that will remain in my heart forever. Join us! For more information on this amazing little breed, please check out the Minia- ture Pinscher Club of America website, www.minpin.org.
Ask questions, spend the time re - searching, and watch, watch, watch. Learning from a mentor is the best way to get involved in the competi - tions. A mentor will give you the tool kit to start you on the way to achiev - ing your goals with your Min Pin. Miniature Pinschers are a pretty healthy breed. Their life span is 12- 15 years. When you bring your puppy home, have a bowl for food, bucket for fresh water, a good hard puppy kibble, sturdy collar and leash, warm blanket, and crate ready. Remember, training begins as soon as you bring him home. Major issues are patellar luxation, cervical (dry) disc, legg-calve perthes, epilepsy, thyroid, heart defects, and eye problems. Talk to your breeder and ask them what health issues are in the pedigree of your puppy. Keep - ing your Min Pin in shape and not overweight will help him live a long and busy life. Mentoring is very important to this sport, and part of the enjoyment of be - ing a mentor is being involved in sto - ries such as this one: He stood outside the ring and watched the dogs move around the ring with their handlers. “I could do that,” he thought. He had been to many shows with his breeder, but had never thought about entering the ring himself. She excitedly came out of the ring with a handful of rib - bons and breathlessly said that he could do this. Look how much fun we are having! The next day, she called and said she needed his help and that it was time he stepped up to the plate and showed his own little dog. He basically un - derstood the workings of the ring, but was he ready? Did he have the “right stuff?” The training? He dressed in a nice shirt, tie, and slacks, bathed his dog, and headed to
Do you need a fenced-in yard? Ab - solutely! A four-foot fence is not too high for a Min Pin looking for adven - ture. They are a curious little dog and will try something new just to see if they can do it. Chewing is a game that needs watching, as they can choke on small objects that they find in the house or yard. When training a Min Pin, you must be extremely patient and be able to teach them by using a firm but gentle hand. They bore easily and can be distracted. You must be able to guide them back into their lessons and keep them focused. Once focus is lost, time to do something else! Many who are owned by a Min Pin will tell you they are flexible and can learn how to do many things. They are excellent at Obedience competition at all levels and will thrill those watch- ing them work through Agility. Go ahead! Train Basic Obedience and earn your CGC title. This title will help with getting permission for the both of you to go into senior homes and hospitals to visit with folks who just want to hug your Min Pin. Oh, did you say you wanted to show your Min Pin in the Conformation ring? Standing on his own in the ring and showing off is how it’s done! Don’t get down on your knees to stack or pose; he is only stacked on the table. That’s the rule and we old-timers will tell you right off. The Min Pin is not a one-dimensional breed. Breed type and sound, typical, hackney-like movement are paramount. Go to the shows, whether it be for Obedience, Agility or Conformation, and meet the folks standing around the ring. Ask questions and watch every dog in the ring. Outside the ring, what you are interested in will be a person who will be your mentor.
42 • T op N otch T oys , J une 2022
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