“Miniature Pinschers are energetic and bold. They strut around the ring as if time has stopped and all eyes are on them. THIS CAN BE AN ADVANTAGE IF YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL SPECIAL, OR A FULL DAY’S ENTERTAINMENT IN ONLY TWO MINUTES IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE SHOWING AN ACTIVE PUPPY.”
they have obtained for their dogs. The MPCA (Miniature Pinscher Club of America) provides breeder referral information on their web site. The Miniature Pinscher is nothing short of a perpetual motion machine. That in itself is motivation enough for judges to go over them briefly on the table and then let them move. I am always grateful to judges who do the three T’s and then let my dogs strut their stuff because the floor is where the magic truly happens. Miniature Pinschers are energetic and bold. They strut around the ring as if time has stopped and all eyes are on them. This can be an advantage if you have a wonderful special, or a full day’s entertainment in only two minutes if you happen to be showing an active puppy. Try to get a mental picture of “Flight of the Bumblebee” and you can easily picture a Min Pin puppy. Exhibitors and judges have to maintain a sense of humor with the antics of puppies learning to show. There are few things prettier or more thrilling to a Min Pin fanatic as a properly moving dog with his head up and neck arched cruising around the ring. Comments heard around the ring from spectators typically include “look at that dog that trots like a pony.” That simile maybe helpful to those unfamiliar with the standard but it is incorrect. Miniature Pinschers are
well-known for their hackney-like gait; the key part of the statement is hackney-like. The MPCA standard defines the gait as “high-stepping, reaching, free and easy with the front legs moving straight forward in front of the body and the foot bending at the wrist; the dog drives smoothly and strongly from the rear. The hackney- like action in a Min Pin only refers to the front movement; whereas a hack- ney pony displays the hackney gait in the front and rear with what appears to be little forward movement. The idea of ‘more is better’ is not neces- sarily true regarding the amount of lift a Min Pin has. Extreme lift in the front is inefficient, choppy, and does not propel the dog forward. The Min- iature Pinscher Club of America pro- vides excellent video examples of cor- rect front and rear movement in the presentation developed for mentors and judges’ education. The presenta- tion is available on the AKC website, at judges’ education seminars, and on request from the MPCA for judges and judge applicants. Min Pins are like the Duck tape of dog breeds – versatile and appropriate for many things. They can be trained to participate in rally and obedience tri- als, scentwork, lure coursing, track- ing, dock diving, agility, and confor- mation. I have certified Min Pins to be therapy dogs for visits to hospitals,
senior centers, schools, and libraries. They make excellent companion dogs for those who seek an energetic, intel- ligent, loving, loyal dog, that quickly finds its way into your heart and un- der your blankets. Min Pins are square, short-backed, bundles of energy with a level or slightly-sloping topline. Tradition calls for self-stacking in the ring to allow their self-possessed personali- ties to shine through. They stand and move proudly with their head held high, their neck arched, maintaining their topline, and always, always, al- ways with their tail up. Their energy, animation, and keen expression are enormous parts of their charm. Min Pins with their unique gait and proud carriage announce to all who are present that they are indeed the “King of Toys”. Shelley Erdman – I have been loving, living with, owned by, and exhibiting Miniature Pinschers for about nine years. My dogs have been awarded Top Twenty and Top Ten medallions, multiple group placements, Reserve Best in Show, multiple owner-han- dled group placements, and multiple Bests in Specialty Show. I teach obe- dience classes, behavior modifica- tion, and conformation classes. I am currently a board member and the chairperson for public education for the MPCA.
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