Pinscher

This little german dog is very close to his family members and will prove to be very affectionate. 

However, he is also very capable of understanding when it’s not the time to disturb his family. He knows how to distance himself if needed.

This miniature dog is very playful, overflowing with energy. He takes a lot of pleasure in interacting with both children and adults on a regular basis, it is a way for him to expend himself and reinforce his bonds to the group.

Whether of miniature or medium variety, both kinds are particularly animated and do not stay still for an instant. Naturally excitable and lively, this dog is a real live wire.

This little german dog is intelligent, cunning enough to trick you into giving him what he wants. He’s very brave and unafraid of anything, which will allow him to be able to adapt to many environments.

The miniature version was initially used in hunting rodents, such as rats and mice. A faint predatory instinct is still remnant, but remains very easy to control since contemporary breeding favours the selection of companion dogs.

This mini Doberman is very gentle within the family but particularly suspicious towards strangers. He needs a lot of time to give his trust and can become quite the ‘barker’ if he doesn’t immediately ‘click’ with someone.

This little ball of energy can prove to be as independent as it is clingy. This will vary depending on his training and the relationship he has with members of his social group.

If this german dog gets plenty of exercise and has been accustomed, in a gradual and positive manner, to staying on his own from his youngest age, he can absolutely tolerate his owner’s absences.

Be careful, however, that the absences don’t drag on for many hours, because a bored dog, whether small or big, can rapidly cause damage in the house.

Both varieties are relatively easy to train. Attached to their owners and eager to please, these miniature Dobermans are very cooperative if the training methods are respectful, fair, and coherent. 

Brutality must never be part of the tactics used by the owners as this little dog cannot stand violence or groundless reprimands. With a moderately firm hand, you will have to prioritise the reinforcement of good behaviours. 

This dog is known to be stubborn, but if the proverbial “iron fist in a velvet glove” is applied, nothing should stand in the way of a good interaction between master and dog.

Be wary regarding the Zwerg (the miniature version), as one often tends to be indulgent with him, citing his small size as a reason- letting them tug and jump etc. This is in no way a good solution! Diligence and consistency must be at the core of training a dog, no matter its size.

This little dog is very brave and is not scared of anything, he’s a ferocious ‘barker’ if he perceives imminent danger. In this way, he is a good, alarming watchdog.

If he is walked outside everyday and all of his needs are met, there is no reason why this dog would want to run away.

The Pinscher puppy can be somewhat disruptive and destructive but this problem can be kept under control thanks to good training, stress-management work and appropriate responses to the dog’s energy-releasing needs.

This dog won’t skip meals, but isn’t much of a glutton, so might not necessarily be very fond of snacks during training sessions. The best way of encouraging/motivating this dog is by way of games and playfulness.

The medium-sized dog can be an appointed watchdog, while the Zwerg (german for ‘miniature’), for obvious, size-related reasons, cannot be much more than a companion dog, or, at most, an alarm in canine form by virtue of his barking.

Life in a flat is absolutely possible for this miniature Doberman. Be it the Zwerg variety, or the German variety, this dog can virtually adapt to any living condition without a problem. 

A house with a garden is desirable of course as well, given how active this dog is, but he should under no circumstance stay outside in extreme weather conditions. 

At any rate, whether he resides in a flat, a house, in the city or in the countryside, this dog will need daily outdoor walks to satisfy his need for exercise.

Despite his little dimensions, this dog is very high-performance. He needs an owner who is available and active to satisfy his needs in terms of exercise. 

This dog will have to be provided with several walks a day, otherwise his large stores of energy could lead to behavioural issues. 

The walks will have to be coupled with games, meaning dog activities that are specifically targeted and adapted, and general playtime that reinforces the master-dog relationship and consolidates the training process.

Even though it is very energetic, the miniature variety can easily be transported in a travel bag, if it has been gradually and positively conditioned to this means of transport ahead of time. 

For the german version (medium size), the travel bag won’t be possible, but an effective training in leash-led walking and staying at rest/ staying static will allow it to travel without a problem. 

Be wary of transporting the latter, medium-sized variety by plane though- given how sensitive he is, travelling in the cargo hold could be very difficult for him.

Rather sociable with other animals by nature, a good relationship with cats is possible if the Pinscher is introduced to them at a very young age.

The Pinscher doesn’t like other dogs much, but if he grows up with another pup, it could give way to a beautiful friendship… and perhaps a “barking brotherhood” too!

Actually, if the pup is socialised well ahead of time, before he even turns 3 months old, he will have absorbed a good canine ‘code of conduct’, that will allow him to communicate respectfully with his fellow dogs.

This little dog gets along well with all members of his social group, as long as all the latter respect him. Children will therefore have to learn to leave the dog be when he is in his bed, to play with him only when the parents deem it appropriate and, above all else, not to tease him or treat him like a toy.

This little dog can be very appealing to the elderly, but can under no circumstance live a sedentary day-to-day life. The presence of his owners will constitute an advantage, but they will nevertheless have to meet the dog’s expenditure needs. Resorting to dog-walking services for the dog will have to be considered in case of difficulty.

We often tend to think that for a first adoption, a little dog is more appropriate. In certain cases and depending on the breed, yes, but you should never consider this particular little dog to be an easy-going couch potato!

He will only appeal to those owners ready to devote a lot of time to satisfying this little ball of energy’s needs for expenditure, but also to invest themselves in training them, because without the latter, this little dog can quickly become a big burden.