FCI Standard N° 185 / 11.08.2000
MINIATURE PINSCHER (Zwergpinscher)
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN : Germany.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD: 06.04.2000.
UTILISATION : House and Companion Dog.
CLASSIFICATION FCI : Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer- Molossian breeds -
Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs and other breeds.
Section 1 Pinscher and Schnauzer type.
Without working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : Miniature Pinschers were kept in large numbers around
the turn of the century already and the Stud Book for 1925 records no less than 1300
entries. Like with the German Pinscher, from the numerous colour variations, only the
colours black with lighter markings and solid red to red-brown were thorough-bred.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : The Miniature Pinscher is a reduced image of the German
Pinscher without the draw-backs of a dwarfed appearance. His elegant square build is
clearly visible due to his short smooth coat.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS :
· The ratio from length to height shall make his build appear as square as possible.
· The length of the head (measured fom the tip of the nose to the occiput) corresponds
to half the length of the topline (measured from the withers to the set on of the tail).
BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT : Lively, spirited, self assured and evenly tempered. These
qualities make him an agreeable family and companion dog.
Skull : Strong, elongated without markedly protruding occiput. The forehead is flat without
wrinkles, running parallel to the bridge of nose.
Stop: Slight, yet clearly defined.
Nose: Noseleather well developed and black.
Muzzle: Ending in a blunt wedge. Bridge of nose straight.
Lips: Black, smooth and tight-fitting to the jaw. Corners of lips closed.
Jaws/Teeth : Strong upper and lower jaw. The complete scissor bite (42 pure white teeth
according to the dentition formula), is strong and firmly closing. The chewing muscles are
strongly developed without pronounced cheeks interfering with the smooth outline.
Eyes: Dark, oval, with black pigmented close fitting eyelids.
Ears : Prick ears ; drop ears, set high, V-shaped with the inner edges lying close to the
cheeks, turned forward towards temples. Folds parallel, should not be above the top of
NECK : Nobly curved, not too short. Blending smoothly into the withers without any
marked set on. Dry without dewlap or throatiness. Throat skin tight-fitting without folds.
Topline: Slightly sloping from withers towards rear.
Withers: Forming the highest point in topline.
Back: Strong, short and taut.
Loins: Strong. The distance from last rib to hip is short to make the dog appear compact.
Croup: Slightly rounded, imperceptibly blending into tail set on.
Chest: Moderately broad, oval in diameter, reaching to elbows. The forechest is distinctly
marked by the point of the sternum.
Underline and belly : Flanks not too tucked up, forming a nicely curved line with the
underside of the brisket.
FOREQUARTERS : Seen from the front, the front legs are strong, straight and not close
together. Seen from the side, the forearms are straight.
Shoulders: The shoulder blade lies close against the ribcage and is well muscled on both
sides of the shoulder bone, protruding over the points of the thoracic vertebrae. As sloping
as possible and well laid back, forming an angle of appr. 50° to the horizontal.
Upper arm: Lying close to the body, strong and well muscled, forming an angle of 95° to
100° to the shoulder blade.
Elbows: Correctly fitting, turning neither in nor out.
Forearm: Strongly developed and well muscled. Completely straight seen from the front
and the side.
Carpal joint: Strong and firm.
Pastern: Strong and springy. Seen from the front,vertical, seen from the side, slightly
sloping towards the ground.
Forefeet: Short and round, toes well-knit and arched (cat feet), pads resistant, nails
short, black and strong.
HINDQUARTERS : Standing obliquely, when seen from the side, standing parallel but not
close together seen from the rear.
Upper thigh: Moderately long, broad, strongly muscled.
Stifle: Turning neither in nor out.
Lower thigh: Long and strong, sinewy, running into a strong hock.
Hock: Markedly angulated, strong, firm, turning neither in nor out.
Metatarsus : Vertical to the ground.
Hind feet: Somewhat longer than forefeet. Toes well-knit and arched. Nails short and black.
GAIT/MOVEMENT : The Miniature Pinscher is a trotter. His back remains firm and rather
steady in movement. The movement is harmonious, sure, powerful and uninhibited with
good length of stride. Typical of the trot is a ground covering, relaxed, fluent movement
with strong drive and free front extension.
SKIN : Tight fitting over the whole body.
HAIR : Short and dense, smooth, close and shiny without bald patches.
· Self coloured : Deer red, reddish-brown to dark red brown.
· Black and Tan : Lacquer black with red or brown markings.
The aim is for markings as dark, as rich and as clearly defined as possible. The markings
are distributed as follows: Above the eyes, at the underside of the throat, on the pasterns,
on the feet, at the inside of the hind legs and under the root of the tail. Two even, clearly
separated triangles on the chest.
SIZE AND WEIGHT
Height at withers : Dogs and bitches: 25 to 30 cm.
Weight : Dogs and bitches: 4 to 6 kg.
FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the
seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its
· Clumsy or light in build. Too low or too high on leg.
· Heavy or round skull.
· Wrinkles on forehead.
· Short, pointed or narrow muzzle.
· Pincer bite.
· Light, too small or too large eyes.
· Ears set low or very long, unevenly carried.
· Too long, tucked up or soft back.
· Roach back.
· Croup falling away.
· Long feet.
· Pacing movement.
· Hackney gait.
· Thin coat.
· Roans; black trace on the back, dark saddle and lightened or pale coat.
· Over- or undersize up to 1 cm.
SERIOUS FAULTS :
· Lack of sexual type (i.e. doggy bitch).
· Light appearance
· Apple head.
· Lines of head not parallel.
· Elbows turning out.
· Hindlegs standing under the body.
· Straight or open hocked hindlegs.
· Hocks turning out.
· Over- or undersize by more than 1 cm but less than 2 cm.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS :
· Shy, aggressive, vicious, markedly suspicious, or nervous
· Malformation of any kind.
· Lack of breed type.
· Faults in mouth, such as over- or undershot or wry mouth.
· Severe faults in individual parts, such as faults in structure, coat or colour.
· Over- or undersize by more than 2 cm.
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
NB: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the