The Miniature Pinscher is not a dwarf Doberman Pinscher but an ancient breed that developed in Germany over 350 years ago. He was created in the Rhineland region of Germany to kill rats in and around stables. He was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1929. In Germany he is also called the Zwerg (dwarf) pinscher (terrier). He is considered a toy dog due to his size but his temperament resembles the terrier more.

Although not generally used as a ratter today, the MinPin is very energetic and an excellent alarm dog. He is active, cheerful, spirited and makes a good family pet. Due to his high energy, he needs daily walks or short hours of free exercise in a safe area.

The MinPin is a well balanced, sturdy, compact, smooth-coated dog. His head tapers from a flat skull to the nose. The eyes are slightly oval and dark. The ears are set high and erect. Cropping of ears is optional. The muzzle is strong and parallel to the top of the skull. The nose is black, except in chocolate coated dogs when the nose is self colored. The neck is slightly arched and muscular. The body is compact, slightly wedge-shaped and muscular with a level topline. The tail is set high and held erect. It is docked in proportion to the size of the dog. The legs are well muscled and straight. The feet are cat-like with well arched toes. The gait is a high-stepping, parallel stride. The coat is smooth, hard, and short. Colors of coat include black and tan, chocolate and tan, or stag red. Height at the withers ranges from ten to twelve-and-one-half inches. Weight ranges from eight to ten pounds.