Management & Prevention OOPS

A big part of dog training is management and prevention.  I recently came across a picture of something one of my own dogs did when he was a puppy.  Caravaggio suffered from severe separation anxiety as a young puppy and was confined when we left the house.  He actually ended up chewing through his crate, through the carpet, and into the wood floor.  So we decided to try something new.  We began gating him in the kitchen so that he could be with his buddy, Nekita.  This worked much better in the long run.  However, one of us was not practicing proper management one day and left a cabinet door open.  I'm sure Vaggy had the time of his life pulling everything out of the cabinet.  We, on the other hand, did not enjoy cleaning it up.  This picture was actually taken after we already started cleaning.  Naughty puppy!!

Breed of the Month--Miniature Pinscher

Miniature Pinscher


Color:  Black with rust markings, stage red, solid red, chocolate or fawn with rust markings.
Height:  10-12.5 inches
Weight:  9-13 lbs
Life Span:  15 years or more


Breed Health Concerns:  Epilepsy, heart problems, patellar lunation, Legg-Calve-Perthes, eye problems, cervical disk problems.


Coat:  Dense, close, smooth, shiny, straight, short
Country of Origin:  Germany

Visit the American Kennel Club for breed standards and more information.

Although this breed looks like a smaller version of the Doberman Pinscher, the two breeds are actually not related.  The Miniature Pinscher comes from breeds including:  Italian Greyhounds, terriers, Dachshunds.  The breed comes from the word "pinscher," which refers to the way the dogs actually attack vermin.  The dog literally pinches his prey.  The "Min Pin" is the top toy breed in Italy, Holland, and Denmark.

It is important to properly socialize this breed and to not allow him to get too spoiled.  The Min Pin is a fun-loving, self-assured dog that bonds very quickly with his family.  This breed does enjoy using his voice and can become a real behavior problem if not properly trained and managed.

Exercise:
The Miniature Pinscher enjoys getting exercise by accompanying his owners anywhere, as much as possible.  He also enjoys draining mental and physical energy with obedience and agility.  A short walk each day will be enough exercise for this toy breed.

Grooming:
The Min Pin coat is easily cared for with occasional brushing and rub downs.  Keep the face clean.

Training:
This little dog is athletic and able; he does not need to be carried around everywhere he goes.  In fact, it is better for the dog to walk alongside his owner than to be carried by him.  Socialization is important and training from puppyhood is key.  Short, reward-based, and motivational training sessions are best.

Did you hear something?

I think I'm seeing double.