Miniature Pinscher vs Doxiepom - Breed Comparison

The Miniature Pinscher hails from Germany. It appears to be an ancient dog breed, going back hundreds of years and being used to kill vermin.

He is a distinct breed and much older than the Dobermann Pinscher. Development of this small dog started way back in 1895 when the Pinscher Klub was formed. It was renamed the Pinscher-Schnauzer Klub and the first breed standard was also written.

By 1929, the Miniature Pinscher Club of America was formed.

The Doxiepom is a small dog known as a designer breed which has originated from crossing the well known Dachshund dog with another well known pure-breed dog, the Pomeranian.

This has resulted in the hybrid breed – the Doxiepom.

Both these pure bred dogs have their own history each but the Doxiepom is a new dog breed. It is believed that this mix of Pomeranian and Dachshund was originally developed in the United States in the 1990’s and while he doesn’t have much of a history, you can have a look at the history of the parent dog breeds.

This bright, alert little dog stands at 25 to 30cm and weighs in the region of 3 to 5 kg.

The body is lean and muscular with strong, straight legs. He has a short, sleek coat with no undercoat. The coat is black and tan, chocolate or a rusty shade. The ears are erect but sometimes they are half erect and half floppy, the little nose is black and the tail is usually docked. If you allow your Min Pin to breed, you can expect 2 - 6 puppies.

Temperament:

The Min Pin is a bright, feisty, alert toy breed, full of personality and full of spunk, making him an excellent watchdog too.

He isn’t aggressive towards his human family but he is full of attitude and can be aggressive with other dogs. He may be small but he isn’t a lap dog, being way too active for that, loving to be involved in a game or going for a walk.

He is loving with his human family, but training and socialization can make him a better pet, obedient and amicable. He is intelligent too so he learns easily. He gets along well with children but only when those children have been taught to be kind ad gentle with all animals, but particularly with teeny weenies like himself.

The Doxiepom is a small dog - a cross between the Dachshund and the Pomeranian, and this means he can have characteristics from each of these breeds.

They’re short dogs, standing at roughly 12cm to 27cm. A full grown Pomeranian Dachshund mix can weigh between 3kg and 12kg.

With a fairly long body from the Dachshund side, he has floppy ears or they can be semi-erect and the tail is long.

You can’t really say what the dog will look like exactly and the coat may be long or short with some of the coat colors being tan, black or brown.

Temperament:

Their dependent nature can mean these little dogs battling with separation anxiety, and he is a dog that doesn’t like being left alone for long periods of time.

He easily attaches himself to just one member of the family while being friendly and loving to everyone else as well.

They’e fun loving, playful dogs and want to be involved in their family’s activities, whether indoors or out. They’re friendly, but are aloof with strangers. He makes a great watchdog too, barking when strangers enter the property.

The Miniature Pinscher is such a sporty, fun-loving, confident little dog that is also fearless for his small size.

He thinks he is a ferocious, big Dobermann Pinscher at heart and is ready to guard and protect his family with everything he’s got.

He is full of energy too and always ready for his daily walk and other forms of exercise and games.

He may be small, but he doesn’t want to be a lap dog, as he is too active for that. He can be highly entertaining and he promises to make you the most devoted and loving little family pet.

One of the strong characteristics of the the Doxiepom is that he shares a strong bond with his human family.

He is such a amicable little dog, ready to join in with the children in their games as well as in the activities of the adults.

He craves human companionship, and if you provide him with a happy home, he promises to give you devoted companionship throughout his life.

Min Pins are robust little dogs and can enjoy good health when looked after properly. They can reach 15 years of age and even more.

Just like with any other dogs though, they’re prone to certain health conditions. Your Miniature Pinscher is highly unlikely to get any of these diseases, but it's good to be aware of some of them.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy, known as PRA for short is an eye disease where there is gradual deterioration of the retina. You will no doubt see your dog being affected with night blindness – not being able to find their way around as they usually do.

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease is a hip joint problem that often affects toy breeds. The blood supply to the head of the femur is decreased and you’ll notice your pet limping. It’s not an ailment reserved for old dogs either but can be found in puppies that are just 4 months of age.

Hypothyroidism is a disorder of the thyroid gland and can lead to skin conditions with your dog as well as lethargy, hair loss and obesity.

The Doxiepom is a little dog who isn’t going to cost you a lot of time at the vet, however there are some typical dog illnesses that you will do well to know about.

Generally the Doxiepom has a lifespan of about 12 to 16 years and with good care, your pet can reach this age too.

As far as health problems go, your dog could be affected, although it is unlikely, as he is a robust dog breed.

Your pet could inherit health problems more common to either of the breeds. Little dogs suffer with their own set of heath problems and these could be back problems, dental- and eye disease and allergies.

A common health problem with a small dog like this is obesity. They don’t need a lot of food but because they’re so friendly and entertaining, some owners over-feed them.

Grooming:

Grooming is easy and you will simply need to brush him twice a week as his coat is short and smooth. There is really no need to bath the Min Pin and you could even take a damp cloth and wipe him down to avoid using a shampoo which could dry the skin.

Always check his eyes and ears for infection and check for fleas and ticks too. His nails will need to be trimmed, more so if he doesn’t wear them down naturally.

Check your dogs teeth. Small dogs are more prone to dental disease and you want to brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week with special canine toothbrush and toothpaste to avoid dental problems.

Diet:

The amount your Miniature Pinscher eats will be determined by his age and his activity levels.

When you buy commercially manufactured food, you will need to buy food that is recommended for small, energetic dogs. You don’t want to feed your pet dry kibble day after day, so a tasty, nutritious treat is to add finely chopped up boiled chicken, brown rice of pasta and some cooked vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and spinach into his kibble.

All dogs, but particularly little dogs, love simple food that is consistent like what has been mentioned. They don’t do well on strange, exotic kinds of foods as it upsets the stomach. Make sure he has cool, fresh water available to him at all times, night and day.

Grooming:

The Doxipom has moderate grooming requirements, shedding somewhat throughout the year, so brushing him twice a week will keep the coat shiny and healthy.

If your pet has turned out to have more long hair than short, he may require some professional grooming. His nails will also need clipping and his ears will also need to be checked for infection.

Small dogs often battle more with dental and gum problems, and plaque and tartar buildup results when food gets trapped between the teeth, leading to gingivitis which can lead to premature tooth loss. Keeping the teeth clean is therefore important.

Diet:

Small dogs have quicker metabolisms than big dogs and they also mature faster than the larger dogs. Smaller dogs actually require more calories per kilogram than big dogs because they burn up energy faster than larger breeds.

It is therefore important to feed your small dog the right amount of food to support their growth rate and to maintain weight in adulthood. Homemade foods for your Doxiepom are always wonderful, but of course many people who work make use of some of the good commercially manufactured dog foods out of sheer convenience.

Go for the better quality brands which have top ingredients in them so as to avoid deficiencies.

Raw meat should also make up part of the diet – fish, chicken and red meat. Always make sure your pet has access to fresh, cool water.