Miniature Pinscher (Comprehensive Owner's Guide)

This Comprehensive Owner's Guide to the Miniature Pinscher serves as a complete introduction to the diminutive and distinguished "King of Toys." With a lot of personality, courage, and confidence packed into a small frame, the "Min Pin" hails from Germany and is a regal sight in his red, black-and-rust, and chocolate-and-rust coat colors. Min Pins are popular the world over for their intelligence, loyalty, and sense of humor, all in a compact size that makes them suitable companions for most living environments. Sporty little dogs who love to be in the spotlight, Min Pins are best matched with owners who have plenty of attention to lavish on a dog. Although this breed was originally intended to hunt rats, as discussed in the first chapter on its origins in Europe, Miniature Pinschers today enjoy life at home as valued pets. The second chapter discusses owning the breed, activities to keep an energetic Min Pin happy, and sound advice about which owners are best suited to the breed. New owners will welcome the well-prepared chapter on the breed standard, finding a breeder and selecting a healthy, sound puppy. Chapters on puppy-proofing the home and yard and purchasing the right supplies for the puppy as well as house-training, feeding, and grooming are illustrated with handsome adults and puppies bursting with fun and personality! There are more than 135 color photographs in this compact, useful, and reliable volume. The author's advice on obedience training the bright Min Pin will help readers better mold and train their pets to be the most socialized, well-mannered dogs in the neighborhood. The extensive chapter on healthcare provides up-to-date detailed information on selecting a qualified veterinarian, vaccinations, parasites, infectious diseases, and more, which is followed by a chapter on caring for the senior dog. Sidebars throughout the text offer helpful hints, covering topics as diverse as historical kennels, toxic plants, first aid, crate training, carsickness, fussy eaters, and parasite control. Fully indexed.