About the Harlequin Miniature Pinscher
“AKA Harlequin Pinscher, Fancy Min Pin and the Merle Miniature Pinscher”
The Harlequin Miniature Pinscher is a re-developed patterned variety of the Miniature Pinscher. Its name is a deviation of the more familiarly known Harlequin Pinscher. It is also known as several other nick names with the most common being the Fancy Min Pin and Merle Miniature Pinscher. Being a part of the Terrier group, the Harlequin Miniature Pinscher possesses keen intelligence, vigilance, courage, strong will, independence and animation. They are active, playful, and loyal dogs with a terrier-like attitude. Truly a big dog in a small package just like their Miniature Pinscher relatives. They are also structurally very similar to the Miniature Pinscher with a compact, well-balanced, sturdy body and have a short, naturally well-groomed smooth coat.
Temperament:
Family: Affectionate, charming and loyal. Can be rough with small children and small animals. Can be overstimulated and become frustrated in a hectic and busy home.
Strangers: Aloof and domineering toward unfamiliar dogs.
Watchdogs: Alert, Fearless and Bold. Barks a lot and are excellent watch dogs as that’s what their ancestors was bred to do!
Training: Active, energetic and confident. Will test their owners’ limits. Incredible performers once trained. Usually easily trained but training can be difficult unless it’s perceived as a fun activity and not work.
Care:
Early socialization and puppy classes are recommended.
Needs ample exercise and lots of daily stimulation. Daily walks, plenty of chew toys, fun games and activities to keep them busy. If bored, they can become destructive.
Minimum grooming needs. Low shedding. Bathe only as needed. Routine teeth cleaning, weekly brushing and nail trims are usually all that’s required.
Nutrition:
Min Pins prefer daily routines. Even with their food. Some do well on scheduled feeding others prefer to graze all day. How often you choose to feed should be established as a pup and continued the same throughout their adulthood. Amount Depends on age, weight and activity level.
A well-balanced high-quality diet is all that’s usually needed. No supplementation needed unless a health issue arises.
Can be picky eaters and they are great little beggars.
Access to clean water at all times
Health:
Relatively a healthy breed.
They can develop ocular, orthopedic, hepatic, cardiac and endocrine issues.
Routine vet visits are recommended for checkups and parasite control.
Pet insurance is recommended.
Though many of the current documentations available today of the Miniature Pinscher breed’s history does not include the patterned variety. There have been a few historical books and documentations that have been found to prove that the patterns were in fact once a part of the Miniature Pinscher breed. Unfortunately, the patterned variety failed in favor and eventually became extinct mainly due to the lack of knowledge about the pattern genes. Especially the merle gene as it could be lethal and cause congenital issues in double form.
Today’s Harlequin Pinscher is a distinct breed unto itself and is a re-development of the extinct pattern variety of the Miniature Pinscher. Thanks to the contributions of the Rat Terrier, former breeders were able to successfully re-introduce the beautiful merle, brindle and piebald pattern genes to the Miniature Pinscher. The best-known history of the patterned Pinscher and the reintroduction of the Harlequin Pinscher can be found on the Harlequin Pinscher Association (HPA) website. www.harlequinpinscherassociation.com
The HPA is the foundation registry for the Harlequin Pinscher and was established in 2007. In 2016, ALL foundation stock services were closed as there were enough 7th generation (or more) offspring to carry forward and from that point forward ONLY purebred Miniature Pinschers and Harlequin Pinschers have been used in the Harlequin Pinscher breeding programs. To become known today as purebred Harlequin Pinschers.
Many former breeders have worked diligently with a carefully developed program, dedicated to maintaining a true and accurate database, requiring genetic testing and DNA parental verification. We truly have them to thank for such a wonderful breed.
The American Harlequin Miniature Pinscher Club (AHMPC) was formed in 2022 due to unforeseen circumstances and disagreements between a few breeders and the HPA. Here those breeders along with others that choose to be associated with the AHMPC will continue the lineages of the Harlequin Pinscher from the foundation registry and pledge to continue to protect the breed to the best of their abilities through selective breeding, genetic testing and DNA certification. Though the AHMPC will register all dogs and offspring rightfully as Harlequin Pinschers, they will be referred to by the nickname Harlequin Miniature Pinschers so that no copywrite or trademark infringements of the HPA is perceived.