Old English Terrier vs Miniature Pinscher - 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.

Known also as the Black Terrier, by the 18th century, the Old English Terrier was available as a rough-coated dog as well as a smooth-coated dog.

The dogs were established in England. The dog was developed to work and by the 19th century the Old English Terrier was to be found all over the world.

The dog was developed based on the work it was required to do, leading to variations in the coat texture, the body and size. The Old English Terrier is recognized today by the National Terriers Club LLC.

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 Old English Terrier is a working dog, a sporting terrier known for his athleticism. This is a vibrant dog, both physically and mentally, and the dog will require plenty of physical exercise as well as mental stimulation.

If you go to a reputable pet shop, you will find many stimulating toys for such a clever dog. He is also social and friendly and makes a wonderful pet.

Your Old English Terrier stands at between 30 – 45cm and weighs between 6 and 15kg. The face of the dog is wedge-shaped and the eyes are set wide apart. The ears are erect and the tail has been docked but is left long these days.

The coat of the dog can be either rough or smooth and it is available in solid black or white or a black and tan mix.

Temperament:

The Old English Terrier is a working and sporting terrier. He makes a wonderful companion pet. He is an intelligent, boisterous type of dog and early training and socialization are necessary to make him obedient and more amicable around people and pets.

They are loving with their human family, but because they require such vigorous exercise, they are better suited to life in the countryside as opposed to living in a cramped space in the city.

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.

Your Old English Terrier is a working dog and while he is known to be independent and sometimes quite stubborn, he is intelligent and trainable.

He should be trained and socialized and then he becomes a great family pet, being amicable with children and other pets. He is a good natured pet but he has lots of energy and will rely on you to provide him with walks and games, whether you live in the city or the countryside.

Give him the right upbringing and you can be assured of the most splendid pet and companion.

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.

There are some health problems with a dog that can be inherited, but some illnesses develop because of bad lifestyle and bad diet along with lack of exercise.

Your Old English Terrier can live to anything from 10 to 14 years of age, but there are always some common dog diseases that you may want to be aware of.

Dental disease, skin allergies, hip dysplasia, cancer, epilepsy, bloat and eye diseases are just some of the diseases that are highly unlikely, but which can be worrisome for your pet.

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:

Looking after your Old English Terrier is easy, whether you choose the short- or long haired breed, requiring you to brush him twice a week to remove those loose hairs. Check in and outside the ears for ticks and fleas and check around the eyes for infections.

Always run your hands over your dog to make sure there are no unusual lumps which could be indicative of cancer.

General care:

Make sure your pet has a nice dry, warm place to sleep, and if he is outdoors, make sure he has a spot to lie down in that is out of the sun and rain.

Exercise:

He is an active dog and will require a walk each day as well as ball- and rope games.

Diet:

Every dog will benefit from a high quality diet, both commercially manufactured food and home-made food. Dogs want their meals to be simple, tasty, consistent and delicious.

Dry kibble needs to be of a high quality and you can add in simple home-made food to his kibble and which is simple – boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and vegetables such as spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. When you can afford it, some raw meat added into the kibble will be a welcome treat.

Such a simple diet will ensure you don’t battle with your dog’s digestion and it will keep him bright-eyed and healthy. Ensure a constant supply of fresh, cool water.