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Italian Grey Min Pin |
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He is not recognized by the F.C.I. |
Origin |
Italy <> Germany -> U.S.A. | |
Translation |
Francis Vandersteen | |
This breed is also known as |
Italian Grey Pinscher |
A brief presentation of the Italian Grey Min Pin |
The Italian Grey Min Pin is a cross between the Italian Greyhound and the Miniature Pinscher. They are two toy breeds with similar coats and statures, so they will be similar in size. They usually stand around 30.5 to 38 centimeters tall and weigh 4.5 to 7 kilos. Although they are adorable and affectionate pets, they need to be carefully supervised with young children due to their slender size and temperament. These dogs do best in homes with older children and make excellent companions for the elderly. However, they need plenty of exercise, so they'll need someone able to take them for walks or play in a large fenced yard. |
History of the Italian Grey Min Pin |
The Italian Grey Min Pin hasn't been around long enough to have a history, so you'll need to check the backgrounds of the Little Italian Greyhound and the Miniature Pinscher. |
A little of the Italian Greyhound |
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The Italian Greyhound is an ancient breed that is the smallest Greyhound and is actually considered miniature. According to records, there are works of art from the ancient Egyptians that show the Italian Greyhound dog, confirming that they have existed for thousands of years. The name Greyhound was mentioned in the Bible and has nothing to do with the gray color but actually represents a fair dog. The breed comes from the Old English Grighund and was brought to Europe by a Mediterranean group of people called Phoenicians as a pet. Although these dogs were popular with the Romans, Greeks and Egyptians, it was the Romans who cultivated the breed. King Frederick of Prussia loved his pet Italian Greyhound so much that it was buried next to him when he died. In the late 19th century, the Italian Greyhound was brought to the United States, where it was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1886. It is now the 72nd most common dog in the United States. | ||
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Standard of the Italian Greyhound | ||
A little of the Miniature Pinscher |
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Not related to the Doberman Pinscher, the Miniature Pinscher is in fact a descendant of the Standard German Pinscher, the Italian Greyhound and the Dachshund. They originated in Germany in the 1600s, bred to help rid farms of rats and mice. Some say they've been around much longer, and there are paintings and other relics from the Renaissance period depicting the breed. The name Pinscher actually means "biter" and refers to the breed's habit of biting its prey. However, the Miniature Pinscher is now a very gentle breed that began to be shown at dog shows in Germany in 1900 and came to America's attention in 1925, when it was accepted by the American Kennel Club. They are now the 68th most popular breed in the U.S.A. | ||
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Standard of the Miniature Pinscher |
Appearance of the Italian Grey Min Pin |
The Italian Grey Min Pin is a small dog with a fine, straight coat that comes in a variety of colors and patterns such as tan, gray, white, yellow, chocolate, liver, brindle, sand, pied, merle, spotted, orange, red, beige or black. Because the Italian Greyhound and the Miniature Pinscher are both small dogs, your Italian Grey Min Pin will be a very slim, streamlined dog with long, skinny legs and a narrow head. Their triangular ears perk up on their heads when they're listening and flop down when they're not. Their long, tapering tail is usually curled over their back, but can also hang down. |
Temperament of the Italian Grey Min Pin |
The Italian Greyhound is a gentle, submissive breed that needs to be socialized early and often. The Miniature Pinscher is friendly and affectionate, but can be a little exuberant with small children, so they also need extra training. This combination is a concern for those with pups, and they do best when raised together. However, you still need to keep an eye on them to avoid accidents. The Italian Grey Min Pin learns quickly and is eager to please, which makes them easy to train. They are susceptible to small dog syndrome, which should be called spoiled dog syndrome, because that's essentially what it means. Be firm and consistent to avoid this problem. |
Needs and activities of the Italian Grey Min Pin |
Both the Italian Greyhound and the Miniature Pinscher have high activity levels that require tons of exercise, so your Italian Grey Min Pin will need about an hour or two of vigorous activity every day to avoid health problems or boredom. The Italian Greyhound is a running and hunting dog, while the Miniature Pinscher is a hunter, and because of this, your dog will probably have a strong prey drive and a desire to run. You can expect them to chase any small animals they can find outdoors or indoors. Don't leave them alone with rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs and the like. They need to stay socialized, so taking them to the dog park once or twice a month is a great idea. A home with a well-fenced backyard is ideal for this hybrid, as it should always be supervised when outdoors. |
Maintenance of the Italian Grey Min Pin |
The Italian Grey Min Pin's coat is one of the easiest to groom, with a fine, short, glossy sheen that barely needs brushing or shampooing. All you really have to do is run a smooth brush or rubber grooming glove over your dog once a week to keep his skin and coat healthy and prevent shedding. Rather than giving your dog a bath, you can use a damp washcloth or dog cleansing wipe from time to time to keep him looking and feeling good. You can also clean his ears and teeth once a week to keep them clean and fresh. Also, trim your dog's nails if necessary to prevent them from curling and cracking. |