Grooming
If you own one, then it is very important that you know how to care for Miniature Pinschers. The good news is, it’s not that difficult.
Because the Min Pin has a short coat, grooming is almost non-existent. I once heard a Miniature Pinscher described as a “wash and wear” dog. A good brushing once or twice a week will keep the coat shiny and clean.
And speaking of washing, I’ve often heard that frequent bathing is discouraged since it tends to dry out the coat. I’m probably guilty of bathing my Min Pins too often (I like a clean dog). But as long as you use a quality dog shampoo you should be OK. They are easy to bathe in the sink or tub. Mine showers with me. If you are concerned about frequent bathing, a warm damp washcloth will do the trick. Every few days is enough.
What is important is that the Min Pins toenails be trimmed. Some say do it every two weeks to avoid having to clip longer nails, I personally have no problem going 3 or even 4 weeks. Use your judgment. In either case, just make sure this gets done.
Exercise
Yes this is an extremely active dog, but they do not require a lot of exercise. They will get plenty just running around which makes them ideal for apartment life. But it is good if they are given plenty of opportunity to run and play. Just be sure that if they are outside, the yard has a high enough and sturdy enough fence to prevent their escape.The Min Pins natural tendency is to investigate everything, then investigate it again. If you can fit your hand through a hole in the fence, fix it. The Min Pin will find a way through. An extra screen door is also recommended.
Feeding
Honestly, I recommend getting information from the breeder who sold you the dog. My Min Pins get only high quality dry dog food. Generally, against most recommendations, I just leave it lying out. My dogs do not have a propensity to overeat.General guidelines however suggest feeding your adult Min Pin about 4 ounces of premium dry dog food a day. Once a day is enough. For smaller puppies, spread the amount out over 4 feedings daily. Again, the best advice is to check with your breeder.
It is OK to mix in a small amount of high quality canned dog food, but keep with mostly dry.
Miscellaneous
OK, we’ve also talked about the Min Pin’s tendency to investigate. Just as important as keeping them confined is keeping small items put away. Miniature Pinschers in their exploration are prone to choke on things like lipstick, pens, etc. Keep them picked up and avoid an emergency trip to the vet. It's also a good idea to keep lots of toys around.Remember this is a short haired dog, keep it protected from the cold.
Also, do not be too rough with your Min Pin. It may act like a big dog and may leap to heights that surprise you, but this is still a small dog. Be too rough and you risk injuring it.
And finally, be firm, and do not spoil the Min Pin too much (very difficult considering how cute and funny they are) or the dog may become a tyrant. It may be hard but do not let him take over the home. But we’ll have much more on this in the training section.