Look at this lovely face! A Min Pin from a shelter will have a lot to give their potential owners in terms of love, affection, dedication and appreciation, which is what they ask for in return

Disadvantages🐾

• You will not have the choice of what your Min Pin looks like or ensuring he has a good temperament and a suitable personality. You get to choose from whatever is available. For the Min Pin you will not find many of them in shelters like you would with some of the more popular breeds. You may have to travel quite far to find one at all or one suitable for you, your family and your home.
• Many shelter dogs have troubled backgrounds and may have had multiple homes where they have been passed around therefore have not had the secure, consistent environment they need to be happy and healthy. This can cause stress and result in behavioural issues which can be hard to correct and may need to be worked on with constant training which can be stressful for you and definitely will require lots of time and effort.
• The extent of their backgrounds may be unknown by the shelter. A dog could have come from abusive and/or neglectful previous homes and as a result can have all manner of behavioural issues that may not easily be corrected, if at all. There may even be behavioural issues that have not been obvious while the dog was staying at the shelter until they arrive at their new home. It’s worth noting that many shelter dogs are returned many times because of their complex issues.
• You will need a lot of patience, time and gentleness with a shelter dog who is damaged by a troubled past. Not every new owner will have what it takes especially if they are a first-time dog owner.
• Because most shelter dogs have a background which may not have been the best, they may not have been properly trained or housebroken or even taught how to live in a home. This can be the cause behavioural issues like being destructive or have separation anxiety that needs to be worked on. Common behavioural issues may include bad habits that have been formed from previous homes where the dog was left to their own devices or wasn’t trained.
• Depending on your views on neutering, the fact that your shelter dog is will come neutered may or may not be a good thing due to the health implications that can result.
• Many shelter dogs are not well-socialised with cats and have serious behavioural issues with other dogs. If you have existing pets you may have an even smaller selection when it comes to choosing an adult shelter dog as you will need to find one that gets on with other animals. Small, dominant and feisty breeds like the Min Pin can be less receptive to accepting other dogs or cats if they are were raised without them.
• Some dogs may have other special requirements such as going to homes with no children which again gives you a smaller selection of dogs to choose from.

If you believe adopting a Min Pin from a shelter is for you, you can start by looking at these trusted organisations and charities. Some of them have adoption centres nationwide.

• Miniature Pinscher Breed Rescue
• Dogs Trust 
• RSPCA
• Blue Cross
• Battersea Animal Home
• Woodgreen Animal Shelter

What Makes A Good Breeder And How To Find One🐾

As said before with so many people breeding dogs today, finding someone with ethical breeding practices can be harder. When we talk about ethical breeding practices with regards to pedigree dogs, what we mean are 5 important points:

• Breeders ensuring that their litters are produced from health-tested parents
• Breeders give their animals care with no expense spared, should they need it
• Breeders are not overbreeding their dams (female breeding dogs). This is consistent breeding season after season without a break for the dam’s body to rest
• They are raising their litters in a suitable environment
• The breeder doesn’t have several litters at once due to consistent breeding, spreading their time and resources too thinly as is often the case with puppy farms. Litters often do not get the attention and healthcare they need

With being able to find a puppy so quickly and easily on the internet, the temptation to buy from those colourful adverts sporting cute puppy photos without doing the necessary breeder checks is stronger than ever. During 2020 and into 2021, with people being at home due to lockdowns because of the pandemic, unsuspecting puppy buyers (many of them new to dog ownership) have fallen victim to buying their new pet from a puppy mill. Identifying an ethical breeder can be tricky. There are types of breeders that puppy buyers will encounter which fall into either of the following two categories solely defined by how many dogs they have; hobby where breeders own a few breeding dogs or a family pet, only having a maximum of 2 litters per year or large-scale, where breeders will have many more breeding dogs and therefore more litters per year, sometimes multiple litters at once. Large-scale operations require a license as they breed more than 3 litters pet year. Within these categories there will exist ‘good’ and ‘bad’ breeders. Let’s look further at these types.

• Kennel Club registered breeders. Can be either hobby or large-scale. Ideally you will want your Min Pin puppy to come from a breeder who registers their litters however Kennel Club registration does not guarantee ethical breeding practices in all cases. The exception is if breeders are a part of the Kennel Club’s Assured Breeder Scheme where health testing breeding dogs and litters and providing proof of good breeding practices is a requirement. These breeders are more likely to be experienced, knowledgeable about their chosen breed and have some long-term involvement in it, such as showing and take their breeding hobby seriously. Moreover Kennel Club breeders are more likely than those that aren’t to breed with the intention of improving the breed rather than simply breeding any dogs indiscriminately and churning out puppies to meet demand. In the UK with the Min Pin having only a few registered breeders (small genepool) and being less popular than other breeds you will also get the best quality purebred Min Pin puppies from these types of breeders.
• Non-Kennel Club registered breeders. People who decide to breed their pets cover a vast amount of Min Pin breeders (and many other breeds) in the UK. It gets super tricky here. These breeders do not have any checks done on them to assure ethical practices. They can be good place to find a puppy. But even though they may be well-intentioned and have some ethical breeding practices and look after their dogs well, they may not be breeding from health tested dogs or fully understand the genetics and lineages of their breeding dogs. Which means they do not put any thought into the dogs they are breeding resulting in health potential problems showing up in offspring later on. The vast majority may also know little about their breeds with some who’s primary interest is making a good profit by supplying demand. You will also find mixed breed puppies being reproduced from these sorts of breeders.
• Backyard hobby breeders. You will have heard of them in news articles. They may present themselves as small scale breeders and use deceptive techniques to sell their puppies. They are primarily driven by money and they will breed litter after litter, cut corners with providing decent living conditions and/or adequate healthcare for their dogs i.e. veterinary treatment. As breeding is their sole source of income making a profit is very important to them. These breeders can breed their own pets or will own a few breeding dogs that they claim to be their beloved pets. It will sometimes not be obvious that you run into a backyard breeder simply because there is sometimes a thin line that can easily be crossed between those who breed ethically and those that do not. The term backyard breeder can be used interchangeably with puppy mills/farms to describe the same thing.
• Puppy farms or mills. These breeders are well-known for being unscrupulous and have a bad reputation for unethical breeding practices. Just as backyard breeders except larger-scale breeding operations whose animals are often kept in incorrect and poor conditions e.g. unsanitary environment with inadequate basic care and provide little to no healthcare when required in order to maximise profits from selling puppies. This means that dogs can be actively bred while suffering with poor health. Puppy farms can breed many dogs belonging to one breed or several breeds, thus producing multiple litters of different breeds at once. These dogs are often overbred with dams having litter after litter, until she’s physically unable to breed as the puppy mill exists to churn out puppies on a consistent basis for profit. It’s often the case that backyard breeders and farms work with criminal organisations that involve moving very young puppies across borders to sell immediately in the UK. Added to that the puppies are often in poor health that’s not immediately obvious. The current legal limit on how many litters a dam can have in her lifetime is 6 (for the Kennel Club it’s 5) with a maximum of 2 litters per year. They may or may not have a license. However with growing public awareness puppy farms have become quite clever at catching puppy buyers unawares, often putting up multiple deceptive adverts of several breeds on pet listing sites. Some farms do not have physical premises they will allow potential buyers to visit so they also use third parties to pose as breeders with dogs unrelated to the puppies their selling. In 2020 Lucy’s Law came into effect which is a legislation that bans the sale of puppy’s through third party sellers.

The amount of puppy farms, backyard breeders and people wanting to make fast cash by breeding their family pets alike have risen manifold because the demand for puppies had skyrocketed due to lockdowns. This has made it even more confusing for buyers not wanting to get caught by bad breeders. The search for a puppy is made very easy by pet listing sites as is being able to find a puppy close to home. Trying to find a healthy puppy that comes from an ethical breeder can now be a minefield making it more important than ever to be able to identify one. When you visit a breeder of any kind you should check these basic requirements. Failure on the breeder’s part to meet any of them should be red flags for you as a potential puppy buyer.

• Always ensure the parents are available to to view and interact with. Sometimes the father won’t be present because he’s a stud dog that belongs to someone else. In this case, try and ask for more information on him or even photos. Beware though that if the breeder does not have Kennel Club registered litters it makes it impossible to prove that their dogs are the litter’s biological parents.
• Ensure they provide the requisite basic level of care to their dogs which means meeting their needs with adequate nourishment and shelter. The puppies should look plump and appear active and playful and adults ideally should be friendly with strangers. All dogs and puppies should appear physically healthy, clean and a good weight.
• Whether a breeder keeps their dogs inside the home as their pets or separate from the house you should if you ask be allowed to take a look at where the dam whelps and looks after her litter. Sometimes with larger scale breeding operations breeding dogs are kept in purpose built kennels. You should be allowed to take a look at the premises where the any dogs and litters are kept to ensure they conform to legal standards. Ask to interact with any dogs as you would if they were kept inside the house. At the very least these outside quarters should appear clean, comfortable and heated for when the weather is cold (if they live outside the house in winter) as well as having adequate space to move around. The dogs should be let out of their outside quarters to exercise properly too.
• In the case of the breeder having more than one litter at a time you should ensure a breeding premises should have enough help on hand or ‘staff’ to assist with raising the litters, like you would in a large scale breeding operation.
• Ask to see a breeding license if it’s a large-scale operation.
• As above the breeding dogs and puppies should be sociable with strangers i.e. not scared when you approach them which can be a clear sign of neglect. A friendly, approachable dog means they have had adequate socialisation. The same with puppies.
• A breeder can sometimes be producing more than one breed or crossbreeds at the same time producing a high volume of litters at a constant rate. Backyard breeders tend to do this to maximise their breeding profits, as mentioned earlier on. However, this is not to say that you can’t find a good breeder who breeds more than one breed. You just need to ensure that the breeder meets the basic requirements.
• Ask for papers documenting the health status of all the dogs and litter. Information on any genetic health tests and veterinary evidence of sound health. A good breeder will be 100% transparent with this, answer all your questions and will be happy to provide evidence of any papers relating to health that you ask for.
• A good breeder will ask you questions about why you want a puppy and whether your home and lifestyle is a good fit for their puppy. This isn’t the breeder being nosey-this is a breeder who cares about their animals and wants the best for both you and puppy. Similarly, a good breeder will ask you if you have any questions for them.
• A good breeder will at least ask you to visit them once before you visit them to rehome one of their puppies. The best breeders will want to get to know you first so if they feel you are not right for their puppy they have the option of saying no to rehoming. If you’re not able to come for a preliminary visit then a Zoom call can work.
• Although not all breeders will agree to this some of the better breeders will agree to taking back your puppy should your circumstances change while your puppy is growing up or even when he reaches adulthood. Usually but not always these breeders will fall under those who register their litters. A good breeder should be able to advise you on what to do should your circumstances change.
• It goes without saying if you are buying a purebred Min Pin puppy and expecting nothing less than this a breeder should provide all relevant paperwork such as the pedigree and Kennel Club registration certificate or be clear on when they intend to provide you with it if they haven’t yet registered your puppy’s litter.
• A good breeder will never pressure you into sending them money either partially or in full for a puppy over the internet. Deposits are normal when you have visited the breeder, done all your checks to ensure they are up to standard and you have actually seen the puppies in the flesh. If the litter is being reserved fast then make arrangements to visit rather than sending money blindly.
• A good breeder will be easily available via phone or at least schedule a call back.
• A good breeder as far as Min Pins are concerned will not charge inflated prices for a puppy and if they do ensure that you are getting a registered puppy with all relevant genetic health testing for your money. Don’t accept anything less. The normal price range for Kennel Club registered litters is between £1000-£1500.

Where Do I Find A Min Pin Puppy?🐾

• Miniature Pinscher Club Of Great Britain  This site has a register of reputable breeders.
• Kennel Club ‘Find A Puppy’ Is a great resource to start with because you will find registered breeders.
• Champdogs This site claims they promote responsible dog breeding and have many conditions a breeder must meet. Only breeders who can provide evidence that their litters are Kennel Club registered can advertise them with Champdogs.
• Pet listing sites. These sites can be a good or bad place to source your new Min Pin puppy. Many breeders advertise their registered litters on them and you can find good breeders however you need to be diligent. There are a lot of scammers and puppy dealers who work with puppy farms and backyard breeders who are currently advertising on there. We are aware that there is a serious lack of regulation on these sites which hopefully will be addressed soon. Possible signs of scammers or bad breeding practices on these sites are;

1. Does the breeder or seller have more than one advert for an entirely different breed? You need to look further into them to determine whether or not they are good breeders
2. Do they have an advert claiming that they need to rehome their puppy because their new flat doesn’t allow dogs all the while having a wanted advert running at the same time asking for a stud for their bitch? Sounds odd doesn’t it? We spotted this advert recently and it certainly made us raise eyebrows
3. If they have multiple adverts on different pet listing sites for different breeds. You should definitely search through all the free sites before you decide to buy from an advert
4. Avoiding communicating by phone. It’s typical of scammers to do this
5. Using descriptions and images from other people’s adverts. Do a search on them to find out where else they’ve been used
6. Sometimes puppy farms who use third-party sellers will put up legitimate-looking photos of dogs on advertisements in a family home. This is why you should not part with any money until you have scheduled a visit and seen all the evidence regarding clean bills of health and any health testing if possible

The government passed a bill in 2019 which came into effect in 2020 bans the sale of dogs and puppies from third party sellers. It’s now illegal for pet shops to sell puppies too. The new legislation encourages would-be puppy owners to either buy directly from a breeder or a rescue centre. Use these links to find out more;

Petfished. A government website that helps you identify a good breeder from a bad with some helpful resources

The Puppy Contract. Another great resource

Although USA-based this is a good explainer about buying puppies from places that support puppy farms and mills. It’s now illegal to buy puppies from third-party sellers such as pet shops in the UK

Conclusion🐾

As a would-be Min Pin owner there is a lot to consider when you begin your quest to rehome one. Although there’s many people who feel strongly about rescue, you do not need to get involved and feel emotionally swayed in the direction of adopting a shelter dog if doing so doesn’t fit your needs. There are pros and cons to adopting vs buying which we’ve covered and we hope we’ve brought you more clarity. The most important thing to keep in mind is to buy from a legitimate and ethical breeder and not from puppy farms so you don’t become part of the problem of poor breeding practices or a victim of scams. We hope we’ve brought clarity to you, the reader, and helped educate you on how to find the Min Pin of your dreams and wish your the best of luck with obtaining your new companion.