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Pinny-Poo (Miniature Pinscher & Poodle Mix): Info, Pictures, Facts

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Pinny-Poo (Miniature Pinscher & Poodle Mix)

Height: 12 – 14 inches
Weight: 6 – 10 pounds
Lifespan: 10 – 15 years
Colors: Black, brindle, brown, cream, fawn, gray, pied, red, sable, silver, white
Suitable for: Families without young children, apartment dwellers
Temperament: Friendly, loving, loyal, gentle

The Pinny Poo is as adorable as the name suggests! This spunky little pup is the perfect combination of its parent breeds. With the protective and devoted traits of the Miniature Pinscher (Min-Pin) and the intelligent, fun-loving characteristics of the Miniature Poodle, the Pinny Poo is a great companion wrapped up in a very tiny package.

Available in a wide variety of colors, the Pinny Poo is a hybrid pooch that was first available on the market in the 1980s or 1990s. Let’s explore this petite pup to see if one is right for you and your family.

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Pinny Poo Puppies

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

Buying a puppy and bringing them home for the first time is an expensive feat. And properly caring for your Pinny Poo over the entire course of their life can be costly. However, the love and devotion this dog will show you throughout the years are priceless.

Due to the recent craze of designer dogs, bad breeders (also known as “backyard breeders”) is on the rise. In order to find a happy and healthy Pinny Poo puppy from a reputable breeder that will thrive for years to come, you should be sure to do proper research. Ask for referrals from pet care professionals, such as veterinarians, groomers, dog walkers, and doggie daycare owners.

It is critical to get a Pinny Poo puppy from a good breeder. Not only can you get peace of mind knowing that you’re getting a healthy and happy puppy, but if anything goes wrong, you can always turn to the breeder for answers to your questions. A good breeder should provide support throughout the lifetime of your dog.

Additionally, you can learn about the puppy’s personality by meeting the parents. When you buy a Pinny Poo puppy from a good breeder, you’ll be able to meet the parents and learn about their health and character traits.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Pinny Poo 

1. They Go by a Lot of Different Names

 The Pinny Poo is a dog of many names and is also known as the Min Pin Poo, the Min Pin Doodle, the Miniature Pinscherdoodle, the Pinny Doodle, and the Miniature Pinscherpoo. That’s a mouthful!


2. They’re a Recognized Breed of Designer Dog

While the Pinny Poo is not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), they are a proud member of the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR), the Designer Breed Registry (DBR), the Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA), the Designer Dog Kennel Club (DDKC), and the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC).


3. The Poodle Parent Has Been Around a Long Time

Poodles have been around for a long time. Images of Poodles even adorn ancient Egyptian and Roman artifacts that date back to the first centuries BC.

The parent breeds of Pinny-Poo
The parent breeds of Pinny-Poo: Left – Miniature Pinscher (maxxxiss, Pixabay) | Right – Poodle (chili71, Pixabay)

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Temperament & Intelligence of the Pinny Poo 🧠

Before you buy a Pinny Poo puppy, it’s important to know if this breed of designer dog will get along with your family and other household pets. While Poodles can be loyal and playful, Miniature Pinschers can be territorial. Here’s the scoop on the temperament of the Pinny Poo:

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Due to the protective nature of the Min-Pin parent breed, the Pinny Poo is an alert little guard dog. While their demeanor is typically on the quiet side, they will certainly bark to let you know that there are strangers approaching.

While the Pinny Poo is a great dog for families with older children, their willful nature means that they might get possessive over toys or people. This could lead to snapping or snarling. So, we don’t recommend getting a Pinny Poo if you have very young children.

However, if you do have older kids, it’s always best to keep a watchful eye over them when they play with the pup.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

As with any dog, it’s always best to socialize your Pinny Poo puppy with people and other animals from a young age. If socialized properly, your Pinny Poo will get along with just about any dog, big or small!

If you have larger dogs, it’s best to keep a lookout during their playtime. Due to the Pinny Poo’s petite height, they could easily get injured during rough-housing.

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Things to Know When Owning a Pinny Poo

Now that you know about your Pinny Poo’s personality a bit more, here are other things to consider before buying a cute, snuggly puppy.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Your Pinny Poo is a little dog full of energy. They will require a specialized kibble that caters to their specific size, age, and activity level. Since Pinny Poo dogs can become overweight rather easily, you should avoid foods that are heavy in carbs.

The Poodle parent DNA could lead to potential digestive concerns, such as bloat. To combat this, look for low-fat foods and divide their meals up into two to three smaller helpings throughout the day.

The monthly cost of their food should be around $48 to $72 a month.

Exercise 🐕

The Pinny Poo has an above-average activity level and should receive about an hour of play and exercise time every day. If you have a big backyard, you can let your Pinny Poo run outside until they’re tuckered out.

Many folks may think that Pinny Poos are fickle dogs that will turn up their nose at many activities you’d like to engage them in. However, this is not the case! A Pinny Poo will gladly go swimming, hiking, play with fetch, and accompany you to a dog park.

To keep them mentally stimulated and constantly challenged, you can:

  • Work on new tricks
  • Give them interactive dog games to play with
  • Give your Pinny Poo a job to do, such as fetching your slippers
  • Treat them to new toys and rotate out the older ones
  • Enroll them in weekly obedience or agility classes

Training 🦮

The Pinny Poo is a very intelligent designer dog. In fact, their parent breed, the Poodle, is the second most intelligent breed out of 138 breeds when it comes to obedience. This means that your Pinny Poo will easily learn the basics and even excel in harder, more complex tricks.

While positive reinforcement training is the best type of training for a Miniature Pinscher Poodle mix, you also need to take a consistent and firm approach.

Grooming ✂️

Due to their Poodle genes, your Pinny Poo will require a bit more brushing and grooming than the average dog. You will need to brush them every day. Some Pinny Poo owners choose to take their dog to a professional groomer every month or so to keep their coat from getting mangy. To groom your Pinny Poo, equip yourself with a comb and a pin brush.

You will also need to routinely bathe them, clip their nails, and clean their ears.

Health and Conditions ❤️

As with most hybrid dogs, your Pinny Poo can suffer from a lot of the issues that afflict the parent breeds. These include:

Addison’s Disease: This is a rare disorder where your dog’s body doesn’t produce an adequate number of hormones.

Color Dilution Alopecia: This is a genetic recessive inherited condition that leads to patches of fur loss or thinning hair. It is more common in Miniature Pinscher Poodle Mixes with fawn-colored fur.

Ectropion: This is a medical condition where the dog’s eyelids turn outward.

Entropion: This medical issue turns your dog’s eyelids (typically the lower ones) inwards.

Minor Conditions
  • Color Dilution Alopecia
  • Ectropion
  • Entropion
Serious Conditions
  • Addison’s Disease
  • Mitral Valve Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Sebaceous Adenitis

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Male vs Female

Female Pinny Poos can be significantly smaller than male Pinny Poos and can weigh as little as 5 pounds. While the female Pinny Poo tends to be more trainable, the males are more outgoing. Both genders make great pets for families, couples, and individuals.

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Conclusion

Pinny Poos are pint-sized pets that make great dogs for all types of families and people. While tiny in stature, they have loads of personality and can be loyal, protective, and caring towards their people.

It’s important to get a Miniature Pinscher Poodle mix puppy from a high-quality and reputable breeder so you know they’re a happy and healthy dog from the get-go.

Pinny Poos can be protective over their food and toys, so always keep a watchful eye when your children are around them and teach your kids to never take away the dog’s meals while they’re eating.

Pinny Poos are wonderful dogs and will give you many years of unconditional love and companionship.


Featured Image Credit: adogslifephoto, Adobe Stock

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