Are Miniature Pinschers Good Dogs? What Science Says

Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022

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Introduction to the Temperament of the Miniature Pinscher

The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Miniature Pinscher out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.

In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Miniature Pinscher based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Miniature Pinscher breed.

We obtained our description of the temperament of Miniature Pinscher by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.

The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.

Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Miniature Pinscher.

The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.

The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.

The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:

  1. Aggression towards stranger
  2. Aggression towards its owner
  3. Aggression towards other dogs
  4. How well they get along with other dogs
  5. Fear of strangers
  6. Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
  7. Fear of other dogs
  8. Separation anxiety
  9. Clinginess
  10. Trainability/ Stubbornness
  11. Prey drive
  12. Excitability
  13. Touch sensitivity
  14. Energy level

In this article, we will discuss the score of the Miniature Pinscher for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Miniature Pinscher.

The summary table below shows the score of the Miniature Pinscher for the different behavioral characteristics.

High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.

Behavior Score
Stranger Directed Aggression 90.7 percent
Separation Related Behavior 87.8 percent
Touch Sensitivity 82.6 percent
Attachment Attention Seeking 78.6 percent
Stranger Directed Fear 75.6 percent
Dog Directed Fear 71.9 percent
Dog Directed Aggression 69.3 percent
Energy Level 67.4 percent
Stubbornness 63.3 percent
Excitability 62.3 percent
Nonsocial Fear 50.5 percent
Prey Drive 45.8 percent
Owner Directed Aggression 27.4 percent
Dog Rivalry 100.0 percent

Note that with proper training, you can better your Miniature Pinscher`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Miniature Pinscher, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Miniature Pinscher.

See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.

Are Miniature Pinschers Aggressive Towards Strangers?

Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.

Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.

Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.

Miniature Pinschers are very much aggressive towards strangers.

This is because the Miniature Pinscher ranks very high for aggression towards strangers.

The Miniature Pinscher ranks number 3 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.

This information is based on what 23 Miniature Pinscher owners reported on the temperament of their Miniature Pinscher in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Miniature Pinscher has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 90.7 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much aggressive towards strangers just like the Miniature Pinscher are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score
1 American Eskimo Dog 100.0 %
2 Dachshund 91.3 %
3 Miniature Pinscher 90.7 %
4 Dachshund (Miniature) 83.1 %
5 Miniature Schnauzer 79.1 %
6 Australian Silky Terrier 74.1 %

The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Dachshund
  3. Miniature Pinscher
  4. Dachshund (Miniature)
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. Siberian Husky
  2. Greyhound
  3. Irish Wolfhound
  4. Samoyed
  5. Black and Tan Coonhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most stranger-aggressive breed to the least stranger-aggressive breed.

Temperament of the Miniature Pinscher

Are Miniature Pinschers Aggressive Towards their Owners?

Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.

Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.

A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.

Miniature Pinschers are quite a bit aggressive towards their owners.

This is because the Miniature Pinscher ranks high for aggression towards its owner.

The Miniature Pinscher ranks number 33 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.

This information is based on what 23 Miniature Pinscher owners reported on the temperament of their Miniature Pinscher in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Miniature Pinscher has an owner-directed-aggression score of 27.4 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit owner-aggressive just like the Miniature Pinscher are listed in the table below

Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Owner-Directed-Aggression Score
30 Cocker Spaniel (American) 28.2 %
31 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 28.2 %
32 Dachshund (Miniature) 27.5 %
33 Miniature Pinscher 27.4 %
34 Poodle (Miniature) 26.5 %
35 Cocker Spaniel (English) 26.4 %
36 Cardigan Welsh Corgi 25.7 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:

  1. Pekingese
  2. Basenji
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Lhasa Apso
  5. Alaskan Husky

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Pointer
  3. Irish Water Spaniel
  4. Rhodesian Ridgeback
  5. Italian Greyhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to their owners to the ones that are least aggressive to their owners.

Are Miniature Pinschers Aggressive Towards other Dogs?

Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.

A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs

A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.

Miniature Pinschers are very much aggressive towards other dogs.

This is because the Miniature Pinscher ranks very high for aggression towards other dogs.

The Miniature Pinscher ranks number 16 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.

This information is based on what 23 Miniature Pinscher owners reported on the temperament of their Miniature Pinscher in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Miniature Pinscher has a dog-directed aggression score of 69.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much dog-aggressive just like the Miniature Pinscher are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Aggression Score
13 Chihuahua 71.8 %
14 Fox Terrier (Smooth) 70.3 %
15 Pit Bull 69.7 %
16 Miniature Pinscher 69.3 %
17 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 69.3 %
18 Australian Kelpie 69.2 %
19 Old English Sheepdog 68.9 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Pit Bull mix
  5. Dachshund

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:

  1. Pointer
  2. Black and Tan Coonhound
  3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  4. Irish Wolfhound
  5. Keeshond

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to other dogs to the ones that are least aggressive to other dogs.

Personality of the Miniature Pinscher

Are Miniature Pinschers Afraid of Strangers?

Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.

Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.

Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.

Miniature Pinschers are very much fearful of strangers.

This is because the Miniature Pinscher ranks very high for fear of strangers.

The Miniature Pinscher ranks number 6 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.

This information is based on what 23 Miniature Pinscher owners reported on the temperament of their Miniature Pinscher in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Miniature Pinscher has a stranger-directed-fear score of 75.6 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much stranger-fearful just like the Miniature Pinscher are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Fear Score
3 American Eskimo Dog 82.5 %
4 Italian Greyhound 80.9 %
5 Chihuahua 80.6 %
6 Miniature Pinscher 75.6 %
7 Dingo 68.9 %
8 Rat Terrier 64.5 %
9 Dachshund 62.5 %

The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Chinese Crested
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:

  1. Old English Sheepdog
  2. Irish Wolfhound
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Siberian Husky
  5. Giant Schnauzer

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of strangers to the ones that are least fearful to strangers.

Are Miniature Pinschers Afraid of Other Dogs?

Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.

A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.

Miniature Pinschers are very much fearful of other dogs.

This is because the Miniature Pinscher ranks very high for fear of other dogs.

The Miniature Pinscher ranks number 7 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.

This information is based on what 23 Miniature Pinscher owners reported on the temperament of their Miniature Pinscher in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Miniature Pinscher has a dog-directed-fear score of 71.9 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much other-dog-fearful just like the Miniature Pinscher are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Fear Score
4 Chihuahua 85.8 %
5 Lhasa Apso 77.9 %
6 Basenji 76.5 %
7 Miniature Pinscher 71.9 %
8 Maltese 68.6 %
9 Border Terrier 66.9 %
10 Parson Russell Terrier 66.5 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Chihuahua
  5. Lhasa Apso

The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Ibizan Hound
  3. Eurasier
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of other dogs to the ones that are least fearful of other dogs.

Is the Miniature Pinscher a good pet

Do Miniature Pinschers Have Non-Social Fears?

Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.

Miniature Pinschers are very much fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.

This is because the Miniature Pinscher ranks very high for non-social fear.

The Miniature Pinscher ranks number 21 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.

This information is based on what 23 Miniature Pinscher owners reported on the temperament of their Miniature Pinscher in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Miniature Pinscher has a nonsocial-fear score of 50.5 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much nonsocial-fearful just like the Miniature Pinscher are listed in the table below

Nonsocial-Fear Rank Breed Nonsocial-Fear Score
18 Maltese 52.0 %
19 Yorkshire Terrier 51.1 %
20 Pit Bull mix 50.7 %
21 Miniature Pinscher 50.5 %
22 Alaskan Husky 50.3 %
23 Bearded Collie 50.0 %
24 Shiba Inu 49.6 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Dingo
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. English Bulldog
  5. Italian Greyhound

The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Siberian Husky
  3. Irish Setter
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations to the ones least fearful of unfamiliar situations.

Do Miniature Pinschers Get Along Well With Other Dogs?

Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.

These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.

Miniature Pinschers are very much competitive when dealing with other dogs.

This is because the Miniature Pinscher ranks very high on dog rivalry.

The Miniature Pinscher ranks number 1 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.

This information is based on what 23 Miniature Pinscher owners reported on the temperament of their Miniature Pinscher in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Miniature Pinscher has a dog-rivalry score of 100.0 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much competition-driven just like the Miniature Pinscher are listed in the table below

Dog-Rivalry Rank Breed Dog-Rivalry Score
1 Miniature Pinscher 100.0 %
2 Parson Russell Terrier 92.8 %
3 Fox Terrier (Smooth) 90.9 %
4 French Bulldog 90.6 %

The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Miniature Pinscher
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. French Bulldog
  5. Treeing Walker Coonhound

The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Norwegian Elkhound
  3. Saint Bernard
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Scottish Terrier

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.

The Miniature Pinscher. Is it aggressive?

Are Miniature Pinschers Easy to Train?

Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.

Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.

Miniature Pinschers are not easy to train.

This is because the Miniature Pinscher ranks very low for trainability.

The Miniature Pinscher ranks number 116 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.

This information is based on what 23 Miniature Pinscher owners reported on the trainability of their Miniature Pinscher in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Miniature Pinscher has a trainability score of 36.7 %.

Other dog breeds that are not easy to train just like the Miniature Pinscher are listed in the table below

Trainability Rank Breed Trainability Score
113 Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) 43.7 %
114 Borzoi 42.0 %
115 English Bulldog 40.9 %
116 Miniature Pinscher 36.7 %
117 Basset Hound 34.8 %
118 Australian Silky Terrier 34.1 %
119 Dachshund (Miniature) 32.8 %

The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:

  1. Belgian Tervuren
  2. Belgian Malinois
  3. Border Collie
  4. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
  5. Irish Water Spaniel

The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:

  1. Dingo
  2. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  3. Basenji
  4. Afghan Hound
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are easiest to train to the ones that are most difficult to train.

Learn more about how intelligent the Miniature Pinscher is and how the intelligence of the Miniature Pinscher affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Miniature Pinscher is.

Do Miniature Pinschers Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?

Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.

Miniature Pinschers are somewhat into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.

This is because the Miniature Pinscher ranks average for small-pet-chasing.

The Miniature Pinscher ranks number 72 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.

This information is based on what 23 Miniature Pinscher owners reported on the temperament of their Miniature Pinscher in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Miniature Pinscher has a chasing score of 45.8 %.

Other dog breeds that are somewhat into chasing after smaller pets just like the Miniature Pinscher are listed in the table below

Chasing Rank Breed Chasing Score
69 Flat-Coated Retriever 46.2 %
70 Pembroke Welsh Corgi 46.1 %
71 Tibetan Terrier 46.0 %
72 Miniature Pinscher 45.8 %
73 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 45.4 %
74 Cardigan Welsh Corgi 45.0 %
75 Portuguese Water Dog 44.6 %

The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Basenji
  2. Dingo
  3. Ibizan Hound
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Borzoi

The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Pug
  2. Bulldog
  3. Shih Tzu
  4. Bernese Mountain Dog
  5. Great Pyrenees

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.

Things to know before getting the Miniature Pinscher

Do Miniature Pinschers Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?

Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.

These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.

Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.

Miniature Pinschers are very much attachment/attention-seeking.

This is because the Miniature Pinscher ranks very high for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

The Miniature Pinscher ranks number 11 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

This information is based on what 23 Miniature Pinscher owners reported on the temperament of their Miniature Pinscher in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Miniature Pinscher has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 78.6 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much attachment/attention-seeking just like the Miniature Pinscher are listed in the table below

Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank Breed Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score
8 German Wirehaired Pointer 81.7 %
9 Miniature Schnauzer 79.7 %
10 Dachshund (Miniature) 78.6 %
11 Miniature Pinscher 78.6 %
12 Poodle (Miniature) 77.9 %
13 Parson Russell Terrier 75.8 %
14 Vizsla 75.8 %

The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:

  1. Poodle (Toy)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Australian Cattle Dog
  5. American Eskimo Dog

The dog breeds that are aloof are the:

  1. Norwegian Elkhound
  2. Borzoi
  3. Kuvasz
  4. English Setter
  5. Chow Chow

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.

Do Miniature Pinschers have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?

Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.

These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.

They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.

Miniature Pinschers are very much prone to developing separation anxiety.

This is because the Miniature Pinscher ranks very high for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.

The Miniature Pinscher ranks number 4 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.

This information is based on what 23 Miniature Pinscher owners reported on the temperament of their Miniature Pinscher in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Miniature Pinscher has a separation anxiety score of 87.8 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Miniature Pinscher are listed in the table below

Separation-Related-Behavior Rank Breed Separation-Related-Behavior Score
1 Treeing Walker Coonhound 100.0 %
2 Fox Terrier (Smooth) 93.9 %
3 Chinese Crested 91.1 %
4 Miniature Pinscher 87.8 %
5 Australian Silky Terrier 81.3 %
6 Dachshund (Miniature) 80.8 %
7 Poodle (Toy) 79.3 %

The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:

  1. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Miniature Pinscher
  5. Australian Silky Terrier

The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Giant Schnauzer
  4. Eurasier
  5. Bernese Mountain Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.

Temperament Profile of the Miniature Pinscher

Are Miniature Pinschers Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?

Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.

These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.

Miniature Pinschers are very much touch-sensitive.

This is because the Miniature Pinscher ranks very high for touch sensitivity.

The Miniature Pinscher ranks number 2 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.

This information is based on what 23 Miniature Pinscher owners reported on the temperament of their Miniature Pinscher in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Miniature Pinscher has a touch-sensitivity score of 82.6 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much touch-sensitive just like the Miniature Pinscher are listed in the table below

Touch-Sensitivity Rank Breed Touch-Sensitivity Score
1 Fox Terrier (Toy) 100.0 %
2 Miniature Pinscher 82.6 %
3 Pekingese 79.9 %
4 Australian Silky Terrier 75.6 %
5 Chihuahua 67.5 %

The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  2. Miniature Pinscher
  3. Pekingese
  4. Australian Silky Terrier
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Pointer
  4. Gordon Setter
  5. Portuguese Water Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.

Are Miniature Pinschers Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?

Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:

  • going for walks
  • car trips
  • sound of the doorbell
  • arrival of visitors, and
  • the owner arriving home

Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.

Miniature Pinschers are very much hyper (excitable).

This is because the Miniature Pinscher ranks very high for excitability.

The Miniature Pinscher ranks number 13 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.

This information is based on what 23 Miniature Pinscher owners reported on the temperament of their Miniature Pinscher in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Miniature Pinscher has an excitability score of 62.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much excitable just like the Miniature Pinscher are listed in the table below

Excitability Rank Breed Excitability Score
10 Pekingese 63.4 %
11 West Highland White Terrier 62.8 %
12 Vizsla 62.7 %
13 Miniature Pinscher 62.3 %
14 Boston Terrier 61.9 %
15 Boxer 61.8 %
16 Maltese 61.1 %

The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Borzoi
  2. Samoyed
  3. Great Pyrenees
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Anatolian Shepherd

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.

The Miniature Pinscher

Are Miniature Pinschers Playful? What is the Energy Level of Miniature Pinschers

Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.

Miniature Pinschers are quite a bit energetic.

This is because the Miniature Pinscher ranks high for energy level.

The Miniature Pinscher ranks number 38 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.

This information is based on what 23 Miniature Pinscher owners reported on the temperament of their Miniature Pinscher in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Miniature Pinscher has an energy-level score of 67.4 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit energetic just like the Miniature Pinscher are listed in the table below

Energy-Level Rank Breed Energy-Level Score
35 Bull Terrier 68.2 %
36 Rat Terrier 68.1 %
37 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 67.5 %
38 Miniature Pinscher 67.4 %
39 Pit Bull 67.2 %
40 West Highland White Terrier 65.5 %
41 Belgian Sheepdog 65.3 %

The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:

  1. Belgian Malinois
  2. Belgian Tervuren
  3. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  4. German Shorthaired Pointer
  5. Ibizan Hound

The dog breeds that are laziest are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Anatolian Shepherd
  3. Greyhound
  4. Great Pyrenees
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.

Conclusion on Miniature Pinscher Temperament

The temperament of your Miniature Pinscher comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Miniature Pinscher is exposed to.

You cannot change your Miniature Pinscher`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Miniature Pinscher to.

Exposing your Miniature Pinscher to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Miniature Pinscher to what you desire.

Again, with proper training, you can better your Miniature Pinscher`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Miniature Pinscher.

If you think the Miniature Pinscher is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Miniature Pinschers cost and Miniature Pinscher puppy buying guide.

Also, see our list of reputable Miniature Pinscher breeders in the United States and the prices of their Miniature Pinscher puppies.