Sunset's Blue Wizard

Celebrators of Life
Home
History
Articles
Research
Blue Progress
Picture History
Links
Join

As published in Top Knotch Toys with permission of use by the author
Linda D. Witouski 
 
 ~
 
Linda D. Witouski is an AKC judge and Legislation Liaison for Pa. and SC with an Associate Degree in Law.
She is the owner of the elists, DogLegislation and MinPinInReview.  Linda is an active member of several national legislative action organizations and several Specialty and Kennel Clubs, as well.  She serves as the Legislation Chair and Board of Directors for the Myrtle Beach Kennel Club and is an independent Legislation Liaison at Large, assisting groups in any state.  A well respected dog fancier, Linda is first and foremost, a breeder, with the kennel prefix of KeriLynn.  She has been a member of the MPCA for 15 years.
 
 When asked how long she has been involved in dogs, she replied with, "I think there were dogs in my crib.  My father was a field man and I have fond memories of being out in the field at a very early age."  Linda has had several different breeds in field, conformation and obedience throughout the years. 

It is my opinion that Minpins are... Celebrators of Life.  They celebrate life from the moment they open their eyes in the morning to the time they finally go to sleep.  Nothing gets by them, be it a squirrel in the tree, (who, hopefully has enough sense to stay in the tree,)  a low swooping bird (pity the bird), the grasshopper in the yard (obviously on his final trip across,) or the leaf blowing in the wind.  They are "finders" of things that you lost and had no idea where it went nor do you know where they found it.  They are mischievious, bold, cocky, excellent fence climbers, and are masters in the art of "selective hearing."  They have no idea that they are small and will face off with anything that trespasses on their territory.  They must have all taken sewing classes at some point, because nothing that I know of can "undo" a seam and unstuff something with such speed and accuracy !  They are extremely intelligent, loyal, devoted to their owners and have an endless itinerary of antics to amuse anybody.  It takes very special, patient people to own, train, handle and deal with them !  They are not a breed for everybody.
 
The Standard of the Breed
 
Whether you are a breeder, licensed judge or provisional judge, you already know the qualities needed, conformationally. You also are aware of the disqualifications regarding size and markings.  For those that are not familiar with these extremely busy little dogs, you need to know that all of the above Celebrators of Life, are also a part of Minpin 'qualities.'  When judging this breed, if you keep all of these 'qualities' in mind, you will appreciate it when one stands on the table with no fuss !  One should also keep in mind that this is a clean, smooth coated breed, out there in their underwear, unable to hide any faults.  What you see is what you get and there is no need to 'manhandle' this breed.  It does not require poking, proding, pinching, wiggling or excessive touching and should not be judged on the table. This is a breed that should never come directly into the ring and up on the table.  They NEED the time to go around once or twice...afterall, that tape or bait on the mat can be very distracting!  The same goes for outside shows.  All that grass?  There might be something there that requires their attention!  Now we go up on the table for a quick look.  Personally, I prefer that the handler show the bite, mostly for health reasons. A quick testicular check on the boys and back on the floor we go !  It should be mentioned here that talking to the dogs on the table could actually defeat the purpose you intended.  Minpins appreciate a soft, quick hand, particularly if it is a strange hand.  The more time spent on the table, the less time you have to really appreciate all of the qualities of the breed, especially, the extraordinary movement. 
 
The Great Gait Debate  
 
If we gathered a hundred breeders and judges and gave everybody their own 3D Minpin jigsaw puzzle, sat down at one huge table and had everybody put together their vision of what a Minpin should be, there most likely would not be very many alike.  Especially in the 'hackney like' puzzle !  This movement is exclusive to the Minpin and is truly a thing of beauty.  It is probably the single most reason that people become attracted to the breed. (You find out about their other 'qualities' later!)  The Standard says that "The hackney-like action is a high stepping, reaching, free and easy gait in which the front leg moves straight forward and in front of the body and the foot bends at the wrist.  The dog drives smoothly and strongly from the rear."  Although this explanation seems simple enough to understand, it is the interpretation of it that causes the great gait debate.  I've heard many comments about soundness being more important than having hackney like action.  I've also heard comments that hackney is not important, right along with those comments that a Minpin with high stepping action cannot be sound.  I personally don't agree with any of those comments, particularly that hackney is not important. Just as ingredients are listed on a dog food can, with the first ingredient having the most percentage of the total ingredients, so are the characteristics of the Minpin listed in the Standard, which says, 'Characteristic traits are his hackney like action, fearless animation, complete self possession and his spirited presence.'   Many judges do a great disservice to this breed by awarding animals without the correct high stepping, bend at the wrist movement, and another disservice is done when a judge awards an animal with this movement on profile only.  The Standard also says 'The forelegs and hind legs move parallel, with feet turning neither in nor out.'  'Elbows close to the body.'  'As viewed from the rear, the legs are straight and parallel.'   Correct hackney like movement is very important to me.  It IS what sets the Minpin apart from other breeds and makes them unique. There is nothing more eye pleasing than a well balanced, compact, high stepping, break at the wrist, structurally sound, 'cocky' Minpin, no matter the color.  Definitely a thing of beauty ! 
 
Colors and Size
 
In judging, all of the acceptable colors should be judged equally.  One color is just as magnificent as the other.  Some judges simply don't look at the less seen colors the same way that they look at the most popular color. Another disservice to the breed.  The black & rusts and the chocolate & rusts can create somewhat of an optical illusion because of their markings, particularly around the head.  Care should be taken not to succumb to this 'mirage.'   If you were to take two identical head pictures of a red Minpin, and color in one to match the markings of a black or chocolate, you would see that the markings give a different appearance even though they are the exact same picture. All of the colors should have dark eyes, eye rims and black noses, except the chocolate, whose eyes may be a medium brown color rather than very dark, eyerims and nose are generally self colored and can create yet another look, however, it is correct. 
 
The blacks and chocolates have very specific markings that call for sharply defined rust-red twin spots on the chest. Twin means two and although it is not a disqualification to have double twin spots, (or as they are commonly referred to as 'double rosettes',) it should be considered as a minor color fault, as should the lack of the black center line between the 'rosettes,' that creates the 'twin spots.'  Another color fault is a continuous stripe that runs from the chest down the length of the front leg.  This 'extension' is not a disqualification, but does deviate from the specific markings of rust-red coloring on the lower half of the forelegs. The 'thumbprint' on the lower portion of the forelegs, which is a patch of black (or chocolate), surrounded by the rust-red color, creating an 'island' of black (or chocolate), IS a disqualification. 
 
Because of the great variation in size for this breed, if, at any time, you are not sure of the size of a dog, you should call for a wicket.  Just ignoring the dog because you are not sure of its size, is unfair to everyone. Do yourself, the exhibitors and the breed a favor and measure !
 
That Other Color
 
I have been asked by a large assortment of people, including judges and breeders, my thoughts regarding the blue Minpins.  I've never really given a complete response to this question, but thought that this particular forum might be perfect timing.  The blues have not been permitted to show for many years.  They were, at one time, a revered color, produced, I might add, by two reds.  They are a part of Minpin heritage.  I have no problem with the color, but I do have a problem with their proliferation and exploitation, being touted as a "rare" color and sold for astronomical prices by unscrupulous breeders that have no concern for their health or welfare.  It is only a color and I feel that, in fairness, those people that have worked for so many years to improve and perfect them should be permitted the same rights as the currently acceptable colors.  Further, it is my opinion that not permitting them back into the show ring only contributes to the continued proliferation and exploitation that 'greed breeders' enjoy.  As for the alleged health issues involving the blue color, the Minpin breed as a whole has many other problems that far outweigh alopecia. I suspect that if one of the acceptable colors were no longer permitted to show because of LCP or PL, there would be an outrage, but, being civilized human beings, prohibiting them to participate in the sport would not be the intelligent choice.  Breeders continue to work with the problems, to solve the issues, and that is how it should be - everybody working together to protect the breed, no matter the problem and no matter the color.  With the exhorbitant amount of bad legislation throughout the United States, it may only be a matter of time when dog shows no longer exist or are only accessible by those monetarily able to afford the costs involved with owning and/or showing dogs. It is not just or fair to have denied those that are truly dedicated blue breeders their right to show and enjoy the sport, all these years, and then not be able to show because of monetary constraints or, by that time, perhaps a nonexistant sport.  It IS only a color, and just as in the other colors, if that is what you prefer, that is what you will and should have, along with the right and ability to participate in the sport, create champions, and be proud of what has been accomplished.  Everybody is entitled to those rights.
 
And that's what I have to say about that subject.
 
Ears 'n Ends 
 
Ears are a matter of preference.  Some prefer a natural, erect ear while others prefer the cropped ear.  I personally have no problem with either, however, it is of my opinion that some natural ears should be cropped depending on their size and placement on the head.  In this country, breeders have not bred for the small, erect, natural ear and on some occasions, the size of the ear can actually be overbearing towards the overall appearance of the dog and create an optical illusion not to the benefit of the head.
 
Tails. Interesting 'end' subject.  The standard says 'Tail set high, held erect, docked in proportion to size of dog.'  It's amazing how a tail can affect the overall appearance of an otherwise properly proportioned dog.  A tail, docked to proper length, and particularly one that is set high, is a beautiful ending.
 
Linda D. Witouski 
2007
 
~

Copyright © MinPins-N-Blue 2001

The images or information on these pages is available for viewing only, NO portion may be used for any other purpose unless other wise stated by MinPins-N-Blue.

Most of this information was not on the web before this group, (this was researched thoroughly and documented at the time in the late 1990s). Nor has much been even mentioned in present day breed club's online history(s). History left hidden without the years of hard devoted work and donated $, as well time to uncover these hidden breed facts, history and or research. If you check our past membership, as well past group posts you will also see were many other blue Miniature Pinscher lists got thier start, as well founding information to branch out. Thus the further need for mention here of copyright to protect our work.

Information, facts, text, pictures or graphics may not be linked to, copied or posted to other web sites, or e-groups, taken, removed, printed, or used in any portion without the permission of

MinPins-N-Blue

The United States of America provides the right and the protection of “Original Works of Authorship” and certain "Intellectual Property Works." As the Owner of copyrighted works we hold the exclusive rights to duplicate, distribute, and create derivative works from our work. All the text, photographs, images, products, art work, their titles, descriptions, and designs, used on our web site, or egroups as well as the finished products which we design, create, research, publish, or produce, are protected under the,

***U. S. Copyright Laws (Title 17, U.S. Code). ***

http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap5.html

We will protect as well seek accordingly to protect our work and rights against unauthorized use and infringement, either knowing or not. Please note; a criminal investigation WILL be initiated in cases of willful or un-willful infringement of any and all unauthorized use of our work.

Simply ask permission and we will be more then happy to give such, with credit given back to us for the work we have worked so long and hard to produce.