History of the Blue Miniature Pinscher

[Fawn & Rust MinPins = Dilute Chocolate]

This page contains the history of Blue & Rust Miniature Pinschers

The Blue & Rust MinPin has been a part of the breed prior to the breed's acceptance into the AKC in 1924. Blues were documented in the first Miniature Pinscher standard, which appeared in 1880 German Kennel Klub's studbook. The blue was recorded as a popular and highly accepted color in the German Pinscher Schnauzer Klub in 1895. Step back in time and notice the many references to the pure bred Blue Miniature Pinschers of our breed's past.

German Reh Pinscher - MinPin Standards prior to US importation 1880-1924

AKC Miniature Pinscher 1924-1935

AKC Miniature Pinscher 1935-1950

AKC Miniature Pinscher 1950-1979

The Blue MinPin was documented in US's first Miniature Pinscher book by V. L. Ricketts in 1957. The Blue at this point in our recent history is still considered a perfectly normal and acceptable Miniature Pinscher color as Ricketts explains the AKC standard.

THE COMPLETE

Miniature Pinscher

By VIVA LEONE RICKETTS

Illustrated

Middleburg, Va.

Library of Congress

Catalogue Card # 58-8229

DENLINGER’S

Middleburg, Va.

This Book, The Complete Miniature Pinscher, Contains 224 Pages

Page 59

“Nor need too much attention be devoted to color and markings of the dog, since most purebred Miniature Pinschers are reasonably orthodox in those respects. The most prevalent body colors are black or puce brown with deep rich red-tan markings on each of the lower legs, forechest, muzzle, throat, vent and forehead. The distribution is that of the conventional black-and-tan pattern. Faulty coloration most likely to be found is the fading or light color of the tan, with should be of a vivid reddish shade. On a dog of correct structure, a weak tan is only a minor fault at worst. Dogs with steel blue body color and conventional tan markings are rare but acceptable.”

In 1980 the MPCA board of directors voted on changing the "Any color other than listed" from being minor (perhaps somewhat undesirable) faults to now be considered unforgivable disqualifying faults. Therefore any color other than red, stag red, black & rust or chocolate & rust is essentially considered an unacceptable color for a Miniature Pinscher. Quite a stigma to be placed on a color that was once highly coveted in its country of origin, Germany. Unfortunately the Blue has also been removed from the modern German standard. The only countries that still allow the Blue MinPin as legitimate contributors in their Miniature Pinschers standard are the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

Today's Miniature Pinscher, I highly encourage showing Blue Miniature Pinschers in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand while we still have the priviledge to show them.

United Kingdom - The Kennel Club – TKC

Australia - Australian National Kennel Council

New Zealand – New Zealand Kennel Club

As of May 1, 2007 the Blue is now written back into the MinPin standard in the United States of American in the form of the UKC, United Kennel Club. There is an up and coming Miniature Pinscher club for the United Kennel Club, the UKC. The UKC is the only place in the U.S.A. where Blues can currently be shown in the conformation ring as normally as any red, black or chocolate. Support the UKC MinPin parent club, support the UKC & earn championship titles on your show quality Blues by registering and showing your dogs in the United Kennel Club.

Click here to visit NMPBA website

Future of the AKC Miniature Pinscher

Is there room for the Blue & Rust Miniature Pinscher in the AKC? Will there be a triumphant return of the beautiful exotic Blue MinPin of our past? No one can say for sure. I think it would be a pity to find one of the very keystone colors, indeed a once preferred color that was highly responsible for gaining the breed its initial popularity, to be allowed to go extinct.

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