Do Miniature Pinschers Shed? (Min Pin Shedding)

Min Pins are small dogs with big dog personalities. They are known as a fearless, energetic and proud breed that make excellent family companions.

Do they shed much? Miniature Pinschers have a short, smooth coat that overall doesn’t shed very much. Min Pins are also very easy to groom given they have such short coats, brushing a couple times per week can help maintain their coat and remove any loose fur.

In this article, we’ll take a more in-depth look at just how much fur the “King of Toys” sheds and what he’s like to groom, so you have a better idea of what to expect before adopting.

Miniature Pinscher Shedding

Min Pins are a low shedding breed.

Which basically means you can expect to see some loose hair around the home, but not copious amounts on a consistent basis as with some dogs.

Overall, they molt a similar amount to Chihuahuas, but not quite as much as a Pug, which is another popular small dog with a short coat. Nor do they shed as much as a German Pinscher. Because, even though they have similar coats, German Pinschers are so much bigger and have so much more hair on their body, so they tend to drop more hair.

Either way, shedding is a normal process that most dogs go through.

They are simply shedding (or molting) their old fur to make way for the new batch. So it’s not something you can “stop” completely, but you can reduce excessive amounts of shedding and manage the hair they drop in order to keep your home as hair-free as possible.

For the most part, how much a dog sheds comes down to the individual breed and the dog itself. In this case, Min Pins are naturally low shedders. But if you’re noticing more than usual shedding it can be caused by other factors. Like the time of year, their diet, and overall health.

Related: Why Do Dogs Shed?

There’s no “perfect” dog food for shedding, but feeding your Min Pin a healthy, balanced, high quality dog food can help improve his overall health and the condition of his coat. Which in turn can reduce excessive molting that may be caused by poor nutrition.

Other factors that can increase shedding include fleas, stress, hormonal imbalances and a plethora of health issues. So, while you should expect to see some hair dropping off of your Min Pin, if you believe it’s excessive, contact your local veterinarian.

Are They Hypoallergenic?

No. Miniature Pinschers are not a hypoallergenic dog breed.

Many people assume that dogs that shed very little, like Min Pins, are hypoallergenic. But this is simply not the case.

Why? Because according to most experts, the hair itself isn’t what causes allergies to dogs. It is actually their dander (dead, flaky skin) and things like saliva, sweat and urine.

So, in reality, there is no such thing as a fully hypoallergenic dog, since every single dog on the planet produces these. This is why, in dogdom, hypoallergenic really means dogs that are generally more suitable for people who suffer from allergies that others.

Related: Dog Shedding FAQ (Hypoallergenic Dogs)

What makes one dog more suitable than another mostly comes down to how much dander their coat produces. But it also has a bit to do with how much they shed, simply because dander attaches itself to dog hair, so a lower shedding breed will typically spread less dander around the home.

In any case, Min Pins aren’t hypoallergenic. At least, they are not listed as such on the American Kennel Club website which is one of the most trusted dog sites in the United States.

If allergies are a concern, there are better options to consider, such as the Italian Greyhound and Basenji for example. Which are both low shedding, non-allergenic, easy-to-groom dogs.

Grooming Your Min Pin

Grooming a Min Pin is about as easy as it gets.

Aside from having a completely hairless dog, you’re going to be hard pressed to find a lower maintenance breed.

For the most part, all they need is a quick brush once or twice a week with a rubber brush or bristle brush. This, along with the occasional bath, is normally all that’s required to maintain their coat and limit how much hair ends up falling onto your floors and furniture.

And this is mostly thanks to their short, smooth, straight coat. And the fact that they do not have an undercoat. Single-coated dogs, like the Papillon for example, are generally lower shedders and are easier to brush. So the combination of a single coat and one that is short in length, makes for a very low maintenance dog.

However, there is one caveat to this.

As with most short coated dogs, the hairs they do shed tend to needle their way into your carpet and upholstery. And a good example of this is the Fox Terrier. So, even though the shedding isn’t very heavy in a Min Pin, and they’re easy to groom, you may save some time and effort with a vacuum (or vacuum attachment) that is designed to pick up dog hair.

Another thing worth mentioning is that, when it comes to bathing, it’s important to avoid over bathing or using harsh shampoos (or those designed for humans). Because while you can remove a lot of the dead hair in the tub, either of these things can lead to dry, irritated skin and hair. Which is actually one of the leading causes of shedding to begin with.

Bottom Line

Miniature Pinschers are fun-loving, intelligent dogs that are absolutely brimming with personality. And because they molt so little hair and their coat is super easy to maintain, you’re not going to be spending as much time brushing and vacuuming as with most dogs.

If you’re still weighing up your options, however, or if you just want to explore other breeds before deciding to adopt a Min Pin, check out our full list of low shedding dogs here.