What's the first thing you think of when you hear about the Miniature Pinscher? Many think he's a miniature Doberman. Others think he's simply yappy and tends to bite. Owners of this breed can tell you none of that is true.

In actuality, the Min Pin is fun loving, loyal and intelligent. He's earned his nickname as the King of the Toys.

So let's talk about some of the traits of this breed. Min Pins definitely have an attitude. Although they only weigh 8-12 pounds they certainly have the mentality of a much bigger dog. This breed is courageous well beyond its size. Just look at his high stepping gait and see how he holds his head high. You can't help but notice how proud this dog seems.

And when you have a dog that is so proud, loyal and courageous you have an excellent watchdog. But you also have a dog that can at times be a handful.

A good Min Pin owner quickly establishes himself as the alpha male or female. If this is not done, the dog can become a tyrant, thinking he's in charge of the household. Early training is a must and it needs to be consistent. You can't let your dog get away with bad behavior just because he's so cute. It can be tough sometimes to enforce discipline because of this, but it needs to be done. The good news is that Miniature Pinschers are easy to train because they are highly intelligent.

And if trained properly they are incredible pets. They are loving, loyal and very playful. And quite simply, they are fun to watch. They are the stand up comedians of the dog world.

Just make sure that if you have children, they don't play too rough. Yes the Min Pin is sturdy and incredibly playful, but he does only weigh 10 pounds. It's easy to forget how small he is when playing.

And there are very few breeds that would be considered more loyal than a Miniature Pinscher. He will quickly become attached to everyone in your family, although he does have a tendency to become very attached to one person in particular.

Because they have so much energy, Miniature Pinschers need plenty of exercise. But the good news is that if you don't have the energy to keep up, their size means they can get all the exercise they need just running around your apartment or home. They love to play by themselves and if you're watching, they seem to perform more just for your enjoyment. You can't help but laugh.

And when it's time to settle down your Min Pin will be right there next to you. They are fun, smart, loyal, and easy to care for. What more would you want in a family pet?