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Minnie Jack (Min Pin Jack Russell Mix): Breed Info

The Minnie Jack is a crossbreed between Jack Russell Terriers and Miniature Pinscher. Minnie Jacks are intelligent and agile. They are affectionate towards their families but have a highly developed hunting instinct. 

Miniature Pinscher Jack Russell mixes are great runners, affectionate, and agile. 

They like pleasing their owners and are easy to train, picking up on new commands fast.

This article explores all the essential areas that revolve around Minnie Jacks:

  • Origin
  • Appearance
  • Temperament
  • Health Issues
  • Shedding

And more.

What Is a Minnie Jack? – An Overview

A Minnie Jack is a hybrid between Jack Russell Terriers and Miniature Pinschers. Min Pin Jack Russell mix dogs are intelligent and active. They adapt well to various living conditions but prefer a wide outdoor play area. Even though they are moderate to heavy shedders, grooming needs are minimal. 

Minnie Jacks are small dogs. They have short to medium coats that range from black and blue to isabella, red, brown, and fawn.

This breed is relatively healthy, even though they are prone to several health issues. 

Minnie Jacks have unique personalities and form strong bonds with their families.

The main Minnie Jack characteristics are listed in the table below.

Appearance

Height

9 – 12 inches

Weight

 8 – 15 pounds

Lifespan

11 – 15 years

Dog Breed Group

Mixed breed

Coat Type

Double – smooth or broken

Coat length

Short, medium

Coat color

Black, Blue, Isabella, Red, Brown, fawn

Eyes

Brown

Nose

Black, brown

Ears

Stiff-floppy

Hypoallergenic

No

Shedding

4 stars

Grooming Difficulty

2 stars

Adaptability

Apartment living

2 stars

Good for beginners

2 stars

Can be alone

3 stars

Cold weather tolerance

3 stars

Hot weather tolerance

3 stars

Friendliness & Temper

Temperament

5 stars

Affectionate

5 stars

Kid-Friendly

3 stars

Dog-Friendly

4 stars

Friendly to Strangers

4 stars

Playfulness

5 stars

Trainability & Needs

Easy to train

4 stars

Intelligence

4 stars

Hunting Instinct

5 stars

Barking

5 stars

Energy Level

5 stars

Other names for the Jack Russell Miniature Pinscher Mix include:

  • Minnie Jack  
  • Jackmin 
  • JackPin
  • Min Pin Jack
  • Jack Minne

The Minnie Jack is not recognized as a separate breed by the American Kennel Club. But, they are acknowledged by designer breed clubs.

This table lists the designer breed associations that recognize the Minnie Pinscher Jack Russell mix as a separate breed.

AssociationRecognized Name
American Canine Hybrid ClubMinnie Jack
Designer Dogs RegistryMiniature Jack or Mini Jack
Designer Dogs Kennel ClubMini Jack 
Dog Registry of America, Inc.Mini Jack
International Designer Canine Registry®Mini Jack

3 Reasons To Get a Minnie Jack

Minnie Jacks are smart and make great watchdogs. They behave well around other dogs and like to go on playdates.

1. The Minnie Jack Is Intelligent and Agile

The Minnie Jack Is Intelligent and Agile
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Minnie Jacks are smart dogs and learn new tricks easily. If trained properly, Minnie Jacks are astute companions. This mixed breed understands what their owners want from them. 

All of these traits allow owners to have fun while training.

Minnie Jacks can be stubborn if they want something badly. Once you get to know them and adapt to their learning style, you will enjoy the time spent together.

2. The Minnie Jack Interacts Well With Other Pets

Minnie Jacks socialize well with other dogs. You don’t have to worry if you already have a dog and want to bring a Minnie Jack into the family. 

They enjoy playdates and love being around other dogs. They are well-behaved, especially if trained.

3. The Minnie Jack Is a Great Watchdog

Minnie Jacks are alert and display a highly developed protective instinct. They pay attention to noises so they can alarm their family of intruders. 

The Miniature Jack has the habit of signaling when something is wrong. They will not restrain from barking if they suspect danger.

3 Reasons Not To Get a Minnie Jack

Minnie Jacks are not the best dogs for young children. They are highly energetic and shed a lot.

1. The Minnie Jack Does not Behave Well Around Children

The Minnie Jack Does not Behave Well Around Children
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Minnie Jacks are not the perfect dogs for young children. They’re not bad if trained, but not as caring as other breeds.

They can be stubborn, especially when they don’t get what they want. They have the potential of becoming aggressive if they are not socialized and trained when they are puppies.

2. The Minnie Jack Is Highly Energetic

Minnie Jacks need 60 to 90 minutes of daily physical exercise. This is a problem if you enjoy a laidback lifestyle.

Minnie Jacks that don’t exercise enough are frustrated. Frustration triggers unwanted behavior, such as excessive barking and destructive habits. 

They can also become aggressive.

3. The Minnie Jack Is a Moderate to Heavy Shedder

Minnie Jacks shed. Their hair is dense and regenerates often. If you don’t have time for grooming and hate dog hair in the house, the Minnie Jack is not for you.

Jack Russell Miniature Pinscher mixes shed more in the spring and fall. During heavy shedding periods, they need daily brushing.

Related: Do Jack Russells Shed?

Min Pin Jack Russell Mix Origin

The origin of the Min Pin Jack Russell mix is not clear. They seem to have originated in the United States in the 2000s. This crossbreed is relatively new and there is not enough information to pinpoint a specific time and location for its origin. 

Jack Russell Terrier History

Jack Russell Terrier History

Jack Russell Terriers originate from Great Britain. Their breeding began in the 1800s and their initial purpose was to hunt foxes. In time, people began using them for vermin control. 

Jack Russells are closely related to Parson Russell Terriers. The American Kennel Club recognized the Jack Russell Terrier as a separate breed. This decision has been active between 1998 and 2003. 

Jack Russell terriers are now included in the Parson Russell Terrier category. 

Miniature Pinscher History

Miniature Pinscher History

The Miniature Pinscher has been around for more than 200 years. 

All the data suggests that the Min Pin is a mixed breed and has the following ancestors:

  • Dachshunds
  • Italian Greyhounds
  • German Pinchers

The Min Pin has no relation to the Doberman, despite popular belief. This belief is due to an early inaccurate American Kennel Club description of the breed. 

In the beginning, the Min Pin was referred to as the “Pinscher”. In 1972, its name was changed to “Miniature Pinscher”.

Mini Jack Dogs’ Appearance 

Mini Jacks are unique small dogs with short hair. They have tiny bodies and fine bone structures. Minnie Jacks are athletic and have strong muscles. They display various color patterns. This depends on what genes they inherit from their parents. 

Even though they resemble Jack Russells, Minnie Jacks have low to zero chances of white spotting.

Minnie Jacks can have the following colors:

  • Black
  • Blue
  • Isabella
  • Red
  • Brown
  • Fawn
  • A variation of the above
Mini Jack Dogs’ Appearance 
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Jack Russell Min Pin mixes are crossbred, which means they inherit traits from both parents. There are some limits to what Minnie Jack puppies look like, but a 100% prediction is impossible.

Minnie Jacks have double-layered waterproof coats. Their undercoat is soft, while the outer coat can be smooth or wiry. 

Their coat is generally dense and straight. It provides protection from insect bites and various environmental factors.

Minnie Jacks can have dark face masks, called melanistic masks. For this to happen, both parents need to pass on the genes.

Related: Jack Russell Colors

How Big Do Jack Russell Min Pin Mix Dogs Get?

Jack Russell Min Pin mix dogs have a small stature. They weigh less than 22 pounds. The breed is thought to be a part of the Toy group but the Minnie Jack does not fall in this category, even if it is tiny.

Toy breeds are dogs that weigh between 4 and 8 pounds and measure between 7 and 11 inches in height.[1] 

While some people think of the Minnie Jack as a Toy breed, this dog is bigger than the requirements.

The following table illustrates the difference in size between male and female Minnie Jacks.

GenderHeightWeight
Female9 – 12 inches8 – 12 pounds
Male10 – 12 inches9 – 15 pounds

Miniature Pinscher Jack Russell Mix Temperament

Miniature Pinscher Jack Russell mixes are intelligent and agile. They form special bonds with their family members and are fun to be around. Min Pin Jack Russells can become aggressive if not socialized and trained during their puppyhood.

Both Jack Russells and Min Pins were bred for hunting. They have been used for vermin control, which explains why Minnie jacks display such a well-developed hunting instinct.[2]

Hunting dogs have a few qualities worth mentioning:

  • They have a well-developed tracking and smelling capacity.
  • They have great stamina and are great runners.
  • They are always eager to please and understand what owners require of them.

Mini Pins are stubborn because they are an independent breed. Minnie Jacks can inherit this trait, which makes early training and socialization essential.

Minnie Jacks are active dogs that like to run, engage in play dates, and play with their owners. 

Miniature Pinscher Jack Russell Mix Temperament
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They behave well around other dogs but can become aggressive. This happens to unsocialized dogs, making training vital.

Aggression is easily controlled though. Keep your Minnie Jack engaged in activities that challenge them mentally and physically.

This table illustrates the main traits that Minnie Jacks can display in relation to their parent breeds.

TraitsJack Russell TerriersMiniature Pinscher
AggressionYesYes
EnergeticYesYes
PlayfulnessYesYes
Protective InstinctYesYes
Excessive BarkingYesYes 
Hunting InstinctYesYes
Biting InstinctNoYes
Digging InstinctYesYes

Do Minnie Jacks Bark?

Yes, Minnie Jacks bark a lot. And they bark loudly. They inherit this trait from both parent breeds. They bark loudly because they have been used for vermin control. This is how they let their owner know they found prey. 

Minnie jacks are great watchdogs. They detect danger quickly and let their owners know something is wrong. If you live in a quiet neighborhood, Minnie Jacks are not for you. 

Related: Why Is My Jack Russell Barking?

Jack Russell Miniature Pinscher Mix Health Problems

Jack Russell Miniature Pinscher mixes are healthy, living up to 17 years. Their average life expectancy is between 11 and 15 years. Minni Jacks can develop various diseases passed on by both Jack Russells and Miniature Pinschers. 

The genetics behind disease inheritance attributes various health conditions to both parents.  These diseases are called recessive diseases. 

Crossbreds are less likely to develop the genetic issues that their parent breeds are prone to.[3] 

The most common diseases that both Jack Russells and Miniature Pinschers are prone to are:

  • Patellar luxation[4]
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes disease[5]
  • Thyroid disease[6]
  • Eye problems

Other diseases that Minnie Jacks can inherit from just one of the parent breeds:

  • Epilepsy
  • Ear infections
  • Heart defects
  • Cervical dry disk
  • Cerebellar ataxia
  • Breathing issues
  • Cushing’s disease
  • Periodontal disease

Conclusion

Minnie Jacks are highly intelligent. They bark a lot and are great watchdogs, but they need a lot of physical exercise. They can adjust to apartment living but it is not their most suited environment.

Minnie Jacks are great companions and make great family dogs. Being around your children is not their forte. 

If you are determined to get a Minnie Jack, they will offer a lot of affection. They form strong bonds with their family members.

Other Jack Russell Mix Breeds

About Dennis Stapleton

Dennis Stapleton has a passion for animals, especially dogs, and their relatives. He’s intrigued by their social structure and loves to write and teach about the world's most popular pet animal.

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