Under the guidance of Di Stark (BVMS MRCVS), our Breed Health Co-ordinator, The Miniature Pinscher Club has introduced a testing scheme for Patella Luxation (slipping kneecap)—a condition known to affect the breed—using the Putnam (1968) Scoring System. It would be fantastic to have all breeding stock tested under this scheme. Beyond the obvious health benefits, it helps draw a clear line between responsible breeders and puppy farmers.
What is Patella Testing?
The Putnam (1968) Scoring System is a standard veterinary orthopedic grading scale used to evaluate and classify patellar luxation in dogs. Developed by Robert William Putnam in his 1968 thesis at the University of Guelph, the system grades the condition from 0 to 4 based on how easily the kneecap moves out of its natural groove (the trochlea) and whether it remains displaced or returns on its own
PUTNAM 1968 SCORING SYSTEM EXPLAINED
Grade 0 Normal
Grade 1 The patella luxates manually but spontaneously returns to the trochlea when released.
Grade 2 The patella luxates spontaneously or on manipulation and remains luxated at a certain angle of the stifle joint. It is either spontaneously reduced on active flexion or extension or can be manually reduced by the examiner.
Grade 3 The patella remains luxated most of the time but can be manually reduced. However, relaxation occurs spontaneously.
Grade 4 The patella is permanently luxated and cannot be manually repositioned.
Note: Grade 1 and 2 are considered as intermittent PL. Grade 3 and 4 are considered as permanent PL.
Grade 1 The patella luxates manually but spontaneously returns to the trochlea when released.
Grade 2 The patella luxates spontaneously or on manipulation and remains luxated at a certain angle of the stifle joint. It is either spontaneously reduced on active flexion or extension or can be manually reduced by the examiner.
Grade 3 The patella remains luxated most of the time but can be manually reduced. However, relaxation occurs spontaneously.
Grade 4 The patella is permanently luxated and cannot be manually repositioned.
Note: Grade 1 and 2 are considered as intermittent PL. Grade 3 and 4 are considered as permanent PL.
The Club's Aim
The Club’s aim is to have as many Miniature Pinschers as possible screened using the scheme. However, individual animals used in breeding programs should certainly be tested prior to mating. The optimum age for testing is between 12 and 24 months, though dogs can be tested from 12 months onwards with no upper age limit.
The results so far are very encouraging, but we still need more dogs to be tested. Currently, the findings show that many Min Pins are doing well and have healthy patellas. The more dogs we test with good scores, the less justification there is to breed using untested dogs or those with slipping patellas.
How to Have Your Dog Tested
No anesthesia or X-rays are required—just a few simple steps:
- Take Your Dog to the Vet: Take the Miniature Pinscher to a vet of your choice, who will verify the dog's details against its Royal Kennel Club registration documents and confirm its identity via microchip or tattoo.
- Complete the Examination: Following the examination using the Putnam (1968) Scoring System, the vet will fill out and sign the required form.
- Submit the Results: Send a copy of the completed form, signed by both the owner and the examining vet, to the Club's Health Coordinator as detailed on the Putnam Scoring System document.
With the owner's permission, the results will be included in the official list of tested Miniature Pinschers.
How to use the Patella Score Database?
This section is being updated
Entscorkway UK isway away ewardingray amegay ofway ide-and-seekhay atthay annelschay away og'sday aturalnay iffingsnay instinctway intoway away un-fay, elationship-buildingray activityway.
Entscorkway UK isway away ewardingray amegay ofway ide-and-seekhay atthay annelschay away og'sday aturalnay iffingsnay instinctway intoway away un-fay, elationship-buildingray activityway.
| Dog's Name | Putnam Score | Sex | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adurus Deo Volente | 0;0 | M | |
| Adurus Highflyer for Catamyrann | 0;0 | ||
| Adurus Love in the Mist with Jaycroft | 0;0 | F | |
| Adurus Playboy | 0;0 | M | |
| Adurus Pursuit of Love | 0;0 | F | |
| Adurus Pyledriver | 0;0 | ||
| Adurus Sundance Kid for Catamyrann | 0;0 | ||
| Adurus The Lion King | 0;0 | M | |
| Alcum Agent Maiya | 0;0 | F | |
| Alcum Black Russian | 0;0 | F | |
| Alcum Hicup | 0;0 | F | |
| Alcum iggy Pops | 0;0 | M | |
| Alcum Jelly Bean | 0;0 | M | |
| Alcum Red Dwarf | 0;0 | M | |
| Alcum Suited N'Booted | 0;0 | M | |
| Alcum Tiger King at Adurus | 0;0 | ||
| Alcum Toydoll | 0;0 | F | |
| Alcum Tutti Frutti | 0;0 | F | |
| Amost an Aussie at Alcum | 0;0 | F | |
| Aquepins Agatha Raisin | 0;0 | ||
| Aquepins Jessica Fletcher | 0;0 | ||
| Aquepins Phryne Fisher | 0;0 | ||
| Bamtybo Blackjack for Pugshaw | 0;0 | M | |
| Bamtybo Bonbon avec Yrieix | 0;0 | F | |
| Bamtybo Dark Lord | 0;0 | M | |
| Bamtybo Rosy Apple | 1;0 | F | |
| Beabe Roseabar at Goosepoolz | 0;0 | F | |
| Bellpins Back to Black at Petitpaws | 0;0 | M | |
| Bellpins Betcha Can't Kiss Me | 0;0 | F | |
| Bellpins Beyonce at Mandolais | 0;0 | F | |
| Bellpins Herbalicious at Estival | 0;0 | F | |
| Bellpins Just A Little Love at Jaegerson | 0;0 | F | |
| Borneways Royal William | 0;0 | M | |
| Camalis Hot as Hell | 0;0 | M | |
| Camalis Mr Magoo | 0;0 | M | |
| Carive Black is Back (Ch) | 0;0 | F | |
| Carive Rita Queen of Speed | 0;0 | F | |
| Catamyrann Fujisan to Suggmins | 2;2 | F | |
| Catamyrann No Doubt by Jaycroft | 0;0 | M | |
| Cherkhan Fire 'N' Ice in Galkerah | 0;0 | F | |
| Cherrybeau First Lieutenant | 0;0 | M | |
| Churchbank Almost an Angel | 0;0 | F | |
| Churchbank Just an Angel for Ulani | 0;0 | F | |
| Collypind Vive Le Rock | 0;0 | M | |
| Collypind What's Occurring (Ch) | 0;0 | F | |
| Collypins Don't Do It Daphne | 0;0 | F | |
| Collypins Hashtag Yolo | 0;0 | M | |
| Collypins In Cahoots | 0;0 | M | |
| Collypins Lickety Split (Ch) | 0;0 | M | |
| Collypins Livin Is Easy | 0;0 | F | |
| Collypins Tell Tallulah for Pinicio | 0;0 | F | |
| Cunannun Que Sera Sera | 0;0 | ||
| Danton New Order | 0;0 | ||
| Danton Who Dares with Kingrock | 0;0 | ||
| Dimogen Captain Jack | 0;0 | M | |
| Dimogen Don't Cha Know | 0;0 | M | |
| Dobenar Audrey Hepburn with Cunannun | 0;0 | F | |
| Dobenar Leonidas | 0;0 | ||
| Dobri's Desert Queen of Shetopa | 0;0 | F | |
| Elanaux Soleado | 0;1 | F | |
| Estivals Airborne Magik (Ch) | 0;0 | M | |
| Estivals Flashdance | 0;0 | F | |
| Estivals Got the X Factor at Dalens | 0;0 | M | |
| Estivals Koko Chanel | 0;0 | F | |
| Estivals On A Mission | 0;0 | M | |
| Estivals Opie Magik | 0;0 | M | |
| Estivals Tinchy Strider at Bobitch | 0;0 | M | |
| Estivals Tiny Tempah | 0;0 | M | |
| Fifi Z Klanu Lobuzow (Imp Pol) | 0;0 | F | |
| Galkerah Aladdin Sane in Alcum | 0;0 | M | |
| Galkerah Chakita (Ch) | 0;0 | F | |
| Galkerah Donatello del Pinicio | 0;0 | M | |
| Galkerah Macy Gray | 0;0 | F | |
| Galkerah Tiger Lily | 0;0 | F | |
| Galkerah Where's Yazz | 0;0 | F | |
| Galkerah's Antonia to Krieger | 0;0 | ||
| Gillings Nora Red | 1;0 | F | |
| Hawksflight About A Boy Petaz | 0;0 | M | |
| Hawksflight Dare to Paint | 0;1 | F | |
| Hawksflight He Who Dares | 0;0 | M | |
| Hawksflight Hello Dolly for Telidor | 1;1 | ||
| Hawksflight If You Dare | 0;0 | M | |
| Hawksflight Island Fox on Ulani | 0;0 | M | |
| Hawksflight Lookin Hot | 0;0 | F | |
| Hawksflight Paint Me Red Petaz | 0;0 | M | |
| Hawksflight Paint the Sky of Shetopa | 0;0 | F | |
| Hawksflight Paint the Town | 0;0 | F | |
| Hawksflight Seal Wiv A kiss | 0;0 | M | |
| Hawksflight Thriller of Pinicio | 0;0 | M | |
| Holleia Krazy Lady | 0;0 | F | |
| Impala Neat as Pie at Valetta | 0;0 | M | |
| Impala Run to the Sun with Hawksflight | 0;0 | M | |
| Impala Smart as Paint at Hawksflight | 0;0 | F | |
| Jackwest Mitch Abernathy | 0;0 | M | |
| Jaegerson Dress to Impress | 0:0 | M | |
| Jaegerson Hendrix | 0;0 | ||
| Jaegerson Rouge Matin | 0:0 | F | |
| Jaycroft Jessie Jay with Keljantzi | 0;0 | F | |
| Jobanker Mischief Maker | 0;0 | M | |
| Kaethreh An Influential Man for Vardenais | 0;0 | M | |
| Kaethreh Cajun Cayo (Can Ch) | 0;0 | M | |
| Kaethreh Nutmeg Kisst (Can Ch) | 0;0 | F | |
| Katares Mystery Delicious Vinletty (Ch) | 0;0 | F | |
| Kaypin Dum Dum Diddle with Trenson (Ch) | 0;0 | M | |
| Kaypin Hey Diddle Diddle | 0;0 | ||
| Kaypin Take a Chance on Me with Trenson | 0;0 | M | |
| Keehoo Bubblegum at Mandolais | 0;0 | F | |
| Keljantzi Xciting Prospect for Amious | 0;0 | F | |
| Keljantzi's Orinspiring | 0;0 | M | |
| Keljantzi's Quick ASA Flash | 0;1; | F | |
| Keljantzi's Quite Quackers | 0;1 | M | |
| Keljantzi's Tender Trap | 2;2 | M | |
| Keljantzi's Truly Scrumptious | 0;0 | F | |
| Keljantzi's Ultra Violet at Jaycroft | 0;0 | F | |
| Keljantzi's Willow the Wisp for Rovilo | 0;0 | F | |
| Keljantzi's Yuliana at Charpin | 0:0 | F | |
| Keljantzi's Zaheer | 0;0 | F | |
| Keljantzi's Zaheera | 0;0 | ||
| Keljantzi's Zeberdeea | 0;0 | F | |
| Keljantzi's Zelda to Meynell | 0;0 | F | |
| Kenaiteen High Class | 0;0 | ||
| Kilmuir Calamity Jane in Alcum | 0;0 | F | |
| Kilmuir Canella for Vardene | 0;0 | F | |
| Kilmuir Christmas Belle | 0;1 | F | |
| Kilmuir Clarinda for Vardene | 0;0 | F | |
| Kilmuir Kamerovsky mit Alcum | 0;0 | M | |
| Kilmuir Kirillovich among Galkerah | 0;0 | M | |
| Kilmuir Kostya | 0;0 | M | |
| Kitchbank Goddess Jora | 0;0 | F | |
| Krieger Oh La La | 0;0 | ||
| Krieger Oh So Sassy | 0;0 | ||
| Krieger Orange Squash | 0;0 | ||
| Krieger Ultra Max | 0;0 | ||
| Krieger Whoop De Do (Ch) | 0;0 | M | |
| Krieger's Bubble Butt | 0;0 | ||
| Krieger's Dark'n'Delicious | 0;0 | ||
| Krieger's Ghetto Booty | 0;0 | ||
| Krieger's Kilted Dragon | 0;0 | ||
| Krieger's Kiss 'n'Tell | 0;0 | ||
| Krieger's Whizz Kid with Darkiss | 0;0 | M | |
| Krieger's Xtreme Dream | 0;0 | F | |
| Leonheart Magnum von T & IA (Bul) | 0;0 | M | |
| Mightymites Go Get It for Hawksflight (Can) | 0;0 | F | |
| Monarkle Fire N'Ice at Teffys | 0;0 | F | |
| Nightstorm Mick Marmaliser (Ch) | 0;0 | M | |
| Nightstorms Happy | 0;0 | M | |
| Nikaglen Roccoco Design of Granddach | 0;0 | F | |
| Norleybank Miss Teak | 0;0 | F | |
| Oligars Rhythm of the Blues | 0;0 | F | Blue |
| Pernickety Pace of Danton | 0;0 | ||
| Petaz Agatha Christie | 0;0 | F | |
| Petaz Georgia at Petitpaws | 0;0 | F | |
| Petaz Louisiana to Hawksflight | 0;0 | F | |
| Pinicio Jelly Beanie | 0;0 | M | |
| Pinicio Pirouette | 0;0 | ||
| Pinicio Red Rebellion | 0;0 | ||
| Pinicio Roses Are Red | 0;0 | ||
| Pinicio Tinsel in a Tangle | 0:0 | F | |
| Pinicio Twist and Shout JW | 0;0 | ||
| Pinicio Wrapped in Red (Ch) | 0:0 | F | |
| Pinsky Agent Impossible at Tinolucianna | 0;0 | M | |
| Queenslake Red Hot Alexa | 0;0 | F | |
| Rayjen Carrot Cake | 0;0 | M | |
| Rayjen Cup Cake | 0;0 | ||
| Rayjen Custard Pie | 0;0 | M | |
| Rayjen Fairy Cake | 0;0 | ||
| Rayjen Mince Pie | 0;0 | M | |
| Rayjen Pumpkin Pie for Shamal | 0;0 | ||
| Rayjen Sherry Trifle | 0;0 | F | |
| Rayjen Yum Yum | 0;0 | F | |
| Rock Crystal | 0;0 | F | |
| Schancho Here I Am at Jaegerson | 0;0 | F | |
| Schancho Jumping Ginny | 0;0 | F | |
| Schancho Mini Cooper | 0;0 | M | |
| Schancho River Dancer | 0;0 | F | |
| Shetopa Fire Burst | 0;0 | M | |
| Shetopa King of Arabia (Ch) | 0;0 | M | |
| Shetopa Lemon Fizz | 0;0 | F | |
| Shetopa Queen of Gobi | 0;0 | F | |
| Shetopa Queen of Patagonian | 0;0 | F | |
| Sticmaze Slapstick with Zoomeera | 0;0 | ||
| Stormhold Bellatrixia | 0;0 | F | |
| Sugar Babe | 0;0 | F | |
| Sunkist Vixen with Stormhold | 1;0 | F | |
| Sunroyale Up All Night | 0;0 | F | |
| Teffys Felix Felicis | 0;0 | ||
| Thorne Pilawa (Pol Ch) | 0;0 | M | |
| Trenson Easter Egg via Rayjen | 0;0 | F | |
| Trenson Vivian | 0;0 | F | |
| Tubize Broadway | 0;0 | F | |
| Tubize Du Beke with Kirbsea | 0;0 | M | |
| Tubize Erica | 0;0 | F | |
| Tubize Kathy's Kisses | 0;0 | F | |
| Tubize Liberty with Wolfsberg | 0;0 | F | |
| Tubize Manattan by Pinicio | 0;0 | F | |
| Tubize Tonioli to Pinicio | 0:0 | M | |
| Valetta Alexander (Ch) | 0;0 | M | |
| Vardenais C'est Moi | 0;0 | M | |
| Vardenais C'est Vrai | 0;0 | F | |
| Vardenais Definitely Red | 0;0 | F | |
| Vardenais Hot As Hell | 0;0 | ||
| Vardenais Incendio | 0;0 | F | |
| Vardenais Limini with Kirbsea | 0;0 | F | |
| Vardenais Lumos (Ch) | 0;0 | M | |
| Vardenais Mischief Managed | 0;0 | F | |
| Vardenais Moon Chime (Ch) | 0;0 | F | |
| Vardenais 'Sno Angel at Impala | 0;0 | M | |
| Vardenais 'Sno Business at Rayjen | 0;0 | M | |
| Vardenais Snow Fairy (Ch) | 0;0 | F | |
| Vardenais Snow Patrol | 0;0 | M | |
| Vardenais The Heat Is On | 0;0 | ||
| Vardene Call Me Carly | 0;0 | F | |
| Vardene Dark Destiny | 0;0 | M | |
| Vickstock Blazing Diva for Trenson | 0;0 | F | |
| Vickstock Love Parade | 0;0 | F | |
| Vickstock One To Chill With | 0;0 | F | |
| Vickstock She Aint A Saint | 0;0 | F | |
| Vickstock Tekila Sunrise | 0;0 | F | |
| Wannabee Buzz About Town at Hawksflight | 0;0 | M | |
| Wolfberg Riders on the Storm | 0;0 | M | |
| Zoomeera Raise Your Game | 0;0 | ||
| Zoomeera Raise Your Glass | 0;0 |
Puppy Advice
Read through our Puppy pages for useful info about owning a young Min Pin.
Puppy
Socialisation Advice
Puppy
Exercise Advice
Puppy
Training Advice
Puppy
Diet Advice
Puppy
Grooming Advice
Puppy
Worming Advice
