Origin: Germany
Height: Average of about
10 inches tall at the shoulders
Weight: 7-8 pounds
Exercise Needs: Medium
Grooming Needs: Medium
Life Expectancy:
Good With Kids: Yes
Trainability: Medium
difficulty
Common Misspellings: Affenpincher,
Afenpincher, Afenpinsher, Affinpinscher,
Athenpincher, Athenpinscher, Affanpincher,
Affanpinscher
Alternate Names: Monkey Terrier
The Affenpinscher, otherwise known as the
Monkey Terrier (’affe‘ means ape, or monkey, in
German), is considered to be an ancient breed of
dog, though his exact origins remain unknown and
unrecorded. First note of these unique little
dogs was made in Germany, as far back as the
seventeenth century and they are speculated to
be the founding breed, from which stemmed more
popular breeds, such as the Brussels Griffon
and, quite possibly, the Miniature Schnauzer, as
well. Equally confusing is this rugged little
canine’s classifications; the American Kennel
Club (AKC) labels the Affenpinscher as a toy
breed where, in other places, he is renowned as
a terrier. Indeed, his most well-known job title
was that of a stable rat catcher.
Standing an ideal 10 inches high at the
shoulder, and weighing no more than 7-8 pounds,
the Affenpinscher is a devoted and loyal pet,
often choosing a single person to bond with.
This bristly little imp has a harsh and wiry
coat that is shorter on his body, but grows
longer towards the head and legs. A pronounced
mustache and beard give this comical little
terrier a monkey-faced expression, hence his
nickname and, while he is a very intelligent
little animal, don’t ever think that the
Affenpinscher will be a piece of cake to train.
Above and beyond all else, the Affenpinscher has
mind all his own and, quite often, will bend his
owners to his own whims.
The most common color of the Affenpinscher is
black, though it is not uncommon to find blacks
with tan markings, or a mixture of red or gray
in the coat. Their fur takes a moderate degree
of work to upkeep, the main focus of attention
being about the beard and eyes. The
Affenpinscher should not be bathed too
frequently, either, as frequent bathing can
destroy the wirehaired quality of the dog’s
coat, causing it to lose that crisp texture.
A very good watchdog, despite his tiny size,
this courageous little canine makes a wonderful
companion dog, especially for those who have
limited physical activity. Despite his small
stature, however, the Affenpinscher proudly
displays his terrier blood with a bullheaded
personality, common tendencies to become
hyper-excited, and his refusal to back down from
any aggressor, regardless of the size
difference. If for no other reason alone, the
Affenpinscher should always be kept on a leash
when outside, and should never be left
unattended, or he risks taking on the world… and
getting into a world of trouble.
The Affenpinscher is an active and busy
little working dog of the terrier lineage.
Consequently, they tend to like to stay active,
well into their adult years, and commonly enjoy
active games like fetch and gentle tug-o-war.
Fortunately, however, this captivating little
canine also has short legs and can get worn out
fairly easily, so he isn't one to be high
maintenance when it comes to his daily walk.
A trip around the block and the comical little
Monkey Terrier is ready to go snuggle on your
lap.
The Affenpinscher requires a bit of care in
order to maintain though, luckily, they are
hardly the high-maintenance beauty queens that
some of the other toy terriers are! The
main focus of attention should be your
Affenpinscher's beard (which they seem to get in
their food and water all the time) and around
their eyes. Comb these areas slowly and
gently, so as to remove snarls without causing
them discomfort.
The Affenpinscher also requires limited
bathing. Once a month is a good rule,
tops. Many breeders will tell you that
it's best to wait until there's a reason to
bathe them!
Training the Affenpinscher Terrier is
relatively easy, provided you maintain your
patience and understanding. A naturally busy and
energetic dog, they can be somewhat difficult to
keep focused, so obedience training is highly
recommended. Once the basics are learned, most
find that the Affenpinscher is a very eager to
please individual, who picks up new tricks
surprisingly quickly. Clicker-training
success has been noted with some, as it keeps
the dog more focused upon their owner, waiting
to hear the sound. Affenpinscher work very well
with the positive reinforcement method of
training - don’t ever try to physically
discipline your Affenpinscher, however, as this
can make them shy, sneaky, and nippish.
Like any breed of dog, the Affenpinscher is
subject to a variety of health concerns. Your
best bet is, when deciding to choose a new
Affenpinscher puppy, check around with several
breeders and ask about the various health issues
that can affect these beautiful little dogs. A
reputable breeder should be well-versed in the
health concerns and should be able to give you
more details, as well as showing you the sire
and dam of your potential puppy. Some of the
health problems that can affect Affenpinschers
include:
- Subluxated patella
- Eye ulcers
- Scratched eyes
- Fungal infections in folds of skin
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Unfortunately, the Affenpinscher is not the
dog breed for everyone. The high cost of
obtaining a healthy, well socialized
Affenpinscher puppy from a responsible
Affenpinscher breeder is a large obstacle for
most families searching for a canine companion.
This unique little breed of dog is quite rare
and it can often be difficult (and costly) to
find a puppy of your choosing, but should you
take on the search, you’re bound to find one of
these adorable little independents the perfect
dog for you.
There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the Affenpinscher dog breed. We've compiled a list of
Affenpinscher information sites to assist you in quickly locating
quality information about the Affenpinscher dog breed, while
avoiding the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than poor
attempts to capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in general.
If you know of a Affenpinscher information site that offers unique,
quality information and photos of the Affenpinscher breed, please
contact us with the URL and a brief description so that our editors
can consider it for inclusion in our list below.
Affenpinschers are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking at
Affenpinscher pictures, you can usually gain more insight into what
these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and this can help you
decide if you really want to become a Affenpinscher owner. The
following sites below offer pictures of Affenpinscher dogs,
Affenpinscher puppy photos, funny Affenpinscher photos and more.
Enjoy!
Now that you have decided that the Affenpinscher is the right
breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a
responsible Affenpinscher breeder from which to buy a healthy,
well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good
breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first
Affenpinscher puppy you find at the cheapest price available! To buy
a puppy from a responsible Affenpinscher breeder, you may need to
pay more and wait longer. The additional money and waiting time will
be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste from a newspaper ad, pet
store or "backyard breeder", and you'll likely also purchase a great
deal of additional expense and heartache, since you will likely end
up falling in love with a puppy with health and behavioral problems
that will likely need special care, plenty of veterinary visits,
regular medication - or even euthanasia. But do your homework and
find a responsible, caring Affenpinscher breeder who home-raises
their puppies with love, screens their breeding dogs for health
problems, offers a health guarantee and post sale support, and who
genuinely loves the Affenpinscher breed and is in it for the love of
the breed, rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of
getting a healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family
companion that will provide you and your family with many years of
joy, laughter and companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These
sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders
listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Affenpinscher
puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many sites now
online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for puppy
mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear of
these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the
breeders whom they allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
Affenpinscher clubs and rescues web sites can help you learn even
more about the Affenpinscher dog breed, help you locate a
responsible Affenpinscher breeder, or help you find a Affenpinscher
dog or puppy in need of a second chance for a loving, forever home.
We've compiled the following list of Affenpinscher clubs and
Affenpinscher rescues web sites for your convenience:
Choosing a name for your Affenpinscher puppy can be a daunting
task! There are so many names to choose from that it can take a lot
of thought and research to find just the right name for your
Affenpinscher. Usually, it's best to get to know your puppy for a
few days or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will help you
decide on just the right name to choose. Does he have a sense of
humor? A serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to one side?
A strange love of cantaloupe? By observing your new Affenpinscher
puppy over the first days or weeks, you should at least have a clue
about what type of name you want to give. There are a ton of dog
names and pet names web sites on the internet. Some are wonderful
information resources, while others, unfortunately, are just
"garbage" sites set up with the sole purpose of cashing in on
visitor hits for this popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new Affenpinscher puppy. These sites offer inventive,
unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that have helped
thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the right name for
their new baby!
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