Affenpinscher | Dog Breed Information & Facts – Pictures

Last Updated on October 18, 2022 by Pets Feed

The Affenpinscher dog is a very striking small breed. It has an ancient history compared to other dog breeds and a very particular and dilapidated appearance which contributed to the popular myth according to which it comes from the monkey. This friendly animal is a faithful companion for people with a moderately active lifestyle.

This breed is highly given to its human family and its size is ideal for small spaces. With an education always reinforced in the positive and the discipline, the dog Affenpinscher is an incomparable companion. Its maintenance level is much lower than it seems and its health and longevity are excellent.

With such a name, it is surely easy for us to imagine that we are dealing with one of the breeds of dogs of German origin. What we may not know is that the Affenpinscher dog is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world, along with others such as the chow chow, the Pekingese or the Siberian husky.

Breed name	Affenpinscher
Country of origin	Germany
Weight	3 – 6 kg
Height (at the withers)	24 – 30 cm
Life expectancy	14 years
Size	Small

Affenpinscher photos

Physical characteristics of the Affenpinscher dog

The dog Affenpinscher is a small breed, that is to say that once its development is complete, they should not weigh more than 6 kg.

The transverse height of these dogs is between 24 and 28 cm and does not exceed 30 cm. The weight is between 3 and 6 kg so it is also called Toy or dwarf breed.

• Head: The head is of normal size, corresponds ideally to the body, the forehead is rather broad and convex. The muzzle is strong, muscular.
• Teeth: The teeth are small and bright white. The upper jaw is slightly shorter than the lower jaw.
• Ears: The ears are small, set high and fairly wide. They can be erect or semi-erect, sometimes they are docked to a triangle.
• Eyes: The eyes are small, rounded and widely spaced. The color is dark.
• Frame: The chest is moderately wide and deep. The line of the back is straight, muscular. The withers are weakly expressed.
• Legs: The legs are straight, parallel to each other. The paws are small, rounded, the claws are black.
• Coat: The medium coat is quite long, especially on the muzzle. The most common is black color, less often gray, red or silver. The muzzle may have a mask with white or silver spots.

Behavior and character

Affenpinscher dogs receive the affectionate nickname of “black devils” because of their agitation and their very attentive and active nature. But that does not make us think at any time that it’s a difficult dog to handle, because it’s just the opposite, it’s one of the most recommended breeds for family life because they are very affectionate and love spending time with His human family.

However, they can be a little naughty, and that implies that they do destruction at home. It will therefore be important to allow them to do daily physical activity, so that they are calmer, as well as to educate them to respect the furniture and play exclusively with the toys we provide them.

Early training of the Affenpinscher puppy is the key to success.

This dog does not hesitate to prevail if it thinks someone is hurting it, because it is very brave and fierce to defend its owners against any threat, despite its small size.

This can make the dog feel somewhat suspicious of strangers, but the Affenpinscher is generally not aggressive if properly educated.

Health

Did you know that an Affenpinscher is one of the 10 best dogs in the world?

Affenpinscher’s life expectancy is 12-14 years. Although it is worth noting that there are not very many centenarians among the representatives of this breed. Affen got good health by nature, but his condition largely depends on the owner.

It is important to carry out routine vaccination, deworming, treatment against skin parasites. It is possible to avoid or start the treatment of many diseases on time if you visit a veterinary clinic with your pet 1-2 times a year for tests and preventive examinations.

Most often, Affenpinscher dogs have the following health problems:

• Cataract – can lead to loss of vision.
• Hernias.
• Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
• Hypothyroidism is a problem of the thyroid gland.
• Dysplasia – accompanied by severe pain. Leads to immobility if left untreated.
• Von Willebrand-Diane disease is a blood disease that is inherited. It is accompanied by spontaneous bleeding.
• Oligodontia is incomplete teeth.
• Patella slip syndrome.
• Sebaceous cysts – caused by oncogenic viruses. Viruses are transmitted by contact of healthy animals with sick animals and by insect bites.

Basic care

The Affenpinscher cannot be kept outdoors, it must live indoors. It is better to keep it in a country house. These little dogs need constant walks in the fresh air. If the animal wanders on the territory surrounding the house, then it must be fenced with a high fence.

In general, caring for an Affenpinscher takes some effort, this includes things like:

• The wool is cut. This procedure can be carried out by a specialist or by the owner himself. The essence of the procedure is that it is necessary to pluck out dying hair, because such dogs do not shed;
• Three times a week, the dog must be combed, the hair around the eyes must be cut so that the animal does not have vision problems;
• To bathe a dog, you must choose a special veterinary shampoo;
• The dog’s teeth should be brushed 3 times a week;
• Nails should be trimmed several times a month

Exercise

Since the breed is very active, it is essential to practice physical activities so that the Affenpinscher puppy or adult dog is properly stimulated and exercised. To do this, we can take the dog on the field to throw the ball and make him bring it, bring it on a circuit of agility, etc.

20 to 40 minutes a day is the recommended average.

Affenpinscher Fun Facts

• Translated from German, Affe sounds like “monkey”.
• Affenpinscher is very jealous; he will be jealous of his master even for children.
• Residents of France, because of the hooligan character of Affenpinscher and the protruding moustache, call him “the moustachioed devil.”
• Affenpinscher can easily climb over a fence or climb a tree.
• Despite the compact size, the territorial instinct of Affenpinschers is developed no worse than that of guard breeds, so they always promptly inform about the arrival of both invited and uninvited guests.
• The main phobia of Affenpinscher dogs is loneliness, so it is undesirable for busy and non-family people to have a dog.
• Having acquired of the Affenpinscher, you will have to give up the dream of setting up a mini-zoo at home. Representatives of this family do not favor any four-legged creatures and fight them by swooping, growling and nibbling.
• The breed is considered rare, so if you are looking for a pet with an original image with which you can stand out from the crowd of familiar dog lovers, the Affenpinscher will fulfill your cherished desire.

Origin

Affenpinscher is one of the oldest breeds dating from the 17th century. In Germany, the place of origin, the word “affen” means mocking and “pinscher” is equivalent to terrier.

Although the Affenpinscher show all the guts of the burrow, they are too small to be working dogs and are mostly acquired as pets.

Given the age of this breed, the experts encountered various difficulties in determining the exact timing of its origin, as well as the crossings that led to its occurrence. Therefore, everything is based on conjecture, as well as some pictographic evidence. For example, it was established that the breed already existed in the 16th century as copies of Affenpinscher dogs appeared on images dating from that date.

Due to its morphological and genetic characteristics, it has been determined that it is more likely to come down from German burrows, Pinscher or miniature schnauzer, among other options.