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The little, lively Affenpinscher dog
is a toy dog with a very distinctive and rather comical face. While
they are undoubtedly small and do fall into the toy dog category, they
have something of a reputation for being rather more robust and outgoing
than most other small dog breeds, and have very inquisitive natures!
The breed has German origins, and a known history going back to at
least the 17th century, longer even than other well-known German breeds
such as the Miniature Schnauzer
and the Brussels Griffon, which both have Affenpinscher ancestry. The
name originates from the German word for “ape” or monkey, and is thought
to have been chosen due to the dog’s rather humanistic facial features!
While the breed has been popular across the world for a great many
years, interest in the Affenpinscher as a pet dog has risen
exponentially since the breed took the coveted Best in Show title at the
prestigious Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York in 2013.
If you are considering owning an Affenpinscher, or have become
interested in the breed, this article will highlight some of the main
traits of this lively little dog, and look at the pros and cons of
ownership of an Affenpinscher. Read on to learn more!
What does the Affenpinscher look like?
The little Affenpinscher can weight anything from 2.9-6kg, and stands up to 12” tall at the shoulder.
Their coats are rough and very wiry when full length, but rather
fluffy when clipped off. The most common coat colour of the
Affenpinscher is all black, and in some Kennel Clubs and breed
registries, this is the only permitted colour. However, other
permutations are also possible, including red, black and tan, grey,
silver, or a mixture.
Their appearance, particularly their facial features, is very
distinctive, and once you have seen one, you will easily be able to spot
another! They are often classed as and associated with the terrier
grouping, but in fact, they are part of the Pinscher-Schnauzer breed
grouping, and do not display many of the typical terrier traits.
What is the breed’s health and longevity?
The average measured longevity of the Affenpinscher breed is 11.4
years, which is right in the middle of the age range for purebred dogs,
but slightly lower than representatives of other breeds of a similar
size and build.
The breed does have a genetic predisposition to some inherited health
conditions, including hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, respiratory
problems and fractures, due to their small, delicate bones.
What is their temperament like?
The breed is renowned for being very active and lively, as well as
curious, into everything and keen to go adventuring! They can be prone
to stubbornness, but are mainly simply playful, fun-loving and friendly
little dogs. They are known for being very protective of their families
and sometimes suspicious of strangers, and very affectionate towards the
people that they love. They need plenty of stimulation and
entertainment, and may easily become bored. Generally speaking, they
will get on well with other pets including cats and dogs, providing that
they are properly introduced and well socialised. They will hold their
own against even much larger dogs with confidence, and will often be the
dominant dog within a group.
They need firm, clear and consistent training, as they can be rather
stubborn and single minded, and can be rather territorial with their
food and other resources. Despite being fairly excitable, they are
generally quiet, and not prone to barking all of the time for no reason.
The pros of owning an Affenpinscher
- The Affenpinscher is small, somewhat portable and doesn’t need to have a huge home
- They have a very distinctive and appealing appearance
- They have more of a terrier personality than most other toy dogs, and are very outgoing
- They are good watchdogs, and will soon let you know if someone is approaching the house!
- While they need plenty of time to stretch their legs and go outside, they do not require multiple long walks each day
The cons of owning an Affenpinscher
- Despite their big personalities, they are still rather fragile, and prone to fractures with rough handling
- They can be suspicious and wary of strange people and dogs, and need lots of socialisation
- They have a reputation for being stubborn and rather wilful
- They can prove challenging to train, and may take longer than most breeds to get the hang of house training
- The breed is currently very much in demand, with not a huge amount
of available breeders, so you may have to wait some time or travel some
distance to find one offered for sale
- They need lots of attention and to be involved in every part of
family life, and will soon become bored and destructive if their needs
are not met
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The little, lively Affenpinscher dog
is a toy dog with a very distinctive and rather comical face. While
they are undoubtedly small and do fall into the toy dog category, they
have something of a reputation for being rather more robust and outgoing
than most other small dog breeds, and have very inquisitive natures!
The breed has German origins, and a known history going back to at
least the 17th century, longer even than other well-known German breeds
such as the Miniature Schnauzer
and the Brussels Griffon, which both have Affenpinscher ancestry. The
name originates from the German word for “ape” or monkey, and is thought
to have been chosen due to the dog’s rather humanistic facial features!
While the breed has been popular across the world for a great many
years, interest in the Affenpinscher as a pet dog has risen
exponentially since the breed took the coveted Best in Show title at the
prestigious Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York in 2013.
If you are considering owning an Affenpinscher, or have become
interested in the breed, this article will highlight some of the main
traits of this lively little dog, and look at the pros and cons of
ownership of an Affenpinscher. Read on to learn more!
What does the Affenpinscher look like?
The little Affenpinscher can weight anything from 2.9-6kg, and stands up to 12” tall at the shoulder.
Their coats are rough and very wiry when full length, but rather
fluffy when clipped off. The most common coat colour of the
Affenpinscher is all black, and in some Kennel Clubs and breed
registries, this is the only permitted colour. However, other
permutations are also possible, including red, black and tan, grey,
silver, or a mixture.
Their appearance, particularly their facial features, is very
distinctive, and once you have seen one, you will easily be able to spot
another! They are often classed as and associated with the terrier
grouping, but in fact, they are part of the Pinscher-Schnauzer breed
grouping, and do not display many of the typical terrier traits.
What is the breed’s health and longevity?
The average measured longevity of the Affenpinscher breed is 11.4
years, which is right in the middle of the age range for purebred dogs,
but slightly lower than representatives of other breeds of a similar
size and build.
The breed does have a genetic predisposition to some inherited health
conditions, including hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, respiratory
problems and fractures, due to their small, delicate bones.
What is their temperament like?
The breed is renowned for being very active and lively, as well as
curious, into everything and keen to go adventuring! They can be prone
to stubbornness, but are mainly simply playful, fun-loving and friendly
little dogs. They are known for being very protective of their families
and sometimes suspicious of strangers, and very affectionate towards the
people that they love. They need plenty of stimulation and
entertainment, and may easily become bored. Generally speaking, they
will get on well with other pets including cats and dogs, providing that
they are properly introduced and well socialised. They will hold their
own against even much larger dogs with confidence, and will often be the
dominant dog within a group.
They need firm, clear and consistent training, as they can be rather
stubborn and single minded, and can be rather territorial with their
food and other resources. Despite being fairly excitable, they are
generally quiet, and not prone to barking all of the time for no reason.
The pros of owning an Affenpinscher
- The Affenpinscher is small, somewhat portable and doesn’t need to have a huge home
- They have a very distinctive and appealing appearance
- They have more of a terrier personality than most other toy dogs, and are very outgoing
- They are good watchdogs, and will soon let you know if someone is approaching the house!
- While they need plenty of time to stretch their legs and go outside, they do not require multiple long walks each day
The cons of owning an Affenpinscher
- Despite their big personalities, they are still rather fragile, and prone to fractures with rough handling
- They can be suspicious and wary of strange people and dogs, and need lots of socialisation
- They have a reputation for being stubborn and rather wilful
- They can prove challenging to train, and may take longer than most breeds to get the hang of house training
- The breed is currently very much in demand, with not a huge amount
of available breeders, so you may have to wait some time or travel some
distance to find one offered for sale
- They need lots of attention and to be involved in every part of
family life, and will soon become bored and destructive if their needs
are not met
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