Author: Connie Limon
The Affenpinscher's German name means Monkey-Terrier and refers
to the breed's comical, bewhiskered face and slightly undershot
jaw. Another name for this dog is Monkey Pinscher. In France
the Affenpinscher is known as Diablotin Moustachu, which
translates to Moustached Little Devil.
Germany claims origin of the Affenpinscher. It is felt the
little dog was bred elsewhere in Europe as well. The
Affenpinscher originated in the seventeenth century and
descended from terriers that inhabited farms and shops of
central Europe. In his neck of the woods, the Affenpinscher was
a confident sharp-witted little hunter.
Some writers believe the Affenpinscher is a descendant of the
Miniature Pinscher, possibly crossed with some of the German
wirehaired breeds or the Skye Terrier. It may be related to the
Brussels Griffon and the Miniature Schnauzer.
The original purpose of the Affenpinscher was a vermin hunter,
alarm dog and companion. He first came to America in the 1930s
and was entered in the AKC studbook in 1936. He first appeared
in the American show rings in Chicago and New York.
Personality
The Affenpinscher is naturally alert and vigilant, which helps
him to be an excellent alarm dog. He is lively, cheerful and
entertaining. He bonds quickly with his family and is
affectionate. He may challenge strangers who come to your door,
but will make friends easily if properly introduced as a friend.
The Affenpinscher needs consistent training. He learns commands
quickly. He is anxious to please his handler but may become
bored easily. Training sessions for the Affenpinscher should be
kept short and varied. The Affenpinscher is intelligent and
curious. He likes to learn new tasks. You will need to be
creative when training the Affenpinscher.
Appearance
The Affenpinscher stands 9 to 12 inches tall and weights
between 7 and 8 pounds. He is not a delicate toy dog. He is
sturdy and has medium bone structure. He has a domed skull
which gives him a curious, sort of comical looking facial
expression. His unkempt hairstyle adds to his clown like
appearance. Ears are cropped or uncropped, erect or dropped. He
has a straight, blunt muzzle. His bite is slightly undershot
with the lower incisors touching the upper incisors.
The coat of an Affenpinscher is harsh, dense and about one inch
long. It may be even shorter on the rear and tail, yet shaggier
on the head, neck, chest, stomach and legs. His tail is either
docked to approximately one inch or left natural to curve up
and over the back when moving.
Colors of an Affenpinscher are usually black but it is sometime
seen in gray, silver or black and tan. A small white patch on
the chest is allowable, but large white patches are
undesirable.
Exercise
This sturdy and hearty little guy will get by on a minimal
amount of exercise. He does enjoy regular romps in the yard and
playtime with his owners. Leashed walks are also enjoyable for
the Affenpinscher.
Grooming
The Affenpinscher requires little combing and brushing. After a
bath, this little dog shakes off and looks about the same as he
did before his bath. Regular combing will keep the coat in good
condition.
You will need a medium-toothed comb for general use and a
small, fine comb for the hair on the face, particularly around
the eyes. A small good-quality bristle nylon hairbrush (for
ladies) works well for the Affenpinscher. Do not attempt to
make this little dog too neat and tidy - a shaggy appearance is
required.
Combing with a medium or fine-toothed comb and then brushing
with a nylon or bristle cushion hairbrush will remove loose
hairs and keep the coat tidy. The face is scissored to give a
round shape when viewed from the front. The beard is left long
for show purposes. This pet dog can be left natural or trimmed
to appear neat and smart.
About The Author: Author: Connie Limon. Visit us at
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