Affenpinscher
The Affenpinscher is a toy breed that has a unique and distinctive look that has earned them the nickname “Monkey Dog”. Affenpinschers are quite ragged looking with a rough short coat. Although small, the Affenpinscher is full of character and is known for being mischievous, fun-loving and also naughty. Affenpinschers are fearless little dogs that were originally bred to hunt vermin but are now kept as family pets.
The Affenpinscher is an intelligent and playful dog that loves to entertain their family with their mischievous, comical nature. Affenpinschers are small in size, love getting attention and don’t need too much exercise each day making them a suitable lapdog. These confident little dogs are loyal, affectionate and Affenpinschers can be protective of their family. If you are looking for a companion that is intelligent, adaptable and happy to chill out with you the Affenpinscher could be the one. Affenpinschers are also eager to please so are quick to learn new things but early training is vital to help eliminate common “terrier traits” such as excessive barking.
The Affenpinscher is a small but robust dog that has a very distinctive appearance. The Affenpinscher’s head is small in proportion to the rest of their body and they have “flat faces” (short muzzles), prominent chins and open nostrils. The Affenpinscher has medium-sized, dark eyes and small ears set high on their head.
The rest of the Affenpinscher is compact and sturdy, their legs are short and close, their bellies are tucked and their feet are small. The coat of the Affenpinscher is rough and dense, it is shaggy and harsh to touch. Around the Affenpinscher’s face the hair stands up adding to the monkey-like appearance. Affenpinschers are always black but can have grey shading in their coats as well.
How big do Affenpinscher dogs get?
Affenpinschers are people-orientated, they can be territorial and protective of their family members. This is not the best dog breed to have if you have a young family, Affenpinschers are not best with younger children as they don’t respond well to rough handling. However, Affenpinschers are good around older children. It is common for Affenpinschers to be suspicious of dogs and people they do not know. As Affenpinschers were bred to hunt rats and this means they have a high prey drive, it is best to keep Affenpinschers away from smaller pets as they may think the animal is prey.
The Affenpinscher is an ideal dog for a first-time owner as they are people-orientated and eager to please. Affenpinschers thrive in a family environment but they cannot be left on their own so need to be in a home where someone will always be with them. Thanks to their small size and adaptability, the Affenpinscher can live in apartments, in town or in the countryside and will be happy as long as they get enough exercise and playtime. Affenpinschers are hypoallergenic as they are low shedding and don’t slobber.
The Affenpinscher has an average life expectancy of 12 - 14 years. These little dogs are generally considered to be healthy but there are a few health conditions that Affenpinschers are more prone to, some of which are due to the shape of their face:
- Dental issues- due to the shortened skull of the Affenpinscher, they have a shortened jaw too. Although the jaw is smaller, the number of teeth stays the same which means their mouth can become overcrowded and cause dental issues.
- Breathing problems - due to the flat face of the Affenpinscher, they can have difficulty breathing normally due to excessive soft tissue in the nose and throat. They may also have narrow nostrils that can make breathing normally difficult. A dog that is struggling with breathing problems may breathe noisily or pant heavily. )
- Average Size of Adult: Medium (3/5)
- Grooming Requirement: Medium (2/3)
- Sociability: Medium (2/3)
- Exercise Requirements: High (3/3)
