by Debbie Baughman

Created on: February 12, 2010   Last Updated: February 26, 2010

The Affenpinscher is also known as the Monkey Dog because of the monkey-life expression of bushy eyebrow, chin with hair tuft and piercing black eyes. The Affenpinscher was called the “little devil with a mustache” in France.

History

The Affenpinscher dog breed is believed to originate in central Europe. The name Affenpinscher has been translated from German to mean Monkey terrier. These small dogs were used as ratters during the 17th century. Affenpinschers kept the rodent population down in stables and on farms. It is believed that the Affenpinscher is an ancestor of the Brussels Griffon. The Affenpinscher is one of the oldest of the toy group.

The Affenpinscher dog breed was imported to the United States from Germany in the middle 1930s; however, it is believed the breed died out. In the 1950s, more Affenpinschers were imported to the United States and the breed gained popularity in the middle 1960s.

Appearance

The Affenpinshcer is a small, wire-haired dog breed, often described as sturdy and compact. They are usually black in color, but can be gray, silver, red, or black and tan.  The coat over the head and shoulders of the Affenpinscher form a mane. The coat is dense and rough, but shaggier on the neck, chest, stomach and legs.

Affenpinschers are small dogs that stand no more than 11 inches tall and weigh between 7 to 9 pounds.  This dog breed sheds little; therefore, it considered a hypoallergenic dog breed. The Affenpinshcer needs to be groomed two to three times a week to keep hair from matting.

Temperament

The Affenpinscher is alert and inquisitive. They are often described as the dogs with stamina, agility and great courage. The Affenpinscher is described as a little dog with a big dog mentality because of a bold and fearless nature.

Typically, they are loyal and affectionate toward the family. Affenpinschers are curious and fun-loving. They are very protective of their families. They need consistent, firm training and can be difficult to housebreak. Affenpinschers have bold attitude like that of larger dogs. They can be excitable when threatened or attacked.

Health Concerns

The Affenpinscher has a life expectancy of 12 years. Some health problems they can encounter are eye problems, hip dysplasia, Legg-Perthes disease, luxating patellas and collapsed trachea.

Affenpinschers are small dogs, but think like big dogs. They have great loyalty to the family and love to be around people. These small dogs make excellent traveling companions due to their adaptability to surroundings. Additionally, they make wonderful family pets.

Sources:

www.affenpinscher.org

www.akc.org

www.en.wikipedia.org

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