The Affenpinscher is a great companion dog with rarity value. Only a few puppies are born in US each year. Yet the Affenpinscher is a great sporting friend and family dog.

Nature and Character

The Affenpinscher, one of the oldest dog breeds in Germany, is rare to find nowadays. Its original form has remained almost unchanged. Fearless, lively, and playful, it is an excellent companion and house dog, getting along well with children and other dogs. It stands out for its versatility, being affectionate, obedient, and trusting within its family, while also being spirited, vigilant, and incorruptible.

Interesting Facts about the Affenpinscher

Origin & History

The Affenpinscher is an old domestic dog breed from the southern German region, whose ancestors are depicted in woodcuts by Albrecht Dürer (1471 – 1528). The breed developed from the rough-haired Miniature Pinschers and was originally bred for hunting rats and mice. The first entries for this very popular breed around 1900 date back to 1879. Previously, it was bred in many colors and shades, but since 2000, black has become the breeding goal.

Affenpinscher Breed Characteristics

The largest canine umbrella organization, the “Fédération Cynologique Internationale” (FCI), classifies the Affenpinscher in Group 2 “Pinschers and Schnauzers – Molossoids – Swiss Mountain Dogs,” Section 1 “Pinschers and Schnauzers.” According to this standard, adult males and females have a withers height of 9 to 11.5 inches and weigh between 7 to 10 pounds.

Since April 6, 2000, the breed standard only allows the breeding of pure black Affenpinschers with an equally black undercoat. Until this date, color variations from light yellow to gray or reddish tones to blue-gray were tolerated. Partial white markings were also permitted. The body hair should be hard, stringy, and dense. To emphasize the typical monkey-like facial expression, the head hair should radiate outward radially, and the eyes should be framed by spiky and bushy brows. The eyes are dark and surrounded by black-pigmented eyelids. The ears are set high and evenly turned forward. The substantial beard and the breed-typical underbite complete the overall expression.

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Appearance

The Affenpinscher is small and compact. The structure should, in the overall ratio of length and height, appear as square as possible. The withers forms the highest point of the profile line, which slopes slightly backward, forming an almost straight line. The back and loins are sturdy and strong, causing the last rib cage to have a short distance to the hip. The croup is also short and slightly rounded, merging imperceptibly into the tail, which remains natural and, ideally, is formed as a saber or sickle tail. The chest is only slightly flattened on the sides and extends to the height of the elbows. The belly and upper line run approximately parallel from the withers to the tail set.

The front legs of the Affenpinscher are sturdy and straight. The shoulder and upper arm are well-muscled and lie close to the body. The front paws are short, round, and have closely spaced, cat-like arched toes. The hind legs, viewed from the rear, also run parallel and are muscular. The metatarsus should stand perpendicular to the ground. The hind paws are slightly longer than the front paws, with closely spaced, arched toes and black claws.

Affenpinscher Nature & Character

The Affenpinscher is an alert, fearless, and tenacious dog, sometimes seized by a fiery passion. At the same time, it is an all-around pleasant family dog that gets along well with children and enjoys playing. It is an affectionate, albeit somewhat eccentric, house companion to “its” people, with a distinct personality. Due to its distinctive appearance and outstanding qualities, such as adaptability and temperament, it is particularly popular among dog lovers who desire a robust small dog.

As a lap dog, the active Affenpinscher is less suitable. If provided with enough opportunities to burn off energy, it proves to be a loyal house companion with a long life expectancy. The adaptable Affenpinscher does not have high demands on the type of activities. Extensive walks bring it as much joy as a good romp in the city park, where it usually gets along well with other dogs.

Use of the Affenpinscher

In the past, the Affenpinscher was mainly used for rodent hunting. If it is not kept on farms for this purpose, it now usually engages in this activity for pleasure and is primarily used as a house and companion dog. Alternatives to hunting for the Affenpinscher include extensive walks or wild play with its owners and other dogs. Additionally, the curious and playful Pinscher excels in various dog sports such as agility.

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Affenpinscher Overview