Is an Affenpinscher the right dog for you?

The Affenpinscher is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world, along with the Chow Chow, Pekinese, and Siberian Husky.

Wonder where the name comes? In the 16th century, people believed the dogs got their name because of the myth that the Affenpinschers were a mixture of dogs and monkeys.

Breed characteristics

Affenpinschers are a toy breed and the smallest of the pinscher breed. They weigh 6 to 12 pounds and stand about 10 to 12 inches tall. 

The dogs have a compact body with a broad chest and a sickle-shaped tail. The dogs have a prominent forehead, round eyes, and high-set, V-shaped ears that either fall forward or stand up straight. 

Affenpinscher’s have a dense wiry coat that comes in black, An Affenpinscher has a marked beard and a perpendicular topknot. Its coat can be black, black and tan, black and silver, beige, or red.

Affenpinscher character

These dogs are affectionately called “little black devils” because of their restlessness. They are attentive and active. Affenpinschers are affectionate and love to spend time with their family members. 

Because they may be a little mischievous, they can cause damage by chewing and scratching. They need daily physical activity, and you will need to train them to respect the furniture and play exclusively with the toys you provide. If you adopt an Affenpinscher puppy, early training will be the key to success.

These puppies do not hesitate to assert themselves if they think someone is hurting their owners, so they will be courageous and fierce in defending people against any threat. This may make the Affenpinscher somewhat wary of strangers, but they are rarely aggressive if appropriately trained.

Affenpinscher care

Although the coat of the Affenpinscher may seem challenging due to its thickness and length, it is not complicated to keep the coat in good condition. The dog needs at least weekly brushing to maintain the disheveled appearance of its coat. 

Feed your Affenpinscher food formulated for miniature dogs to meet their nutritional needs. 

Training 

One of the biggest challenges you can face in training an Affenpinscher is its nervous nature. To calm them down and prevent them from being mischievous and destructive, balance training with playtime.

 Start socializing your Affenpinscher when he’s young to avoid having your dog being aggressive with strangers.

Establish a strong emotional bond between dog and human using positive reinforcement training to obtain the best results.

Health issues

Affenpinschers are among the top 10 healthiest dogs in the world. The breed usually lives between  12 and 15 years.

The dogs can suffer from hip dysplasia, so it’s essential to work with your vet to monitor hip health. Affenpinschers also can suffer from patellar luxation, which causes the kneecap to slip and need to be relocated by a professional. 

The dogs can suffer from eye issues, especially if their hair comes in contact with the retina and scratches it.

Bottom line

These small black dogs are active and restless. They require exercise and training to keep them happy and healthy. To adopt an Affenpinscher, check Petfinder.com.

To find an American Kennel Club-Registered Affenpinscher breeder, visit the AKC Marketplace.

Linda S. Davis is a writer at 500WordEssay and a happy dog owner. She likes spending time with her dogs going for a walk in the park. She also prefers to groom her pets herself because she cannot rely on somebody else.

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