Overview

The Affenpinscher originated in Germany in the 16th century. They are called the monkey dog due to their physical structure and playful nature. The strong and playful character make the Affenpinscher effective in destroying rats and mice.

General Description

The Affenpinscher is a small sized cute faced dog. It has a thick coat of fur and beard like hair round its face and neck. It is strongly built, has a square shaped stout body, strong limbs, arched necks and deep chests. The Affenpinscher has owl like eyes and short nose. They have small tail and their ears are regularly cropped so that they stand straight and upright. Affenpinschers generally have a black or grey coat.

Character

The Affenpinscher is a balanced breed. They are strong and solidly built and at the same time they have a confident and determined nature. The Affenpinscher is a cocktail of charm, courage and boldness. They are agile and dexterous. They have a special thinking and reasoning capability and at the same time they are gentle and sensible on special occasions. This breed is very much similar to that of terriers but Affenpinschers are more inclined to get along with other pets. They are curious and playful by nature. Sometimes they are bothersome but at the same time they are very much responsive to commands. Other than exceptionsAffenpinschers are easy to train. Because of their cocktail personality they get bored easily and prefer variations in their daily life. Affenpinschers are very nice pets but families with small children are not recommended. As they sometimes may behave negatively while guarding their food and toys. But over all, this breed does best with a family and can be recommended.

Temperament

There are certain plus points and minus points in the Affenpinschers temperament. The plus points are that, they are very analytical, intense, playful, devoted and charming. But the negative points are that they have a serious tendency to guard their food and toys. For that reason they are not recommended for kids. Sometimes when they get the smell of threat from something or some creature that may be bigger than them, they become aggressive and fearless against that.Affenpinscher is a family dog. They love to entertain and expect the same from others.

Training

It is difficult to train Affenpinschers at homes. Crate training methods are highly recommended. They have a dictatorial attitude so they can only be bowed by hardness and consistency.

Health

Affenpinschers may be affected by respiratory problem in warm weather like most other short nosed breeds. Some are likely to get fractures and may be affected by breathing troubles. Bottom line this is a breed with very few health concerns. The average life span of Affenpinschers are 10-12 years. Instead of exercising the breed keeps fit by playing. Some may have heavy eye discharge.