The Affenpinscher is more than just a pretty face, they are spunkier than most other toy breeds. Their alert and active nature make them a good watchdog and at the same time, your children’s playmate. Though stubborn, they are trainable and intelligent – making them one of the best dog pets for families.
Is The Affenpinscher A Good Family Dog?
Affenpinscher Personality
Loyal
- Curious
- Funny
- Fearless
- Playful
- Good family dog
The Affenpinscher dog breed is a good family pet – they can get along with young kids, adults and other dogs. One of the most distinct personality traits Affenpinschers have is their alertness and fearless nature out of all proportion to their size. They think that they’re actually big dogs, making them good watch dogs.
Since the Affenpinscher are small, they are ideal pets for apartment living. However, make sure you train them well on how to move around the house because they’re stubborn, curious and playful in nature. They are also ideal for families with small kids because Affens love to play.
They are a fearless defender, making them feel authoritarian if the owners do not give proper rules or limitations. House training is still needed so they know what’s allowed and what’s not. However, they make good house pets because they get along with almost everyone, including other pets. They’re intelligent and can quickly learn commands.
For trainability, they are eager to please and can learn fast. However, don’t wait until they’re 6 months old and over before you train. Starting early will help them be accustomed to your commands and feel that you are in charge. Training an Affenpinscher is certainly going to be an experience if it’s your first time to deal with terrier breeds. Expect that things will improve gradually, but know that they can be stubborn to train. However, housebreaking can be difficult that’s why it’s important to include a command to control barking.
Size & Color
- Small and terrier-looking dogs
- Harsh, shaggy coat with longer hair on the face
- Comes in various coat colors
- Short arched neck and straight legs
Affenpinschers are small and terrier-looking dogs. They are grouped into small dog breeds and on average, they weigh between 7 and 13 pounds. Their heights range between 9 and 12 inches.
What type of coat do they have? These dogs are shaggy but neat in appearance. They have harsh and shaggy coats but have longer hair on the face. Their coats come in various hues such as black, gray, black and tan, beige, red and silver.
They are small and look like terriers but with a square-proportioned body. Moreover, they have short arched necks and straight legs. Apart from these, Affens have a free and balanced gait that shows off their confidence and females have longer bodies.
What a cutie!
RELATED: 31 Ultimate Small Dog Breeds
Health
- Prone to fractures
- Be careful with leashes and collars
- Doesn’t need a lot of exercises but daily walks are recommended
- Active and energetic
There are no major health concerns linked to Affenpinschers, but since they are results of inbreeding, there are some health issues you need to be concerned about. They are prone to fractures and slipped stifle. Since they’re toy dogs and one of the smaller breeds, you need to be extra careful with collars and leashes to prevent tracheal damage. To avoid this problem, it’s better to use a harness instead of a collar.
Affenpinschers may suffer from respiratory problems because of their short noses. They are also prone to heart problems, eye problems, patellar luxation, hip dysplasia and hypothyroidism. They may also suffer allergies to food and even products. Use hypoallergenic soaps and make sure you don’t feed them foods that may cause allergies. They may have allergic dermatitis, which is itchy and irritable.
Moreover, Affens are highly energetic and active. Hence, regular exercise like daily walks is recommended. Since they’re are also indoor pets, you can let them play inside and that can be their form of exercise.
Feeding An Affenpinscher
Depending on the size, age, build, metabolism and activity level, you may want to feed your dogs with a formula that will cater to their unique digestive needs. On average, you can feed about 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of high-quality dry food per day, which is divided into two meals.
Don’t leave food out all the time and make sure you measure his food properly. Obesity in small toy dogs may lead to various health problems.
Life Span Of An Affenpinscher
The Affenpinscher has an average lifespan of 12 to 14 years. Mostly, they suffer from common diseases such as heart issues, eye problems such as cataracts, hernias, Von Willebrand Disease, hypothyroidism, oligodontia and sebaceous cysts.
Affenpinscher
Origin: Germany
Life Span: 12-14 years
Size: 9.5 to 11.5 inches heigh pic.twitter.com/iyUeAwNDFN— Dog Breeds (@DogBreeds2016) January 27, 2016
Affenpinscher Grooming
- Dental hygiene and nail care
- Low shedding
- Regular brushing
To maintain the shaggy but neat appearance, make sure you brush your dog with a small slicker brush and use your hands to gently break up tangles. To achieve your dog’s distinctive coat appearance, you can do trimming and stripping. However, you can use a detangler solution to make brushing easier.
Dental and nail care are also important. Regularly trim your dog’s nails to prevent cracking. Dental hygiene is also imperative since one of the issues Affens suffer from is a periodontal disease. It’s recommended to brush his teeth daily or several times a week.
The good news is, Affens do not shed too much and they only have a little smell. Moreover, their ears should be cleaned regularly to prevent wax buildup and infection.
Price Of An Affenpinscher Puppy
On average, a puppy may cost between $800 to $1200. However, depending on the pedigree history, the price of an Affenpinscher may increase.
History Of Affenpinschers
Like many terriers, the Affenpinscher originated in Germany during the 16th and 17th centuries where these dogs were used to control the rodent population. As time passed by, they were bred down in size and became house companions.
Fun Fact
Did you know that the Affenpinscher almost disappeared during the World War II? However, when the war ended, some individuals crossed the remaining Griffon Bruxellois with the German stock. Hence, the unique face of the Affenpinscher today emerged.
Want to see how unique the Affenpinscher’s face is? Here’s a cute video by Animal Planet:
If you want a small dog breed, you can check out the Affenpinscher. His loving, curious and playful nature make him a good family companion and your kids’ playmate. Hope you learned about the new breed we’ve covered and you make the right decision on which dog to adopt.
Are you now convinced to adopt an Affenpinscher? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Up Next: 7 Essential Dog Diet Tips To Keep Your Furry Friend Healthy
