Appearance:

This small dog mainly is more commonly seen in black but can come in many different varieties. They can come in red, gray/silver and brown and black combinations. They are a toy breed, but they are tough.  They have a jagged, crazy looking coat. They’re coat is wirey and they have a tiny facial mustache. They have a rough coat that in long at the head and becomes shorter as it gets to the hindquarters. They’re tails are normally docked because that is show standard. But they don’t have to be. They are 9 to 12 inches tall and weigh about 7 to 9 pounds. Anymore and that is not standard. They need to be brushed with a metal comb and slick brush several times a week. Their course fur can mat easily and you would have no choice but to cut mats out, leaving their coat looking funny and strange. Remember to monthly clean their ears. They live about 10 to 12 years. They are not necessarily hypoallergenic, but they do not shed, which means that people with allergies can own one and not worry as much about it.

Personality:

They are full of energy and very alert. They are really brave and often try to go up against larger dogs. The owner must be careful though, they may think they can win a fight with much larger dogs but they can’t. So watch your dog carefully and make sure it doesn’t provoke another dog into fighting. Things could get ugly.They are extremely loving and are full of life. They can keep themselves occupied for hours by just a simple toy. They will toss and fetch it themselves for their own enjoyment and ours. They are great companions and are very smart. They are easy to train, too.  But they aren’t great for kids. Most small dogs aren’t. Small dogs are fragile and kids can be rough. Also, they don’t enjoy loud noises. Which common sense tells you that kids = loud noises. And they may bite. Kids can be annoying and try to play with them while they eat. The dog can become territorial and doesn’t want its food taken. So it might bite, which never ends good. It is best to get one if you have children over the age of 8, depending on how mature your children are.

Origin:

The Affenpinscher came from Germany. They date back to the 17^thcentury and were bred to kill rodents. They were also used as lapdogs and lap warmers. They are one of the oldest known toy dogs. They are also related to the Brussels Griffon and Miniature Schnauzer. Their name comes from “affen” which means “monkey”. They are often compared to monkeys in their looks, since they have the signature mustache that adds to the monkey look. And since they were German they weren’t very popular in America around World War 1 and World War 2. It took until 1936 for the AKC to recognize the breed. To this day they still are not very popular.

picture from:

http://www.affenpinscher.com/Dandi.jpg