If you’re thinking about purchasing, or better yet adopting a Affenpincher we think that you’re going to find the following article pretty interesting. Interesting because in this article, we’re going to discuss some of the PROS and CONS of owning such a cute little dog as well as try and shed some light on the origins of the breed as well.
Affehpinscher Fast Facts
Country of Origin: Germany
Original Purpose: Hunting vermin, lapdog
Size: 6-13 pounds
Height: 1 foot tall
Talkative: barks a lot!
Lifespan: Up to 15 years
Dog breed Classification: Toy Group
Nickname: Monkey Dog
Affehpinscher: Origin of the breed.The first thing you’re likely going to notice about the Affenpinscher is just how dog-gone cute these lil’ guys are. But don’t let their cuteness fool you, these little guys were breed to attack!
You see…
Affenpinschers were originally bred to help control the rodent population that was prevalent in many of the homes and stables throughout central Europe during the 1700’s.
Eventually however…
The Affenpinschers cuteness was simply too powerful to resist which is why they inevitably began to be bred as companion animals and/or “lap dogs” for the wealthy elite.
Later In 1936…
The American Kennel Club (AKC) eventually recognized the breed and outlined what unique features about the Affenpinscher breed which would be used to differentiate it from many other breeds within the toy dog category. Other breeds such as such as the Brussels Griffon (aka griffon bruxellois).
It should also be noted that when researching the Affehpinscher breed, you may find that they will also be referred to as an:
- Affen,
- Affie,
- African Terrier,
- Or our personal favorite the Monkey Dog and/or Monkey Terrier.
You should also be careful not to allow the pronunciation of Affenpinscher to lead you to believe that this dog breed is related to a German Pinscher or a Miniature Pinscher.
Personality of an Affenpinscher.
This lil pup’s personality is as cute as his looks. You see, the Affenpinscher dog or an Affehpinscher puppy is generally going to behave like a little goofball.
They’re also…
As far as dogs go, pretty creative and definitely adventurers. This is why, in addition to their looks, its often their antics and sensitivity which ends up wins the hearts of their devoted owners.
So…
If you’re looking for a small dog with a good personality, chances are, a Affehpinscher might just be exactly what you’re looking for! But just because the Affenpinscher is going to be a good fit for you, that doesn’t mean that you’re going to be a good fit for him or her.
This is why…
We here at IndulgeYourPet always recommend that before you decide to adopt a particular breed of dog, you should always reach out to folks who specialize with this breed such as the folks at Affenpinscher club of America so that you may even be able to meet and socialize with those who already own an Affenpinscher in your area.
That said however…
There are a few questions that we can answer here for you so that you can get a general idea if having an Affehpinscher in your life is going to be a good fit. So, without further ado, let’s tackle some of the most common questions we get.
I work all day, is it “ok” to Leave my Affenpinschers alone?
If you work full time outside of your home, then this is a big question with any dog: how long can you leave an Affenpinscher alone? Let’s put it this way, if you install a doggy cam and go to work, you’ll probably going to see a moping Affenpinscher, lonely and waiting around by the window or the door saying waiting for you to return.
This is because…
Affenpinschers are very social animals that love to be around others. Now we all know that it’s impossible to take your dog everywhere but if you know that you’re a person who will generally be out of the house without your dog for 10, 12 or even 14 hours a day, deciding to purchase or adopt an Affenpinscher may not be the best bet for you or him/her.
Now…
If you work at home or don’t need to leave you little guy by himself for extended periods of time, then adding an Affenpinscher to your life could be a great idea! Because chances are, the two of you will get along like two peas in a pod.
When you need a quick stretch from the desk, your Affenpinscher will be there to entertain you, and when he needs some human love and play, you’ll be there for him.
In fact…
Affenpinschers are one of IndulgeYourPet’s top “Toy Dog” choices for people who work at home.
Exercise for Affenpinschers.
Affenpinschers are high-energy doggies and are ready to rumble! After all, since their main job was working the stables, they still have the energy to put in a full day of work. Now this doesn’t mean that you’re necessarily going to have to walk around the neighborhood all day long because let’s face it, Affehpinschers are pretty small dogs and if you’ve ever been in a room with one, you’ll know that Affenpinschers don’t need a ton of room to get a lot of exercise….
“These dogs bounce all around the room, like electrified ping pong balls!”
So…
Be ready to play with your Affenpinscher a lot!
This dog is not a lounger and isn’t going to want to sit around the house all day dog. And if don’t let him/her play and discover, he or she is likely to get a bit moody and/or depressed.
Grooming an Affenpinscher.
One good thing is that despite their “manicured appearance” (insert sarcasm here), when it comes to grooming an Affenpinschers there really isn’t all that much you need to know or do. Particularly when compared to other dog breeds.
Now their bushy little coats will need to be brushed every now and then but when you consider some of the alternatives within the Toy Group family (think Pekingese) Affenpinschers are pretty easy to deal with!
Affenpinschers and Kids.
One question a lot of people will have is how kid-friendly are Affenpinschers? The good news is that Affie’s are very playful and fun dogs that will make you laugh, but that being said, they wouldn’t necessarily be our “first choice” for many parents because Affenpinschers can get really riled up around rambunctious kids, and perhaps even get a bit “jealous”.
They may even…
Snap at a child, which would be bad for the dog and the child. This is why we always recommend that folks who have small children or think they may have children in the future think twice before buying an Affenpinscher.
Can an Affehpinscher live in an apartment?
Despite their need to be active, Affenpinschers can live in apartments quite easily so long as they can still play around and get their walks. They may bark from time to time, and your neighbors might not be too happy about that, but it’s not constant and it’s not going to be excessively loud.
Or in other words…
Affehpinscherss don’t need – and really don’t prefer – being in the backyard the whole day, so an apartment will work great!
General Health of Affenpinschers
Like all dogs that are bred, Affehpinscher has a set of common health concerns that can be plague the breed. Luckily, the Affenpinscher dog breed is comparably healthy compared to other Toy breeds out there, think Italian Greyhound.
That said however…
Affenpinschers do have a few health concerns that we want to bring to your attention so that you can be on the lookout for them when reaching out to a responsible Affenpinscher breeder or considering adoption an adult Affenpinscher from a kennel club dog center.
Affenpinschers are quite prone to legg calve-perthes disease; a problem with the hip joint. This is often detected before the dog is one year. Surgery for legg calve perthese disease in Affenpinschers costs around $1000-3500.
The patella, femur, and tibia all come together. But sometimes in Affenpinschers with Patellar luxation, these three bones don’t quite line up causing for problems in a leg or arthritis. Serious patellar luxation might require surgery. The cost of patellar luxation in Affenpinschers is roughly $1200-3500.
Another problem of the hip, Affenpinschers are prone to hip dysplasia (though Legg Calve Perthes Disease is more common). Before you buy a puppy, inquire about the health of his/her parents because this is a very hereditary problem. To limit risk factors, don’t feed Affenpinschers a high calorie diet – seek advice from your vet. The cost for hip dysplasia surgery in Affehpinschers is $1200-6500.
We here at IndulgeYourPet have also spent a considerable amount time researching many of the “top” dog food brands out there and have comprised our own Top 10 Dog Food Choices you may be interested in reading.
Now you may be thinking…
Wow! Affenpinschers have some serious health risks I need to be aware of. And, some of those health risks are expensive!
And to this…
We simply say… “Yep” welcome to the joys of pet ownership, but one thing you might want to consider looking at, at the same time you search for you new companion is…
“How much would it cost to purchase a pet insurance policy on a Affenpinscher puppy?”
This is because, if the insurance is affordable, making the decision to move forward and getting an Affenpinscher may not seem so scary.
For more information about how pet insurance policies work and if purchasing a pet insurance policy is right for you, we would strongly encourage you to check out our article: Best Pet Insurance Companies.
You may also be interested in visiting our complete list of dog breeds, where you can learn more about other “types” of dogs that may interest you.
