Content
- affenpinscher story
- affenpinscher characteristics
- affenpinscher personality
- affenpinscher care
- affenpinscher education
- affenpinscher diseases
With a name like that, it's not hard to imagine that we're facing one of the canine breeds of German origin. What you might not know is that the Affenpinscher are one of the oldest dog breeds in the world, along with others like the Chow-chow, Pekingese and Siberian Husky. Did you know they are called that because of the similarity they may have to monkeys? It is even believed that they were named that way because, in the 16th century, the myth that the affenpinschers were the result of a mixture of dogs and monkeys was widespread. Do you want to know the truth about them? Let's introduce these wonderful dogs here at PeritoAnimal! Keep reading and discover the affenpinscher features, its care, origin and much more.
Source
- Europe
- Germany
- Group II
- Rustic
- muscular
- short paws
- short ears
- toy
- Small
- Medium
- Great
- Giant
- 15-35
- 35-45
- 45-55
- 55-70
- 70-80
- more than 80
- 8-10
- 10-12
- 12-14
- 15-20
- Low
- Average
- High
- Strong
- Sociable
- very faithful
- Intelligent
- Active
- Kids
- floors
- Houses
- Hunting
- Surveillance
- Sport
- Cold
- Warm
- Moderate
- Long
- Hard
- thick
- Dry
affenpinscher story
Given the age of this breed, specialists have found it difficult to establish the exact moment in which it originated, as well as the crosses that led to its appearance. So everything is based on assumptions as well as some pictographic evidence. For example, it has been established that race already existed in the 16th century, due to the fact that specimens of Affenpinscher dogs have appeared in paintings from that time.
Due to the morphological and genetic characteristics of the Affenpinscher, it has been determined that this breed is probably descendant of German Terriers, Pinscher or Miniature Schnauzer, among other options.
As a curious fact about the origin of the Affenpinscher, we can mention that the name of the breeda literally means "pinscher monkey", due to the similarity of these dogs with a primate. At that time, it was even thought that this similarity was due to the fact that the affenpinscher were the result of a hybridization between a monkey and a dog, which is obviously not true.
affenpinscher characteristics
the affenpinschers are small dogs which represent the smallest breed within the Pinscher group. Their weight varies between 3 and 6 kg, with females being slightly smaller than males. The height at the withers is between 25 and 30 centimeters, so it is a very small dog.
As for the physical characteristics of the affenpinscher dog, its body is quite compact, with short and strong back, rather broad chest and sickle-shaped tail. Its legs are straight, robust and finished in short round feet, whose nails are equally short and black in color. The head is rounded, with a prominent forehead and a short, straight muzzle with a stop. the affenpinschers have dark eyes and rounded, V-shaped ears set high and drooping forward, although some specimens may have erect ears. In this case, their size is much smaller and they must be vertical.
The coat of the affenpinscher is composed of hard, high-density hair, with very bushy eyebrows that encircle the eyes like a crown, a marked beard, and a forelock on the head, which should be of hard hair, straight and perpendicular to the birth, as if it had the shape of a lightning bolt. The only color accepted is the pure black, including the woolen sublayer that the breed presents.
affenpinscher personality
They are very attentive and active, with a strong personality. But don't think for a moment that this is a difficult dog to take care of, quite the opposite: it is one of the most recommended breeds for family life, as they are very affectionate and love to spend time with their human family.
However, they can be a little naughty, and with that they can cause some destruction in the house. Therefore, it will be important to allow him to perform physical activities on a daily basis, so that he is more relaxed, as well as educate him to respect the furniture and to play exclusively with the toys you make available to him. Especially when adopting an Affenpinscher dog, early education will be the key to success.
These dogs don't hesitate to assert themselves when they think someone is hurting their loved ones, and they will be very brave and fierce when it comes to defending their owners from any threat, regardless of their small size. This can make affenpinschers a little suspicious of strangers, but they are not usually aggressive if they are properly educated.
affenpinscher care
Although the affenpinscher's coat may seem difficult to care for due to its thickness, hardness and length, it is not at all difficult to keep this coat in good condition, as the breed standard itself states that the appearance of an affenpinscher includes having hair. somewhat disheveled. Therefore, it will be enough to perform a weekly brushing so that your affenpinscher looks clean and very well cared for. In addition, this way it is possible to eliminate the dust and dirt that may have accumulated in that dense coat, as well as detecting possible parasites attached to it, such as fleas or ticks.
Due to the high energy level of this breed, as well as its small size, it is recommended to seek a specific food for small dogs. In this way, they will have their nutritional needs met and will be able to enjoy outings and activities, which are much needed to stay healthy and relaxed, enjoying every second. And if you prefer to choose a homemade diet, it will be essential to ensure that all these nutritional needs are met, offering quality animal protein and, to a lesser extent, fruits and vegetables recommended for dogs.
On the other hand, and precisely because they are very active, accomplish physical activities it is essential for the Affenpinscher puppy or adult to remain properly stimulated and exercised. For this, you can take the dog to the field to play the ball and ask him to pick it up, take him to a circuit of agility, etc.
affenpinscher education
When it's about train an affenpinscher, one of the biggest challenges we have to face is its nervous nature. To be able to calm him down and so that he does not appear mischievous and destructive, it is recommended to use training techniques that relax your pet. Did you know that dogs can practice yoga to maintain a balanced personality?
To prevent affenpinschers from being aggressive towards strangers, it is necessary to ensure that your socialization be great and that they get used to dealing with strangers from a very young age. Otherwise, things can be quite difficult, and it is sometimes very difficult to get adult exemplars to change their way of behaving with people who are unfamiliar to them. Therefore, if you have adopted an Affenpinscher puppy, you should start socializing as soon as the veterinarian allows. If you have adopted an adult dog, start on the first day, always after evaluating the dog's personality.
To obtain the best results and establish a strong emotional bond between the dog and the human being, it is necessary to use a positive training, as this not only allows us to calmly educate you, but also helps to keep you stimulated. Punishments are not recommended for any breed of dog, however, in dogs like the affenpinscher, with such a sharp temperament, they are even more counterproductive.
affenpinscher diseases
Normally, an affenpinscher will be a very healthy and very long-lived dog. If you're wondering what the affenpinscher's life expectancy is, know that they usually live between 12 and 15 years, although specimens that exceeded that age have already been registered.
Still, the breed may have some conditions such as the hip dysplasia, whose diagnosis must be made as soon as possible, because the more advanced it is, the more difficult it will be to relieve it. It may also have patellar problems, such as the dislocation of the patella, which comes out of its hole and often needs to be reinserted by a professional.
Other pathologies that can affect affenpinscher are related to eye health. Sometimes, because of such a long coat in the eye region, this hair comes into contact with the retina and damages it, or accumulates dirt, which must be removed with optical cleaners suitable for use in dogs.