What is an Affenpinscher?

"What kind of dog is that?" is usually the first thing that people ask when they see one of my dogs. "Affen-what?" is the second. I have even had someone call them Africanpinschers. In the 14 years that I have been involved with the breed, I have only met a handful of people that knew what kind of dog I had. Affenpinschers are definately unique looking. They are small and scruffy. The hair on their faces sticks out in all directions and they usually suffer from bad hair days. But they are a fun breed. I find they have a sense of humour that you can see in the twinkle of their black eyes. They are intelligent and easy to train (although housetraining can be a challenge). They do shed, but not very much, and on the whole they are not very yappy.

As with all purebred dogs, Affe npinschers have a blueprint to which the breeders attempt to follow. This is called the breed standard, and it gives a very detailed discription of what the breed should look like, down to teeth and nail colour, and size range. I have included both the Canadian Breed Standard and the American Breed Standard on my site. The breed standard is also what Dog Show Judges use to judge the breed. And they are a good place to start if you are looking for a show dog.

How the Affenpinscher got its name

Affenpinscher translates into Monkey Terrier. The breed got its name from its unusual facial appearance. The large round eyes, and stiff black whiskers sticking away from his face, and protruding lower jaw gives the Affenpinscher a whimsical expression of a little monkey. The habit of standing on his hind legs and grabbing at things with his front paws also adds to his monkeyish personality.

Origin of the Affenpinscher

The Affenpinscher, one of the most ancient of the toy breeds, originated somewhere in Central Europe. The exact locale is impossible to determine, but it is believed to have been first known in Germany. The Affenpinscher was a courageous little fellow, with large bright eyes and a shaggy appearance. Perhaps the first visual record is a woodcut by Albrecht Durer (1471-1525).

Due to his ability to slay the large European rat that had long plagued the coach house of every Baronial Hall and inn, the Affenpinscher gained fame for tenacity and agility. The Affenpinscher was a little ruffian with a swagger who carried himself with comic seriousness as he went around his duties, guarding his domain from intruders.

It was thought that this attitude brought him to the attention of the ladies and gentlemen of the great houses, but for whatever reason, he found his way into the palaces and great houses, as a companion.

As a Companion

The Affenpinscher is quick to join in anything that his family is doing. Whether it is sitting on the couch or hiking in the hills the Affenpinscher is first in line. He is a delight on a walk in the woods, checking out everything but never goes far out of sight. His greatest pleasure is just being with you. You have to like a dog that wants to be with you, Affenpinschers like to be touching their people, so they are on your lap, leaning against you, or sitting on your foot.