The Affenpinscher is a quirky looking dog who is bold and curious, yet affectionate and loving. The Affenpinscher is loyal and protective of its owner and will bark loudly at strangers, making them a fantastic companion & guard dog. The Affenpinscher is highly adaptable and suitable for living in flats or apartments, requiring minimal exercise in comparison to other dog breeds.
The Affenpinscher is an ancient breed which originates from 1600s Central Europe. They were originally much bigger, bred to catch rats and other vermin - before being bred down in size to become ‘ladies companions’. The breed has always been popular in Germany and has slowly gained momentum in the UK and USA. However, the Affenpinscher is still relatively rare in comparison to other breeds.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 2 - Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs
Section
Section 1 : Pinscher and Schnauzer type
Physical characteristics of the Affenpinscher
Adult size
Female :
Between 10 and 12 in
Male :
Between 10 and 12 in
Weight
Female :
Between 9 and 13 lb
Male :
Between 9 and 13 lb
Coat colour
The Affenpinscher coat is black more often than not, but can also be grey, silver, red or black and tan. Often, colours are mixed with sparse white or silver hairs.
Black
Type of coat
Short to medium.
Shaggy, rough and wiry with a harsh texture but can become fluffy if clipped back. Their coat is longer on the head, neck, chest, legs and stomach, around 1 inch on the rest of the body and shorter on the tail.
Long
Hard
Eye colour
Black - extremely dark and mysterious!
Brown
Description
You can’t get anything quite like an Affenpinscher! Their bold, expressive eyes, dominant muscle and long facial hair give it the well-deserved nickname of the ‘monkey dog’. This is a miniature/toy breed and is particularly light and tiny, adding to its sweet, quirky appearance.
Their head is prominently round with an obvious nose, long, fluffy eyebrows and small, triangular ears which are often cropped. Despite its small size, the Affenpinscher is actually rather strong and sturdy and walks with great confidence.
Good to know
The name Affenpinscher comes from ‘Affe’, the German word for monkey - purely because they look a little like monkeys! Super cute, right?
Temperament
66%
Affectionate
The Affenpinscher is loving and affectionate, but only towards their family. They’re likely to be lively, confident and cuddly in the home and with people they trust. However, their terrier streak makes them sassy and bold when they want to be, which is especially prominent around strangers.
100%
Playful
This lively little dog is playful and often mischievous in a comical sense. They’re happy monkeying around, getting involved in family games and playing with their toys.
Although they don’t need as much exercise as many other dog breeds, they are quite smart and need mental stimulation to keep them occupied - plenty of play time will keep them happy!
33%
Calm
The Affenpinscher is a terrier at heart - so they can be pretty sassy when it suits them. Although they’re generally friendly and adaptable, they can be rather snappy and stubborn when it comes to strangers, other animals and being protective over their food and toys. The Affenpinscher is often called ‘a big dog in a small dog’s body’ - they’ll take on anything!
66%
Intelligent
There’s a lot of brain in this tiny pup’s little body! The Affenpinscher is extremely observant, smart and vigilant which is why they’re so protective over their human family. They need a lot of mental stimulation to keep their brains occupied.
100%
Hunter
We all know how feisty terriers can be - and with terrier in their blood, Affenpinschers are no exception! Having originally been bred to hunt vermin and small animals, it’s likely that an Affenpinscher will chase cats or rodents should they come across them.
66%
Fearful / wary of strangers
The Affenpinscher has a tendency to be rather suspicious, territorial and wary of new people. Bringing lots of people into the home and into the dog’s space as a puppy and throughout their life can make a huge difference. Make socialisation a priority for this breed.
66%
Independent
This breed is independent and soft at the same time - yes, really! The Affenpinscher will happily cuddle up with its owner but also has a fearless, stubborn and independent side which may rear its head during training sessions or around new people.
Behaviour of the Affenpinscher
66%
Tolerates solitude
Affenpinschers get extremely close to their owners and families. Though this is lovely, they struggle to be left on their own for long periods of time. Instead of relaxing, they’re likely to stare out the window until you return. They are also known to become destructive if they become bored whilst left at home alone.
66%
Easy to train / obedience
The Affenpinscher isn’t the easiest dog to train, but at the same time, it’s definitely not the worst! This is a very intelligent and stubborn breed who’ll easily become bored during training sessions. However, they do pick things up quite quickly - so if you’re consistent and make sessions short, fun, reward-based and interesting, training should be straightforward.
66%
Barking
Generally, the Affenpinscher is a ‘yappy’ dog who barks at anything and everything. With careful training, you can teach them to stop barking when you instruct them to.
66%
Tendency to run away
The Affenpinscher can be let off the lead in a safe, secure area. They are rather curious dogs and may wander off if given the chance - so keep a close eye on them at all times.
