Affenpinscher

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.