Affenpinchers: description, selection, care

In addition to the fairly young breeds of dogs that today are kept by humans as pets, animals with a long history remain no less popular among breeders. The bright representatives of such four-legged comrades should include affenpincher. Dogs are notable for their exterior qualities, as well as unique character features.

The visiting card of animals of this breed is their appearance. Dogs are small pets with a muzzle similar to a disheveled monkey. The exotic exterior is complemented by an active disposition, and in some cases even a harmful character, which is distinguished as the bad side of affenpinchers. However, even with such features, the animal is able to win the breeder’s love, in addition, the four-legged friend stands out for its excellent performance.

"Monkey Pincher" was bred in Germany, the main purpose of dogs of this breed at that time was hunting for rodents. German farmers very often bred animals to fight rats and mice, which destroyed stocks of food and grain.

There were several different dwarf dog breeds in the family of affenpinchers, which passed on to their descendants an excellent reaction and dexterity. Mention of such unusual in appearance animals can be found on canvases dating from the 15th century. Later, dogs began to be used not only as rodent hunters, but also as guards of territories.

In 1902, standards for affenpincers were approved, and in 1936 the dog was already on the pedigree list. The formation and increase in the number of such dogs was negatively affected by the Second World War, however, thanks to the efforts of the breeders, the ape-like dog became in demand around the world as a reliable guard and pet.

Today, a purebred affinpincher must comply with the following standards regarding the exterior.

• The animal must be small and he has very pronounced sexual dimorphism. Therefore, females in growth will turn out to be 3-4 cm smaller than males, their height at the withers reaches 25 centimeters with an adult dog weighing about 4 kilograms. The weight of an adult male can vary between 4.5–6 kilograms, growth is considered acceptable within 25–28 centimeters.
• Head the animal has a domed shape, with a pronounced frontal bone. The nose is flat, shortened, with an oval lobe, wide nostrils. The lips are pigmented, so along with the nose they will be painted in dark color. The lower jaw protrudes forward. The teeth should be white and strong, while the fangs are pronounced, but the size is slightly larger than average.
• Eyes rounded, large. Hidden under a dense coat of wool, the iris can be black or brown. Ears are erect, located at a good distance from each other. The neck is small, but with developed muscles.
• Torso in dogs it resembles a square, animals stand out in a strong body, however, outwardly they will be quite compact. The back is without bends, the sternum is wide, the stomach is picked up. The tail will resemble a sickle.
• Paws set straight, muscular, forelimbs will be slightly shorter than hind limbs.
• Wool rather stiff, the cover fits tightly to the body, a peculiar disorder is present on the head, since there the hair always sticks out more than on the rest of the body. On the face there are thick eyebrows, as well as sideburns and a beard. Such external features determined the presence in some breed descriptions of comparisons with a monkey or a decorative dog breed Griffon. The color of purebred affenpinchers is black, however, the dog may have a small tan of gray or red-red tint.

Pets of this breed have an average life expectancy: As a rule, with good care, animals can live about 15 years. Affenpinchers are famous for their health, however, they may suffer from some genetic diseases. Most often, the joints are affected in animals, so pets can be born with Legg-Perthes disease. In this case, the puppy is shown surgical intervention. Also at risk is the knee joint. In some cases, animals develop arthritis, and heart murmurs can also be detected.

Like any other breed, affenpinchers have strengths and weaknesses. The advantages of dogs include the following characteristics:

• pets stand out with devotion to their breeder;
• dogs are unpretentious in terms of maintenance;
• the animal can be kept in a private house and in an apartment;
• good at training;
• affinpinchers are characterized by the courage shown in critical situations;
• The breed has a rather funny exterior, so animals quickly become favorites in the family.

However, breeders also highlight the weaknesses inherent in animals:

• Pets sometimes show a stubborn disposition, also try to become leaders in the family;
• in case of danger, the dogs immediately begin to bark, which can be fraught with problems when keeping it in an apartment building;
• breeders often have to cut an adult affinpincher.

In the process of exploring the outside world, animals of this breed demonstrate an inquisitive disposition, as well as a positive and playful attitude towards humans and other pets. Affenpinchers are very fond of being in the spotlight, but at the same time they are willing to make contact with young children, sharing with them not only leisure but also relaxation.

In the process of keeping four-legged pets, careless treatment of them must be avoided. Quite wary affenpinchers make contact with strangers. Breeders note that dogs can get along with other pets in the house, whether it be a dog or even a cat. However, excessive activity and a desire to lead can provoke regular quarrels and fights.

Pets will be active and playful until old age, and during walks the animals demonstrate good endurance, therefore, accompanied by such dogs, you can ride a bicycle, roller skates, etc. The dog is very curious, therefore it requires compulsory training, and animals are recommended to walk only on a leash, allowing free walking only in a fenced area.

Without toys in the house, the affinpincher is guaranteed to get bored, which can badly affect the state of furniture in the apartment. Due to their cute appearance, the pets skillfully rub into confidence in family members, and then skillfully use it. However, if you get away with the real guilt of the dog in a given situation, then it will be extremely difficult to obtain obedience from the pet.

An affenpincher puppy with a good pedigree can only be offered in specialized nurseries, as the breed is considered rare. A similar feature also determines the high cost of German dogs. Turning to the breeders is necessary without fail, study the pedigree of the animal, get acquainted with the documents that the puppy's parents must have.

In addition, it will be useful to observe the behavior of the puppy itself. A healthy dog ​​must be active and well-fed, good animals will have beautiful coat. All the characteristic qualities of affenpincers, such as curiosity and courage, are inherent even to a small dog, so the way she behaves when choosing will play an important role. The optimal puppy age for purchase will be 1.5-2 months.

The breed is intended for breeding in a private house, as well as in an apartment, however, any version of the maintenance will require the breeder to regularly walk with the animal in the fresh air. In addition, the owners of such a pet noted that the dog does not tolerate loneliness very well, so you should not leave the affinpincher alone for a long time.

The breed is considered omnivorous, so the breeder will not need to purchase expensive specialized feed. In addition, the pet due to its activity will always have a good appetite. The breeder should control portions of food, as the dog is predisposed to obesity.

The following products will be banned for the introduction of affinpinchers in the diet:

• confectionery;
• pickles;
• smoked and fried foods;
• spice;
• potatoes.

The following products must be present on the dog's menu:

• lean meats - beef, veal, rabbit, chicken;
• vegetables;
• cereals;
• dairy and sour-milk products - kefir, cottage cheese;
• boiled chicken eggs.

For preventive purposes, the animal is recommended to give a teaspoon of vegetable oil once a week to avoid digestive problems.

In addition to natural food, a diet for affinpincers can consist of dry food from industrial production. An adult dog will need 150-200 grams of feed per meal a day, subject to two meals a day.

Recommended to purchase premium productswhich will not contain preservatives and dyes. On sale there are special feeds intended for active breeds of dogs, this option for replenishing vitamins in the body, as well as in terms of energy value, will be ideal.

Caring for a dog of this breed can be attributed to the middle class in terms of complexity. At some pets, breeders at an early age stop their ears and tail. However, such events are not required. Recommended trim the dog regularly, thus it will be possible to make the hair softer. Hygienic cutting involves regular shortening of the hair in the genital area. Every 7-10 days, the pet should be combed to avoid the formation of warlocks. A suitable option for these procedures would be a brush and a towel.

Breeders, in order to improve the quality of the wool of affinpinscher, trimming, thanks to which it is possible to remove already dead hairsdue to which there is a faster process of updating the coat of a dog.

Water treatments should not be frequenttherefore bathe the dog in case of emergency. But the affenpincher’s face should be washed dailyespecially after eating.

The teeth, ears and claws of the animal need care. Eyes need to be cleaned with a damp cotton pad regularly; for brushing your teeth, use a toothbrush and toothpaste designed for dogs. Your ears can be cleaned once a week using cotton pads and sticks.

Usually, the claws are trimmed once a month, however, in most cases, affenpincher’s claws are updated on their own, provided that the pet spends a lot of time outside the home.

Despite their small size, dogs of this breed have innate stamina, but are not without stubbornness in character. That is why puppies after purchase need compulsory socialization and training. Training should be carried out according to the “carrot and stick” method, because with the loyalty of the owner, the animals can quickly feel like leaders.

Affenpincers stand out well-developed intelligence, therefore, they can perform not only prohibiting and allowing commands, but also some tricks. Inexperienced breeders are advised to seek the help of dog training specialists. Affenes should be trained constantly, regularly fixing the result. Training, which will be carried out from time to time, will not produce results.

Description of the breed and owner reviews, see the next video.