{"id":1323,"date":"2020-07-24T08:56:18","date_gmt":"2020-07-24T08:56:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/dogs\/?p=1323"},"modified":"2021-02-27T13:41:35","modified_gmt":"2021-02-27T13:41:35","slug":"affenpinscher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/dogs\/toy-dogs\/affenpinscher\/","title":{"rendered":"Affenpinscher – The Ewok Dog"},"content":{"rendered":"

Affenpinscher<\/h3>
\"\"

Image: DejaVuDesigns\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\n
\n\t

Name Affenpinscher<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Size<\/th>\nSmall - Toy Breed<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Grooming<\/th>\nWeekly<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Training<\/th>\nMedium<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Exercise<\/th>\nDaily<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Origins<\/th>\nGermany<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Affenpinscher The Original German Toy Dog.<\/h3>\n
\n\t

Looking for a small dog with a bit of character who just happens to bear an uncanny resemblance to one of the Star Wars franchises cutest characters? Then here's one for your shortlist. Originally from Germany but now found throughout Europe and popular in North America,\u00a0 the Affenpinscher or Monkey dog as it is also known due to it's impish, almost ape-like features. In France, it is also known as \"Diablotin Moustachu\" (moustachioed little devil) which pretty much sums up its somewhat stubborn and belligerent nature.<\/p>\n

The Kennel Club<\/a> records them as being called \u2018the little black devil dog of Germany\u2019 -\u00a0 pretty apt. This is not a dog for a household full of children (in fact it would be safe to say they are not child friendly, and they can be a bit snappy with strangers. However, they are well suited to urban living and can thrive in a flat - provided they get a regular walk so if you like a bit of a challenge then this is a rewarding dog to own as you will see when you read on.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Image: Sbolotova\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Quick Overview<\/h3>\n

Name:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Affenpinscher (Monkey Terrier)<\/p>\n

Size:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Toy Breed, 9-11 inches (23 - 28 cm) tall fully grown<\/p>\n

Weight:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6-13 lbs (2.7 - 6 kg)<\/p>\n

Grooming:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Wire Haired so relatively hypoallergenic but will still shed on occasions.<\/p>\n

Training:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Simple to teach an Affenpinscher to chase, hard to teach them not to chase! They were bred as rat-dogs initially. The terrier instinct to catch is strong.<\/p>\n

Exercise:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Towards the lower end of the scale\u00a0 \u2013 toy breed, although terriers do need to blow off steam or they will chew your shoes.<\/p>\n

Temperament:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Sweet and affectionate with its owner and close companions, a little yappy and nippy otherwise, will defend you to the death which would be quite likely given their diminutive size).<\/p>\n

Origins:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Germany (\u201cPinscher\u201d = terrier)<\/p>\n

Lifespan:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 11-14 years<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

History of the Monkey Terrier<\/h2>\n

Affenpinschers are a toy breed with their origins in Germany. Although they sound like a posh breed, they are a terrier bred to catch rodents and stop food stores being pinched. They have been lovingly nicknamed the \u2018monkey terrier\u2019 and, in fact, the name of the breed translates to \u2018Monkey-like terrier\u2019. \u00a0The description is strikingly accurate. These little rough-haired fur faces always look like they have just woken up. They have fur jutting out of their heads at all angles that gives them permanent bedhead. Or monkey face, as the Germans have decided.<\/p>\n

It is thought that this breed was developed as ratter dogs, sometime in the 16th<\/sup> century. Although hunting dogs by nature, it was soon realised that these farm dogs were then generally affectionate and got on well with almost all other animals including other dogs. This is probably because their background includes some Schnauzer genetics away back in the early breeding.<\/p>\n

They are first recorded in 1600 but as larger dogs. They would have been regular terrier-sized then, not dissimilar to the average small Staffordshire terrier nowadays. Selective breeding since then has seen the Affenpinscher made smaller, more compact, somewhat less friendly and ultimately a toy breed suitable as a companion dog, rather than a working breed.<\/p>\n

Its heyday was in the late 1800s when for ladies of a certain class it was the dog to be seen with. It even found its way into a few Renoir paintings such as the one pictured below.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Le d\u00e9jeuner des canotiers (<\/span>Luncheon of the Boating Party)<\/em>
Pierre-Auguste Renoir \/ Public domain<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the course of the Second World War, their numbers severely declined, being little yappy and bred to chase things meant they didn't fair too well in war-torn Europe. Further, the rise in popularity of the Griffon Bruxellois contributed to the decline in numbers and it is now regarded as being a rare breed.<\/p>\n

Nowadays, the Affenpinscher is found all over the world, but sadly there are exceptionally low numbers of the breed anywhere. They made their way to America in 1950 when Evelyn Brody imported three dogs and bred them successfully. They are quite popular over there and it would be fair to say that the USA is now its main stronghold.<\/p>\n

Although registered with the UK Kennel Club way back in 1897, the Affenpinscher did not prove popular and it was as recent as 1976, that concerted efforts were made to establish of the breed. Of late they have been shown at Crufts with some regularity in the Toy Group and there is a thriving\u00a0 Affenpinscher club<\/a> in the UK with more than 100 members\u2026 which is a success by anyone\u2019s standards.<\/p>\n

Quick Facts About The Affenpinscher Breed!<\/h2>\n

We wouldn\u2019t be Five Minutes Spare if we didn\u2019t throw some fun facts your way. Here are some of our favourite little snippets of information regarding the Affenpinscher breed:<\/p>\n