Affenpinchers: description, selection, care

In addition to the rather young dog breeds, which today are kept by humans as pets, among breeders are animals that have a long history remain no less popular. Affine pinchers should be attributed to the bright representatives of such four-legged comrades. Dogs are notable for their exterior qualities, as well as unique character traits.

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

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

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

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

Today, the full-blooded affenpinscher must comply with the following standards regarding exterior.

• The animal must be small in size. and he has a very pronounced sexual dimorphism. Therefore, bitches in height will be less than males by 3-4 centimeters, their height at withers reaches 25 centimeters with an adult dog weighing about 4 kilograms. The weight of an adult male can vary in the range of 4.5–6 kilograms, height is considered acceptable within 25–28 centimeters.
• Head The animal is dome-shaped, with a pronounced frontal bone. The nose is even, shortened, with oval loins, the nostrils are wide. The lips are pigmented, so together with the nose will be painted in a dark color. The lower jaw is given forward. The teeth should be white and strong, with canines expressed, but the size is slightly larger than average.
• Eyes rounded, large. Hidden under a thick coat of hair, the iris can be black or brown. The ears are erect, located at a good distance from each other. The neck is small, but with developed muscles.
• Torso in dogs resembles a square, animals stand out with a strong body, however, they will be rather compact in appearance. A back without bends, a sternum wide, the stomach is picked up. The tail will resemble a sickle.
• Paws erect, muscled, the front limbs will be slightly shorter than the rear.
• Wool rather hard, the cover fits snugly to the body, there is a peculiar disorder on the head, because there the wool always sticks out more than on other parts of the body. On the muzzle there are thick eyebrows, as well as whiskers and a beard. Such external features led to the presence in some descriptions of the breed comparisons with the monkey or decorative breed of griffon dogs. The color of purebred affenpinscher is black, however, a small gray or reddish tan may be present in a dog.

Pets of this breed have an average life expectancy: As a rule, with good care, animals can live for about 15 years. Affenpinchers are famous for their health, however, they may suffer from some genetic diseases. Most often, animals are affected joints, so pets can be born with Legg-Perthes disease. In this case, the puppy is shown surgery. Also at risk of a knee joint. Animals sometimes 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 towards their breeder;
• dogs are unpretentious in terms of content;
• the animal can be kept in a private house and in an apartment;
• good at training;
• affenpinchers are characterized by courage, manifested in critical situations;
• The breed has a rather funny exterior, so animals quickly become pets in the family.

However, breeders also highlight the weaknesses inherent in animals:

• pets sometimes demonstrate a stubborn temper, also trying to become leaders in the family;
• in case of danger, the dogs immediately begin to bark, which can be fraught with problems when it is kept in an apartment building;
• breeders often have to cut adult affenpincher.

In the process of exploring the outside world, the animals of this breed demonstrate an inquisitive disposition, as well as a positive and playful attitude towards the person and other pets. Affenpinchers love to be in the limelight, but at the same time willingly go on contact with young children, sharing with them not only leisure, but also rest.

In the process of keeping four-legged pets, it is necessary to avoid neglect of them. Quite wary affenpinschery go to contact with strangers. Breeders say dogs can get along with other pets in the house, be it a dog or even a cat. However, excessive activity and the desire to lead can provoke regular quarrels and fights.

Pets will be active and playful until old age, and during walks animals show good endurance, therefore, accompanied with such dogs you can ride a bike, roller skates, etc. The dog is very curious, therefore, requires mandatory training, and animals are recommended to walk only on a leash, allowing free range only in a fenced area.

Without toys in the house, the affencher is guaranteed to get bored, which can have a bad effect on the condition of the furniture in the apartment. Due to their nice looks, pets are skillfully rubbed into the trust of family members, subsequently skillfully taking advantage of it.However, if you hand off the real guilt of a dog in a given situation, then it will be extremely difficult to achieve obedience in the future from a pet.

A puppy affenpincher with a good pedigree can be offered only in specialized kennels, since the breed is considered rare. This feature also determines the high cost of German dogs. Turning to the breeders need It is mandatory to study the pedigree of the animal, get acquainted with the documents that must be the parents of the puppy.

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

Breed is intended for cultivation in the private house, and also in the apartment, however, any option of the maintenance will demand from the breeder regular walks with an animal in the fresh air. In addition, the owners of such a pet noted that the dog does not tolerate loneliness very well, so one should not be left alone for long.

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

The following products will be banned for introducing affenpinchers into the diet:

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

The dog menu should include the following foods:

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

As a preventive measure, an animal is recommended to give a teaspoon of vegetable oil once a week to avoid digestive problems.

In addition to natural food, the ration for affencinders may consist of industrial dry food. An adult dog will need about 150–200 grams of feed per meal per day, provided two meals a day.

It is recommended to purchase premium products, which will not contain preservatives and dyes. On sale there are special food 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 order of difficulty. At some pets, breeders at an early age stop their ears and tail. However, such events are not mandatory. Recommended trim a dog regularlyThus, it will be possible to make the coat softer. Hygienic haircut involves the regular shortening of the hair in the genital area. Once every 7–10 days, the pet should be combed to avoid the formation of tangles. A suitable option for these procedures will be a brush and a puncher.

Breeders, in order to improve the quality of wool affenpincher, spend trimming, due to which it turns out to remove already dead hairs, due to which there is a faster process of renewing the coat of the dog.

Water procedures should not be frequent., therefore, bathe the dog in case of emergency. But the face affenpinecher should be washed dailyespecially after meals.

Teeth, ears and claws of an animal need to be cared for.. Eyes should be wiped with a wet cotton pad regularly, for brushing your teeth you should use a toothbrush and toothpaste designed for dogs. You can brush your ears once a week using cotton pads and sticks.

Usually, the claws are trimmed once a month, however, in most cases, the claws of affenpinchers refresh themselves, but on the condition that the pet spends a lot of time outside the home.

Despite their small size, dogs of this breed have innate endurance, but they are not devoid of stubbornness in character. That is why puppies after purchase require compulsory socialization and training. Training should be carried out according to the “carrot and stick” method, since with the loyalty of the owner, the animals quite quickly can feel like leaders.

Affenpinchers stand out well developed intelligence, therefore, can perform not only prohibiting and enabling commands, but also some tricks. Inexperienced breeders are encouraged to resort to the help of specialists in training dogs. Affens should be trained constantly, regularly fixing the result. Training, which will be held from time to time, will not give results.

Description of the breed and reviews of the owners, see the following video.