Affenpinscher or the popularly known monkey dog is a famous toy-sized terrier pet dog that is pretty popular as a pet. They are a breed of terrier and they come with some unusual facial expression, which makes them popular as monkey dog.
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Physical features of Affepinshcer
The dog is available in black, silver, red, grey and tan colour. When the dog is found in the shade of black, a few rusty, silver or white hairs are found mixed in the coat. Red or brown Affenpinschers come in a variety of shades. They are 9 to 12 inches in height and the body is sturdy that weighs 6 to 13 pounds. They are small dogs and they can be kept quite easily in the apartments.
They have huge and liquid eyes and the protruding lower jaw with lip is also quite unusual among dogs. Their head is shaped like a dome. They have cropped ears which are often pointed or dropped. The short muzzle and erect ears make them look funny and cute. This is one of the reasons for its popularity.
Their hair gets wired when grown long. You should keep it short and trim it once in three months to make it free from dirt and manageable. The intelligence level of this dog is pretty high and that is shown in their bright twinkling eyes.
The head of the Affenpinscher is kept high and alert at the short neck, giving an aura of pride and confidence. They are primarily used to keep the kitchens and gardens free from rat, so the dexterity of killing or catching rats are still imbibed in their nature.
The chest part of the Affenpinscher is broad, where the ribs are widely placed. The back of the dog stays straight and short.
The coat of the dog is short, rough and covers the shoulder and the body. The hair at the head, neck, chest and stomach are softer and longer though. You need to give it proper trimming and the hair of different lengths should be maintained.
What is the meaning of Affenpinscher?
This dog is originated in Germany. The name affenpinscher means a dog that looks like a monkey. So the name is self-explanatory and it will make sense when you look at one Affenpinscher dog.
Can Affenpinscher be a good family dog?
Among many different traits, one prominent feature of Affenpinscher is, they are not easy to train. When you bring one to a household with very little kids or toddlers, then it may not be super easy to keep everyone calm. Though the seniors of the family may not find the Affenpinscher much disturbing or alarming, the case may not be so with the babies of the family.
However, if the kids are well mannered and do not bother the dogs, then cohabiting will not be much of a problem. The same attitude continues when they see some small pets around them. as they originate from the rodent hunter, they genetically feel aggressive and attacking when they see small creatures moving around them.
You can train the Affenpinscher and make it learn to behave properly with all the family members as well as the guests of the house.
What is the cost of an Affenpinscher dog?
This dog breed is not very pricey so you can easily adopt one if you are planning to get a dog. Adopting is the best way to bring a new dog home and give a rescued one a permanent address. But when you decide to get a good breed dog by paying the price then you can read here for Affenpinscher pup.
The value of the dog depends upon the pedigree and the history of its parents. So accordingly you can get a good breed Affenpinscher pup for a good amount of bucks. So if you decide to get a new one, you can adopt it by checking the rescue centres of your area.
What type of personality does the Affenpinscher dog have?
In the German language, there is a name for Affenpinscher, and that is “diablotin moustachu”. This word means little devil with a moustache, which actually indicates the nature of this small breed dog. However cute they may look, there are traits of naughtiness in the Affenpinscher breed.
They are not much aggressive in nature; in fact, they can be called pretty quite. They are alert and will react to any knock or sound that is unfamiliar to them. They will respond to any subtle sound as that is the tendency in terriers.
They are inquisitive, which makes them go to the door and find who knocks there. Also, they will move around in the house and will check any place that they find suspicious.
They are pretty loyal to their owner. You can trust them on this ground, as that will make them good guard dog, as long as they do not have to fight with bigger dogs.
Affection is another trait of the Affenpinscher. Once they trust the owner and bonds with the family they are living in, they will express their attachment in various ways.
Their physical fitness is also good, though not great. They are good at fetch and also they can dexterously catch the balls and toys thrown to them with the forepaw.
How to take care of the Affenpinscher dog?
This breed of dog needs high-quality dog food to stay healthy and fit. They are pretty energetic so you need to feed them food that is rich in nutrient value. You can get them commercially available food or else there are options for a homemade diet. Choose any type at your convenience and check the diet with your vet to make sure it offers ample nutrition to your dog.
What to feed the Affenpinscher?
The diet chart should be there to ensure that the Affenpinscher is having food according to its age, size and energy. The pup should not be eating as much food as a grown-up Affenpinscher eats, as that can make it obese.
According to the general view, a baby Affenpinscher should have ½ cup of dry dog food. This much will be good for a growing pup of Affenpinscher. They need good quality food, so do not offer more quantity. When it is becoming a grown-up from the juvenile stage, you should offer it the food four times a day.
After it has reached the matured age, you should decrease the food to three bowls. You can offer it a cup of puppy meal along with the main food. You can add broth or water added to the meal of a day. Sometimes they also enjoy a piece of juicy fruits and vegetables or cottage cheese, cooked eggs etc.
Calorie consumption should be checked and tallied with the weight level. You should take a suggestion from a professional to understand the amount and nutrition value of food. Also the professional can suggest to you the different items that can be put into the diet to make it less boring and monotonous.
Which items are not good for the dog?
Garlic, cinnamon, chocolate, ice cream and almonds are something that should not be fed to your dog. They are not only unhealthy but poisonous for dogs. So if your dog sneaks in and eats any of these items, you should immediately contact the vet and get the dog checked by him or her.
What exercises are good for Affenpinscher?
These small dogs are full of energy and that should be well spent to make it calm and peaceful. You should take out time to take it for a small walk either in the morning or in the evening. Walking for 30 to 45 minutes is a good exercise for a grown-up Affenpinscher.
Playing fetch is always an exciting game for dogs of all sizes and ages. So you can get some toys made from natural products, which will not harm the health of your pet. Spend half an hour every day to play fetch or other games to make the bond stronger between you and your dog.
There are several toys available now which are perfect for dogs like Affenpinscher. Those toys are not easy to tear and will be good for self-playing. Give them some squeaky toys which will utter a sound when pressed. These toys will be exciting for the Affenpinscher to spend a lot of time with those.
How to train an Affenpinscher dog?
There are several types of training that a dog should have, but the starter is always obedience training. The first and foremost thing that you should teach your dog is, to listen to your words and follow them. This is called obedience training and you need a lot of patience along with a few treats to make things work.
The training should be a consistent process. It can be that on some days you will feel irritated and less patience to continue the training schedule, but if you give it a break of more than one day, the dog will automatically forget whatever you have taught it. So it is better to keep the process continuing for at least a month and see the result.
How to groom the Affenpinscher?
Affenpinscher is not a high maintenance dog so you can manage its grooming by only bathing it once in a week. Use a good dog shampoo to clean the coat as there can be mites or ticks infestation. Using medicated shampoo is advised when the dog has the problem of fleas.
Brushing its coat is also a part of its grooming routine. Keep the hairs tangle free and also control the shed by brushing it as it keeps the blood well circulated to the roots of the hairs.
You need to clean the inner part of the ears and eyes with a moist pad that is available in the market. These pads often come with a good smell which will make the dog calm when you are about to clean it.
Cleaning the teeth is also required if you do not want your Affenpinscher to face dental problems. Use the particular dog brush and paste to keep the oral health well maintained.
What is the usual lifespan of Affenpinscher?
If the dog is taken good care of, the Affenpinscher will live healthily for 12 to 14 years. This breed of dog mostly stays healthy until old age. They do not have any history of chronic ailment if given proper food, good care and timely medicine and vaccine.
When they grow old, or when they are under wrong handling, they face certain ailments. One such common issue is collapsed trachea. In this situation, the trachea or the windpipe gets flattened and thus the amount of oxygen that reaches their heart gets limited. This is a disease that affects them at middle age, and as a result, they start coughing or utters sound when they try to breathe with their full force.
If not treated with care and attention, this problem may lead to severe issues like shortness of breath and unconsciousness.
There are other orthopaedic problems faced by this small breed dog, among which hip dysplasia is the prior one. The bones get less calcium and they tend to break off easily. This is why you need to be cautious about the calcium and vitamin D intake, which will keep them strong from bone till the last breath.
Various other problems like cataract, a dental problem, cardiac problem, brachycephalic syndrome, luxating patella etc. affects the Affenpinscher when it starts ageing. Keeping a check on the health issue and taking it to the vet for a regular check-up is a way to stay alert and treat it whenever any problem arises.
Are Affenpinscher dogs hypoallergenic?
Yes, this dog breed is hypoallergenic. However, that does not indicate that they do not shed. They do shade a lot. If you have the tendency of catching an allergy, then you can safely choose this dog breed, as it will not initiate the illness in you. But you need to brush the coat often to keep the random shedding at a check.
