Affenpinscher

Video: Affenpinscher

History of the affenpinscher breed

Affenpinscher's homeland is considered to be the southern regions of Germany, where dogs with monkey faces were bred as rat catchers. Especially the residents of Lubeck succeeded in this, who inhabited grain barns and stables with mini-dogs, where they were engaged in the destruction of rodents. It is worth noting that the first affen were larger than their modern descendants and had a more extensive palette of colors, which did not prevent them from transforming into a decorative breed and charming the European nobility. Moreover, by the 19th century affenpinchers had become an expensive and in-demand commodity, which helped German merchants to sell them to ignorant foreigners at an incredible price of 1 thaler for that time.

The first distinct descriptions of the breed's appearance have been found since the XVII century, but images of affenpinchers appeared even earlier. For example, funny cosmatics can be seen on the canvases of the German engraver Albrecht Durer and other artists of the Middle Ages. Since there are no documents declassifying information about animal genes, the affinity of affenes with other breeds remains unknown. And although the official version says that ape-like pinscher appeared by crossing ordinary pinscher with Asian pug-like dogs, the possibility of admixture in their phenotype of other bloodlines is still not excluded.

In 1902, affenpinchers underwent preliminary standardization, and in 1913 they were officially registered in Germany. The British cynological associations entered the breed into the stud books only in 1936, since its representatives were not popular among British breeders. But in the USA affenov was accepted almost immediately after the presentation – in 1935, a "party" of shaggy dogs crossed the Atlantic, and a year later received recognition from the American Kennel Club.

The Second World War caused significant damage to the livestock of the breed, so in the 50s the number of dogs in Germany had to be restored almost from scratch. The first affenpinscher arrived in Russia with the motorcade of the future Empress Catherine II. According to legend, the shaggy creature was taken to guard the wardrobe of the crowned person, on which mice began to encroach on the road. As for breeding individuals, they began to be imported from the late 90s, but for almost ten years mini-pinchers in Russia remained a living exotic.

Affenpinscher breed standard

Affenpinscher is a shaggy cutie with intelligent button eyes and a charming shaggy muzzle decorated with a lush mustache and a disheveled beard. The square body, as well as the small stature – only 25-28 cm with an average body weight of 4-6 kg - enhance the overall "toyiness" of the animal's appearance. Affenpinscher holds himself with dignity and seriousness, which only adds to the charm of his already funny image.

Head

In representatives of the breed, the skull has a rounded, domed shape with a well-defined forehead and foot.

Jaws, teeth, lips

Teeth are white, in the amount of 42 pieces. The incisors are arranged in a slightly rounded row, and the lower jaw has a slight bend and is slightly extended above the upper one. When the mouth is closed, the canines and incisor teeth of the dog are not visible. Missing pairs PM1, PM2 and PM3 are allowed by the standard. Affenpinscher's lips are black, without dampness.

Nose

The black rounded lobe is distinguished by good fullness and wide-open nostrils. The back of the nose is shortened, elongated in a straight line.

Eyes

Affen's large, almost round eyes are colored dark. The black folds of the eyelids along the contour are pubescent with coarse hair.

Ears

The ears are set high and symmetrically and turned forward, the inner edge of the ear cloth is pressed against the head. It is forbidden to stop the ears of exhibition individuals, so this procedure is practiced mainly by pet owners who want to give the appearance of the ward even more expressiveness.

Neck

Massive at the base, short and strong neck affenpinscher has no skin folds on the throat.

Housing

The dog's body is moderately dense, resembling a square. The top is slightly sloping, the back muscles are developed, strong. A strong shortened loin turns into the same short, smooth-rounded outline of the croup. The chest is of normal width, descending to the joints, with flattened sides. The lower abdomen is picked up and almost parallel to the back line.

Limbs

The front legs are smooth, moderately wide; the rear legs are placed at a slight slope (when viewed from the side) and have moderate angles of articulation. The shoulder blades of the animal are flat, long, located at an angle of 45 °. Elbows without eversion to the outer and inner sides, pasterns vertical, barely inclined, muscular. Voluminous, developed hips are also considered a characteristic of pedigree. The lower legs of the affenpinscher are powerful and long, the metatarsals are sheer. The front paws of the dog are compact and rounded, the hind ones are more elongated in length, with tightly assembled and curved fingers.

Tail

From birth, the affenpinscher's tail has a saber-shaped or sickle-shaped shape. Previously, the dogs' tails were docked. Today, the cynological associations of Europe have imposed a ban on the procedure, but in Russia there are still breeders practicing cupping non-exhibiting pets.

Wool

Affenpinscher has a stiff, thick coat that fits snugly to the body, but randomly bristles on the head and forms fluffy sideburns, eyebrows, mustache and beard.

Color

FCI recognizes solid black as the standard color of the breed, and the presence of areas with white hair is extremely undesirable. However, according to the AKC standard, affenpinchers can have silver, red, black with a tan or a grayish undertone of fur coats.

Defects and disqualifying vices

The exhibition evaluation of the affenpinscher is influenced by such exterior defects as an upturned griffon-like muzzle, a lightweight backbone, a tick-like bite or a snack with a pronounced waste. It is prohibited to exhibit individuals in the ring:

• taller than or below the specified standard by more than 2 cm;
• suffering from any deformities of appearance;
• having distorted jaws and scissor bite;
• having defects in color, wool structure and general structure;
• showing cowardly or aggressive behavior.

affenpinscher character

Affenpinscher is almost 4 kilograms of self–confidence, alertness and devotion, packed in a tough shaggy fur coat. Usually the breed is fixated on its own relationship with the owner and tries to prevent third parties from entering them. This is expressed in different ways for each individual. Some affen do not favor children and arrange military battles with the little ones because of toys. Others are aggressively barking at intruders into the apartment, not disdaining attempts to make a hole in the sock of an unknown civilian who occupied the owner's territory.

Pet affenpinscher is also able to undermine the nervous system. If, in addition to the dog, you also keep a cat at home, try to stroke it in those rare moments when affen does not see. Such "treason" a jealous man with a mustache will not forgive, and therefore he will certainly develop and put into effect an act of revenge, in which Kotofey will be assigned an extremely unenviable role. With hamsters and chinchillas, too, everything is not easy. Do not forget that the ancestors of affenpinchers made their career just on catching and killing rodents, so either keep the fuzzies in cages under strict supervision, or put the animals in safe hands until sharp dog teeth get to them.

In communication with the owner, the affenpinscher puts on the mask of a handsome gambler, ready to do anything to please an older friend. At the same time, the breed does not know how to impose and sycophant. For example, if you let your pet know that you are not ready to participate in his projects, affen will not beg for attention, but will quietly step aside and come up with a new entertainment. In addition, affenpinchers are avid travelers who are ready to accompany a person both in the back seat of a car and in a bicycle basket. Breeders joke that with the breed, you can save on buying a car alarm system – affen will not miss a single living soul who approaches the car by at least a meter.

Watching the affenpinscher's active games and the maniacal persistence with which he gets other pets, it begins to seem that the animal is a small "ghost with a motor" whose energy cannot be tamed. In fact, the dog's activity is easily corrected. Moreover, for the company of the host affenpinscher is not averse to lie down or distract himself by watching the series. The main thing is that passive recreation does not become dominant over active pastime – affen will never subscribe to aimless idleness.

Education and training

Affenpinscher is an incredibly charming creature, and almost as stubborn and disorganized. It is difficult to imagine, but if you do not engage in the upbringing of a pet, then affen is able to thoroughly spoil the life of the owner, and for the company and others. As soon as the tiny shaggy appeared in the house, begin to socialize him and accustom him to the fact that in the world, in addition to treats, caresses and games, there are also requirements and prohibitions.

Among the first habits that should be formed in an affenpinscher puppy is following the daily routine. Immediately after moving from the kennel, teach the dog to come for food at a certain time, showing the baby how to take a bowl and how to prepare a meal for him. The ability to politely accept food is also not formed immediately. Be sure to teach the puppy not to jump on you when carrying lunch. Yes, affen is not burbul and he won't fall off his feet, but he has enough strength to "help" spill food.

Experienced breeders recommend not to be impressed by the "toyiness" of the breed and treat the affenpinscher as if you are looking at an average dog. There should be no lisping and tears of emotion, too, otherwise the dog will quickly figure out how to use it. It is best to practice useful skills in a playful way. Affenpinscher quickly gets carried away with a new activity and just as quickly loses interest in it, so divide the lesson into short five-minute intervals, between which maintain long pauses.

It is recommended to choose a place for classes with a minimum of distractions. For example, it is more convenient to conduct the first lessons in a room, access to which will be blocked for other animals and family members. Attempts to train young affen outdoors, as a rule, end unsuccessfully. To concentrate on the requirements of a person when there are so many seductive smells and sounds around is an impossible task for a puppy. It is better to stimulate the animal to further success in studies by the method of positive reinforcement. What exactly will act in this role – a treat or a caress – each owner decides for himself.

It is more difficult to form an affenpinscher's system of prohibitions. Instead of sweets, you will have to connect a light negative so that the dog learns to catch the connection between your dissatisfaction and his own actions. At the same time, the puppy's sudden attacks should be corrected intonationally or by depriving him of communication, but not by shouting and physical influence. In particular, a properly educated affenpinscher should not grab the legs of guests, tear balls out of a person's hands with his teeth, biting his fingers, or wage war with a vacuum cleaner in attempts to break the hose.

You will also have to work hard on developing the skill of using the tray. In order for the puppy to learn the difference between a living space and a room toilet, it is recommended to put the baby in a cage several times during the day. The pet perceives the space limiter as a place of rest, so it will not leave puddles in it. After sitting in the enclosure (no more than half an hour), it is recommended to escort the dog to the tray.

Maintenance and care

An inquisitive and reactive affenpinscher does not need spacious apartments – an average apartment is enough for him, in which there is enough space for his bowl and couch, as well as for the owner's sofa. Specific adaptations of the breed are also not required, except perhaps for a room aviary, which is necessary for those cases when the puppy will have to stay completely alone. But affen really needs toys: at a young age – for the development and development of teams, at mature age - for discharge.

Hygiene

According to the standard of the English Kennel Club, affenpinscher has a rough coat 2.5 cm long, which does not need trimming. However, in practice, dogs have to be pinched, because a rare affen has an ideal fur coat by nature. Once every few months, it is supposed to remove the "overripe" wool, and this can be done manually (stripping) or with a stripping knife. It is not recommended to get too involved in the process and pluck out all the hair that has departed. The trick of the breed lies precisely in shagginess, and too careful trimming will only worsen the situation.

The fur on the muzzle of the affenpinscher is slightly trimmed with scissors, giving the head the shape of a ball. The beard of pets is also shortened for hygiene purposes. Lowering the head into the bowl, the dog will not dirty the hair on the lower jaw, respectively, the owner will not have to constantly wipe the pet's chin. However, this method will not work with exhibition individuals, as well as stripping affenpinchers, who clearly have traces of recent trimming or haircuts, are fined in the rings.

It is better to shorten the hair on the inside of the dog's ear, as well as in the anal area. If the dog is overgrown, it is useful to remove excess vegetation in the eye area, obscuring the animal's view. Three times a week, affena is recommended to comb with a comb with medium teeth, which will remove dead hairs, and then massage with a brush.

Frequent bathing, especially on the eve of the exhibition, is contraindicated for affenpinchers, but once every 3-4 months the pet can be washed using shampoo and conditioner for wire-haired breeds. The dogs' claws are clipped every 4-6 weeks, their teeth are cleaned every 7 days. The dog's eyes should be examined daily, and once a week they should also be wiped with a textile napkin moistened with chilled tea infusion.

Examination of the ears is also a mandatory procedure. If a decent amount of sulfur plaque has accumulated inside the funnel, it should be carefully removed with a cloth soaked in disinfectant lotion. However, it is not necessary to go to extremes and clean the ear "to shine". A small amount of sulfur is necessary for the animal, because it prevents the penetration of sand, debris and other microscopic foreign bodies deep into the organ.

Walking

Affenpinscher loves walking, and it's cruel to deprive him of this pleasure. It is best to take your pet out to breathe in the morning and evening, combining promenades with elements of games and honing sports skills. If you walk in places where there is a high probability of meeting other dogs, keep your finger on the pulse and do not let your pet off the leash. In communication with fellow tribesmen, affen behave pugnaciously and defiantly, having a real talent for unleashing conflicts, so that the leash will help to retire from the battlefield in time and extinguish the brewing quarrel.

Owners who let affenpinchers out for a walk in the courtyard of a private house and trust in the prudence of pets will have to be a little disappointed – noticing the slightest hole in the fence, affen will certainly leak through it. So either control the dog yourself, or take care of a reliable frequent fence. Remember that on hot days the breed suffers from overheating, which is facilitated by a thick coat of saturated dark color. In summer, take the affenpinscher outside early in the morning or late in the evening, or try to stay in the shade if the heat caught you in the middle of a walk around the city.

Feeding

The main diet of affenpinchers from foreign nurseries is dry and wet industrial feed of at least super–premium class. Natural nutrition of the breed is also not contraindicated, but it will have to be "enhanced" with purchased vitamins and mineral complexes. Affen's menu consists of products that are useful to all dogs, namely: any lean meat, fillet of sea fish, kefir and cottage cheese of reduced fat content, quail egg (once a week). Sometimes you can diversify the diet with cereal porridge – rice and buckwheat, but they should be cooked with the addition of meat.

Food from the master's table, including semi-finished meat products, pastries and sweets, is not given to affenpinchers. But since it is necessary to stimulate the pet with treats in the process of training, sometimes you have to deviate from this rule. In this case, a piece of cheese, dried fruits (not candied fruits), a rye cracker can become a positive reinforcement. Vegetables are not all useful for dogs, so if you decide to add vitamins to your pet's diet, let their source be pumpkin crops, as well as carrots, cucumbers and beets. Once a week, it is useful to add a drop of linseed or olive oil to the dog's meal, as well as chopped kelp.

Affenpinchers' health and diseases

With careful treatment, affenpinchers live up to 12-14 years. The list of hereditary diseases that can be found in dogs is small. In addition, with a correct diagnosis, the main part of breed ailments is curable. Most often, affenes suffer from an overabundance of their own activity. Dislocations, fractures, sprains are what most owners of the breed have to deal with.

Affenpinchers also have heart diseases, hypothyroidism, as well as infections of the genitourinary system. The eyes of representatives of this family are also susceptible to various pathologies that threaten complete blindness in the absence of treatment. It is also important to carry out oral hygiene in a timely manner – the teeth of the breed are problematic, in need of regular cleaning and preventive examinations by a specialist.

How to choose a puppy

• Affenpinchers have small litters in which up to 4 puppies are born, so ask the breeder to demonstrate all the babies before buying. If the animals have approximately the same size and degree of fatness, this is a good sign. Moreover, the presence of one puppy, slightly lagging behind the others in growth, is permissible.
• If you choose a future "star" of the rings, carefully study her pedigree and the exhibition diplomas of her parents – the reference exterior, although to varying degrees, is inherited.
• Pay attention to the behavior of the kids. Affenpinscher puppies should not be afraid of a stranger, but sniff him curiously, and ideally bark.
• Be sure to look into the animal's mouth to make sure that the bite is correct and there is a full set of teeth.
• Find out if the seller agrees to "lead" the puppy during the first year of life. Providing this "option" means that you are dealing with a caring professional, and not with a commercial divorcee.
• Evaluate the quality of affen's wool. It should not have bald spots and exude extraneous odors that indicate the unkemptness of the dog.

affenpinscher price

There are few professional nurseries in Russia engaged in breeding affenpinchers, and in those that exist, the quality of litters varies greatly. Usually the cost of a puppy is determined by the degree of title of his parents, the prospects of the exterior, as well as the reputation and experience of the breeder. So, for example, you can purchase a pet-class affen for $250 – $300. Individuals from manufacturers with interchampionship diplomas and a promising appearance, giving the owner the opportunity to exhibit a pet at exhibitions, will already cost $900 – $1200.