The Affenpinscher dog's general characteristics
The Affies are not very large; they usually reach heights of about 12 inches and a weight of about 10 pounds. The breed is originally from Germany, and its name comes from the word "Affe," which means "monkey" in German. It sure seems like it resembles a monkey - at least expression-wise - with its round, usually black eyes, and the black, wet nose. Their most common color is black, but they can occasionally be grey, silver, beige, or even red. They can live up to about 14 years, and once they reach adulthood, the females can give birth to about two or three puppies each year.
As far as looks are concerned, many people confuse the Affenpinscher with a terrier, but it has a distinct personality that distances him from the terrier breed. Affies are friendlier and much more inclined to get along with other dogs in the house or even other types of pets. They are very active and playful, but can become very stubborn if someone tries to calm their enthusiasm. Adventurous and curious, they will be searching all the corners of your house and, when taken out, will investigate just about everything they come across. For this reason they can occasionally become tiresome. They are more suited to energetic people.
The Affenpinscher, as part of its active personality, can very easily become bored, which is why one must be very inventive when training him. Exciting new exercises should be invented with each training session until they learn their lesson. However, you must not stop with their training until you are sure it is complete, because they are difficult to housebreak, and any pauses may require you to start all over again.
Once integrated into the family, the Affie will be very affectionate and friendly with all the family members. Your children will most likely love him, but be careful to teach them to play properly. Affies are possessive with what they perceive as theirs and can become very upset if their toys or food are taken from them. When strangers arrive, the Affies will most likely bark at them until they learn that they are welcome. When the Affie perceives a threat, he will not back down, despite his small size. He will persist with barking and aggressive behavior without showing any fear.
In short...
If you want excitement in your life, an Affenpinscher will most definitely do the trick!
