The Affenpinscher canine is a relatively small canine weighing 7-9 pounds. They reach a height between 9 to 11.5 inches, with a shaggy gray, black, silver, or black and tan coat. While their hair is not the cuddliest, you will find they are a very active canine breed. This type of canine is low maintenance when it comes to grooming, as they dont tend to shed their hair.
You will also find that this particular breed of canine is a fairly good watchcanine. While they are certainly not the best they do tend to let you know when a person is arriving and will stand guard. With their heightened sense of play you will find that this canine also loves to climb and bark. You will need to train them when it is appropriate to bark and when it is not. You will also have to make sure your backyard is large enough and set up with a high fence to keep them contained.
The Affenpinscher breed originated in Germany in the 16th century. They are considered one of the most amiable companions for humans. They tend to have a strong playful spirit, while being great at hunting rats and mice. You can consider their character to be balanced and sturdy. In other words they will have pretty much the same behavioral characteristics throughout their lives and be a pleasure. They are also very agile, inquisitive, and quick- witted.
You will find that this canine breed is great for a family. They tend to play well with younger children as well as be aware of the delicate nature of the child. They will want to play, amuse, and be affectionate with the entire family. This will lead us into the care of the Affenpinscher. While they require minimal grooming you will find they do need a lot of attention. They tend to have a lot of energy so taking the canine out for long walks, playing with them often, and not leaving them along too much is going to be the best care you can give them. When you are grooming your Affenpinscher you will need to pay close attention to the eyes. They tend to have little hairs that will grow near the eyes causing irritation or even infections if left for too long.
When you are considering further canine care keep in mind that they are extremely active. They need to have a place they can run and expend energy. This means during the day while you are at work and your children are in school you probably need to leave the canine outside in the yard. Make sure that they will not be able to dig themselves out or climb over the fence. It is really best to have a canine runner set up so they are chained, but have the freedom to explore the yard and stay in the shade.
This canine breed is one of the hardest to house train despite the wonderful pet they do make. They are extremely active and therefore they dont want to pay attention to training and lessons. When training the canine you need to use the crate method. In other words they need to understand what the crate means, and that until they are house trained to go outside or let the owner know when they need to go they will be in the crate while you are away. You need to be extremely authoritarian with the Affenpinscher with firmness and consistency. While they are quick to learn they often dont like to sit still for the lessons as they become bored. If you are trying to train the canine to do tricks it must be something that stimulates them.
Author Resource:
Gerry is a dog lover from Europe he works from his home and his interests include dog training , dog leads and media. He has been working in the field for a number of years, before he worked with animals Gerry was a professional opera singer in Milan, Italy. Since working with dogs he has found a great appreciation for them and he will continue to work with animals for the remainder of his life.