small Breed Dogs
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Affenpinscher
Toy Breed Dogs
Small Breed Dogs




Manufactured Dog Food VS Home Cooked Food
The food that you feed to your dog will have a direct impact on their health. Whether a young puppy who needs great nutrient to properly grow, an adult who needs to maintain weight and energy levels or a senior who can has a sensitive digestive system.

In addition, the choice you make can directly impact behavioral issues, such as eating grass or feces.
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What you MUST Know Before Getting a Puppy
Forget about the normal list that everyone writes about..."puppy proof your home", "choose the right breed".  The information you must know, goes MUCH deeper than that. This is information that no one talks about, the behind-the-scenes info you really should know before you bring home a pup...Read More
Average Height: 9.5-11.5 inches (24.13- 29.21 cm)
Average Weight: 7-8 pounds (3.17 - 3.62 kg)
Pronounced: Afen-pin-chur
Group:  Terrier, AKC Toy
Life Span: 15 Years
Average Litter: 2
Origin: 17th century central Europe

Description

 The Affenpinscher's rough, harsh coat is short and dense in some parts and shaggy in others.  The hair on the head stands sway from the skull and it frames the dog's dark, sparkling eyes, nose and chin.  Because of this,s Affenpinschers have a perfectly quaint and monkey-like appearance.  This is one cute dog and very unique dog.
Colors

 The AKC accepts  5 colors: Belge (This is a mixture of red, black & white hairs), Black, Black & Tan, Black & Silver, Red.
In other countries, only black is acceptable.
Characteristics

 This dog oozes with character and mischief, so much that it carries the nickname of "The Black Devil"; but in a joking way, of course.  Very self confident and with a lively temperament, many owners love this breed because he seems to be joking around all of the time with a rather good sense of humor!  The Affenpinscher is very loyal; when strangers come around this dog forgets how little he is.

When it comes to dog toys....watch out! This dog can be very territorial with their toys. It is best if you only clean them when they are not looking and to make sure that everyone in the home knows that the dog toys are your Affenpinscher's own personal possessions.
Health

The Affenpinscher is prone to hip dysplasia, which is a dislocation of the hip joint.  Similar to most small breeds of dog they are prone to collapsed trachea, which is when the trachea literally collapses.  One reason why this happens is that with a collar on, if the dog lunges forward or is accidentally "jerked" on, all pressure goes straight to the neck.

This can be avoided using a harness instead of a collar which distributes the pressure. Cataracts not as common as the above 2 conditions, but do happen occasionally.

Pregnancy

Occasionally a cesarean section is necessary, this is mostly due to this dog's size. Best is to bred a larger dam to a smaller sire. The average litter is 2, although 1 to 5 puppies should not surprise you. Length of canine pregnancy is 63 days.

Origin & History

Commonly mis-spelled as Affenpincher,  this breed developed in 17th century Europe and is one of the oldest toy breeds that exist.  This was one of a number of small terrier type dogs who were kept as ratters (helping to keep the rat population under control) in stores and on farms.  Bred down in size over the centuries, they became family companions while still controlling the mouse population.  In later times, the area near Munich Germany became the center for  streaming the breed and this led to this dog being a major influence in the development of other small breed dogs.  In 1936, the Affenpinscher was accepted in to the AKC.

Exercise

 This dog is very active and is also excellent at creating his own exercise in the yard.  However, daily walks are important for good health.  when outside at a dog park or other...  An owner must remember that because this dog is bold, he will have no fear of larger dogs. 

Grooming

 The coat is really not difficult to manage.  To maintain the proper look one does not need to do very much grooming or trimming.  The hair around the dog's face is sometimes scissored to create more of a "round" look.  Pet owners often like to keep the beard very short to help keep the pup's mouth area clean (as water is lapped up, the fur becomes wet & then dog food easily sticks to it).

A sturdy slicker brush should be used to remove lose hairs.  This dog is meant to have a "Shaggy, messy" appearance, so an owner should not try to make the coat look perfect.

Need Care and Training

 Because this dog is very independent and sometimes just a bit stubborn, some will want to be the boss of the home. Firm raining is necessary.

Quick to bark due to a strict loyalty to protect its human family members, training will be needed in this area as well.    Due to its small size, special care is needed to keep this breed happy and healthy...from Day 1 to the Senior dog 

If you are thinking about getting a puppy, you may wish to read some important information about purchasing a puppy. Just click here.

If you already own an Affenpinscher, you may wish to click here for more detailed are information




                 
                                                                                  
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