Affenpinscher

Affenpinscher

Black is the most common Affenpinscher coat color.
Common nicknames	Affen Affie Monkey Dog
Origin	Germany
Traits Weight 6.5–13.2 lb (2.9–6.0 kg) Height 9–12 in (23–30 cm) Coat Wire Color Black, grey, silver, red, black and tan, or beige (mixed black, white, brown and red hairs), all with or without black mask Litter size 2–3 puppies Life span 11–14 years
Classification / standards FCI Group 2, Section 1.1 Pinscher #186 standard AKC Toy standard ANKC Group 1 (Toys) standard CKC Group 5 – Toys standard KC (UK) Toy standard NZKC Toy standard UKC Companion Dog standard
Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

The Affenpinscher /ˈæf.ənˌpɪn.tʃər/, also known as the Monkey Terrier, is a terrier-like toy breed of dog.

The breed is German in origin and dates back to the seventeenth century. The name is derived from the German Affe (ape, monkey). The breed predates and is ancestral to the Griffon Bruxellois (Brussels Griffon) and Miniature Schnauzer.

Dogs of the Affenpinscher type have been known since about 1600, but these were somewhat larger, about 12 to 13 inches, and came in colors of gray, fawn, black and tan and also red. White feet and chest were also common. The breed was created to be a ratter, working to remove rodents from kitchens, granaries, and stables.

Banana Joe V Tani Kazari (AKA Joe), a five-year-old Affenpinscher, was named Best in Show at the 2013 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City. This win is notable since it is the first time this breed has won Best in Show at Westminster.

An Affenpinscher generally weighs 6.5 to 13.2 pounds (2.9 to 6.0 kg) and stands 9 to 12 inches (23 to 30 cm) tall at the withers. It has a harsh rough coat when it is not clippered and if clippered it can be softer and fluffier. It has a notable monkey-like expression (Affe means monkey in German). Its coat is shaggier over the head and shoulders forming a mane, with shorter coat over the back and hind quarters. It is harsh and wiry in texture when properly maintained. The FCI and KC breed standards specifies that the coat must be black, but the AKC also allows grey, silver, red, black and tan, and beige (a mixture of red, brown, black and white hairs); other clubs have their own lists of acceptable colors, with black being the preference.