Affenpinscher. Jerome Cushman
Physical Characteristics of the Affenpinscher
(from the American Kennel Club breed standard)
Head: In proportion to the body, carried confidently with monkey-like facial expression.
Skull: Round and domed.
Ears: Cropped to a point, set high and standing erect; or natural, standing erect, semi-erect or dropped.
Neck: Short and straight.
Stop: Well-defined.
Eyes: Round, dark, brilliant and of medium size in proportion to the head.
Nose: Black.
Muzzle: Short and narrowing slightly to a blunt nose.
Chest: Moderately broad and deep.
Forequarters: Front angulation is moderate. Shoulders—with moderate layback. Elbows—close to the body. Front legs straight when viewed from any direction. Pasterns short and straight. Feet small, round and compact with black pads and nails.
Back: Short and level.
Tail: May be docked or natural.
Hindquarters: Rear angulation is moderate to match the front. From the side, hindlegs are set under the body to maintain a square appearance. Hocks—moderately angulated.
Coat: Dense hair, rough, harsh, and about 1 inch in length on the shoulders and body. The longer hair on the head, eyebrows and beard stands off and frames the face to emphasize the monkeylike expression.
Height: At the withers is 9.5 inches to 11.5 inches.
Color: Black, gray, silver, red, black and tan or belge are all acceptable.
Contents
With its origins in Germany as a hunter of small vermin, the Affenpinscher today enjoys life primarily as a pet and companion. Trace the breed’s development, including a brush with near-extinction, and meet the dedicated fanciers who ensured this enchanting toy breed’s future around the world.
Characteristics of the Affenpinscher
Meet the “monkey terrier,” a mustached performer with a love of the spotlight, dressed in a smart wire coat. Learn about the Affen’s personality, from his penchant for comedic antics to his stubborn streak, and find out if you’re the right kind of owner for the breed. Also learn about health concerns in the breed of which owners should be aware.
Breed Standard for the Affenpinscher
Learn the requirements of a well-bred Affenpinscher by studying the description of the breed as set forth in the American Kennel Club’s breed standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the breed standard.
Find out about how to locate a well-bred Affenpinscher puppy. Discover which questions to ask the breeder and what to expect when visiting the litter. Prepare for your puppy-accessory shopping spree. Also discussed are home safety, the first trip to the vet, socialization and solving basic puppy problems.
Proper Care of Your Affenpinscher
Cover the specifics of taking care of your Affenpinscher every day: feeding for the puppy, adult and senior dog; grooming, including coat care, ears, eyes, nails and bathing; and exercise needs for your dog. Also discussed are the essentials of dog identification.
Begin with the basics of training the puppy and adult dog. Learn the principles of house-training the Affenpinscher, including the use of crates and basic scent instincts. Get started by introducing the pup to his collar and leash and progress to the basic commands. Find out about obedience classes and other activities.
Healthcare of Your Affenpinscher
By Lowell Ackerman DVM, DACVD
Become your dog’s healthcare advocate and a well-educated canine keeper. Select a skilled and able veterinarian. Discuss pet insurance, vaccinations and infectious diseases, the neuter/spay decision and a sensible, effective plan for parasite control, including fleas, ticks and worms.
Step into the center ring and find out about the world of showing pure-bred dogs. Here are the basics of AKC conformation, including how shows are organized and what’s required for your dog to become a champion. Also presented are things to think about if you want to try showing and how to get started.
KENNEL CLUB BOOKS® AFFENPINSCHER
ISBN 13: 978-1-59378-335-8
eISBN 13: 978-1-62187-029-6
Copyright ©2009 • Kennel Club Books® A Division of BowTie, Inc. 40 Broad Street, Freehold, New Jersey 07728 USA Cover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 • Printed in South Korea
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.
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