Affenpinschers
A live monkey type toy would probably be the best way to describe the Affenpinscher dog breed.
Breed Profile
Height
9 – 12
Inches
Weight
7 – 10
Pounds
Life Span
12 – 14
Years
Health
health
Legg-Perthes Disease
What is it?:
Also called the Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, it is a form of arthritis where the head of a ball and socket joint lacks blood supply which leads to bone dying. This can cause immense pain for the dog because the resulting misshaped bone leads to a poor ball and socket joint fit causing arthritis.
Clinical signs
Frequent limping
Howling in pain when the leg is used
Loss of muscle over the affected limb area
Treatment
Surgical treatment may be needed in severe cases here which is called Osteotomy. Mild cases, however, can be solved through medical therapies. Pain relief drugs are usually used.
Eligible vet bill
$2,000
*Hypothetical reimbursement examples illustrate reimbursement of an eligible vet bill at the noted reimbursement rate, assuming the annual deductible had already been satisfied and the annual coverage limit has not yet been met. Annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit and coverage limits, and exclusions may apply. Eligibility may vary. Visit https://www.spotpetinsurance.ca/sample-policy for full terms. For Canada enrollments only, reimbursement rate is based on the pet's age.
health
Luxating Patellas
What is it?:
Patellar luxation is a condition where the kneecap (patella) slips out of the groove in which it normally rides up and down. It could be slipped medially, which is towards the opposite leg, as opposed to laterally, which would be away from the dog.
Clinical signs
Skipping or hoping for a few strides while running and kicking the leg frequently to put the kneecap back in place.
Treatment
If it is a mild condition of luxating patellas, common arthritis medicine may be prescribed. But, if the problem is severe then a re-alignment surgery may be needed
Eligible vet bill
$2,500
*Hypothetical reimbursement examples illustrate reimbursement of an eligible vet bill at the noted reimbursement rate, assuming the annual deductible had already been satisfied and the annual coverage limit has not yet been met. Annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit and coverage limits, and exclusions may apply. Eligibility may vary. Visit https://www.spotpetinsurance.ca/sample-policy for full terms. For Canada enrollments only, reimbursement rate is based on the pet's age.
Personality
Courageous
These cute looking dogs are actually very fearless and respond to no threats even from bigger dogs
Intelligent
Bred to kill rats, mice and other vermin, the toy dogs are very intelligent
Independent
The Affenpinschers are known to think on their own usually and follow their guts most of the time
Lifetime Care
Coat
A shaggy wiry type coat with more hair on their face than the body makes a unique coat for this breed
Colors
Seen mostly in solid colors, the Affenpinschers are seen in black, grey, red, tan, silver and beige shades
Hypoallergenic
Yes
Grooming
A twice a week brushing with a brush and then a metal comb is recommended for their wiry hair. The hair on the head should usually be brushed forward over the face, and then an inverted V-shape is cut to stay clear of the eyes.
Training
Affenpinschers can be very stubborn and feisty while training making it difficult for the owners to train them. But their tendency to please their human partners is what makes it better to train them if done right
The origin of the Affenpinscher dog breed goes back to the 17th century Germany. ‘Affe’ is the German word for Ape from where it gets it owing to its monkey like appearance. The breed was basically created to be a ratter, which is to remove rodents from the kitchen. The unique looking dog breed have also been used as show dogs for quite a while now. The Affenpinschers belong to the terrier family.
Affenpinscher Dog: Introduction to the Breed
The breed was always kept in a family type environment which is inside houses, stables or ranches. However, it is always better to do know as much as possible about a breed before bringing them home.
Affenpinscher Dogs are generally:
Energetic
Entertaining
Dominating
Independent
Loyal and protective
Affenpinschers are best suited for –
First time dog owners
Apartment living setting
Households with grown up children
Owners seeking for lapdogs
Health Risks for a Affenpinscher Puppy
Apart from the above-mentioned common health problems, these terrier dogs are also prone to some other health related issues which can give the owner a hard time to their time, head and even wallet.
Dehydration – Due to their smaller size and high level of energies, they are often seen to run out of water in their bodies to keep them hydrated during physical tasks. Some signs of dehydration can be lethargy, loss of appetite, sunken eyes, dry nose and gums, thicker saliva, etc. Do make sure that you make it have regular water breaks in the middle of exercise
Eye problems
Things to watch-out before deciding to own a Affenpinscher
There are a few cautions that you need to know before deciding to adopt a Affenpinscher puppy
They can be very stubborn during training making it very difficult for you. This is usually because of their independent thinking
The monkey dogs often forget their size and end up going against bigger dogs and animals
Although protective and loud, due to their size they don’t make a very good gate-keeper
They are not very good with younger kids in the house. They can get aggressive or even destructive at times
They do require grooming on a regular basis due to their hairy coat
Affenpinschers are difficult to housebreak and may continue littering around even during adult phases
They are not very great around smaller pets in the house especially rodents as it will awaken the hunter in them
They can also get bored easily if enough physical stimulus is unavailable
Know about the cost of owning an Affenpinscher here.
Conclusion
Affenpinschers are a remarkable household dog breed best suited for apartment settings or the city-life. They are fearless and will always keep you entertained. Sometimes you might even feel like that the Toy Dog owns you rather than the other way around. So, just look at the caution list and if nothing seems like an issue, get yourself a stuffed live toy in the form of an Affenpinscher.
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