Origin
There is no mistaking the unique looks of an Affenpinscher because these little dogs have quite monkey-like faces. They boast being among the oldest of the Toy breeds around and their ancestry can be traced as far back as the 17th century. They were first bred in Germany, but today these little dogs have found their way to other parts of the world including here in the UK where they are typically kept as companion dogs. Apart from their adorable looks, Affens boast fun-loving, albeit "naughty" natures and they like to be kept busy adapting well to living in towns or a country environment. However, the Affenpinscher is the sort of character that likes to be a lapdog, but they also like being out and about doing things.
Affenpinschers are depicted in paintings that date back to the 15th and 16th centuries which means they are one of the oldest toy breeds on the planet. They originate from Germany and translated their name means "mock terriers". These little dogs boast being the very first of the "monkey-faced" toy breeds to be developed and are responsible for the development of other breeds like the Griffon Bruxellois as well as the Griffon Belge. These extraordinary looking dogs were also used to create the Miniature Schnauzer. It is thought that at one time there were two sizes of Affens, but the larger of them no longer exists today.
These little dogs were originally bred to chase down vermin and proved themselves to be extremely good "ratters" and as such the breed soon became popular in Southern Germany during the 19th century. There are records of a 'Monkey Pinscher' dog being exhibited at dog shows in their native Germany and pretty soon well-heeled ladies of the day all had an Affen as their companion. One of the most famous ladies being Mrs Evelyn Walsh McLean, owner of the large Hope Diamond.
By the 1950's the Affenpischer became a popular choice outside of Germany, mainly in the UK and the US where the breed gained a large fan base. Although, Affens were bred to have all the usual "terrier" traits due to their small size they were mainly kept as companion dogs and are still as popular today with people the world over thanks to their unique monkey-like faces and disarmingly comical personalities.
