Affenpinscher

(Breed Standard)

Partha Sekhar Chatterjee

International All Breeds Dog Show Judge

Breed Standard 

The affenpinscher is an ideal dog for city life and for small flats. Being a typical house dog, it is very affectionate, extremely courageous, suspicious of strangers with an inclination to bark and snap. It needs little attention and can manage in a small space. 

General Appearance 

It is rough coated, sturdy in built with a mischievous monkey-like expression. Although small, not delicate in anyway. It’s characteristics are lively and self-confident, carrying itself with a comic seriousness. Temperament is loyal and is a loving companion; watchful of strangers and fearless toward aggressors. The head and skull are fairly small in proportion to body; the domed forehead, broad bow and marked stop which is not indented. The muzzle is blunt and short but not flattened sufficiently to cause difficulty in breathing or wrinkling of skin. Chin is prominent with god turn up. Distance between dark eyes and black nose forming an equal sided triangle.

The eyes are round, very dark and sparking. Medium in size and not protruding. The ears are small, set high, upright ears preferred, although a neat drop-ear is permissible. The mouth is slightly undershort with lower incisors gripping scissor-like in front of uppers. Teeth or tongue not showing when mouth is closed. The neck is short and straight. The skin of throat is tight and unwrinkled.

The front legs are straight, elbows neither in nor out carried close to sdes. The body has a short and straight back. Height at withers about equal to length of back. Well sprung ribs with chest not too deep, combined with only a slight tuck up at loin giving a sturdy appearance.

The hind legs are well set under the body without excessive angulation. The feet are small, round and compact turning neither in nor out. Pads and nails are dark.

The gait is a lively, strutting movement. Lifting feet high when in motion, with no hint of hackneyed action or plaiting. The tail is set high and carried high, with a natural length to curve gently over the back when moving.

The coat needs no trimming, rough and harsh in texture, short and dense on some parts of the body and shaggy on others. In particular, longer on shoulders, neck and head where loose shaggy hair stands away from the skull framing the eyes, nose and chin giving the desired monkey-like appearance.

Colour: Black is preferable, but grey shading is also permissible. They measure 24-28 cm (91/2- 11 inches) at withers and weigh 3-4 kg. (61/2-9lbs).

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

All the male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended in to the scrotum.

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