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Other Colors:
Black (shown),
gray, silver, red, black and tan, belge
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Affenpinscher
| AKC Group: Toy |
| Breed Clubs: Affenpinscher
Club of America |
| Rescue Groups: Affenpinscher Friends Foundation
(Nancy E. Holmes, (603)-487-2156) |
| Breed Links |
Breed Standards
AKC Standard:
General
Appearance
The Affenpinscher is a balanced, wiry-haired terrier-like toy
dog whose intelligence and demeanor make it a good house pet. Originating
in Germany, the name Affenpinscher means, “monkey-like terrier”. The breed
was developed to rid the kitchens, granaries, and stables of rodents. In
France the breed is described as the “Diablotin Moustachu” or moustached
little devil. Both describe the appearance and attitude of this delightful
breed. The total overall appearance of the Affenpinscher is more important
than any individual characteristic. He is described as having a neat but
shaggy appearance.
Size, Proportion, Substance
A sturdy, compact dog with medium bone, not delicate in any way. Preferred
height at the withers is 9 1/2" to 11 1ÿ2”. Withers height is approximately
the same as the length of the body from the point of the shoulder to point
of the buttocks, giving a square appearance. The female may be slightly longer.
Head
The head is in proportion to the body, carried confidently with monkey-like
facial expression. Eyes- Round, dark, brilliant, and of
medium size in proportion to the head but not bulging or protruding. Eye
rims are black. Ears- Cropped to a point, set high and standing
erect; or natural, standing erect, semi-erect or dropped. All of the above
types of ears, if symmetrical, are acceptable as long as the monkey-like
expression is maintained. Skull-Round and domed, but not
coarse. Stop-Well-defined. Muzzle- Short
and narrowing slightly to a blunt nose. The length of the muzzle is approximately
the same as the distance between the eyes. Nose- Black,
turned neither up nor down. Lips- Black, with prominent
lower lip. Bite- Slightly undershot. A level bite is acceptable
if the monkey-like expression is maintained. An overshot bite is to be severely
penalized. A wry mouth is a serious fault. The teeth and tongue do not show
when the mouth is closed. The lower jaw is broad enough for the lower teeth
to be straight and even.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck- Short and straight. Topline straight and level. Body—The
chest is moderately broad and deep; ribs are moderately sprung. Tuckup
is slight. The back is short and level with a strong loin. The croup
has just a perceptible curve. Tail may be docked or natural. A docked
tail is generally between 1" and 2" long, set high and carried erect. The
natural tail is set high and carried curved gently up over the back while
moving. The type of tail is not a major consideration.
Forequarters
Front angulation is moderate. Shoulders- with moderate layback.
The length of the shoulder blade and the upper arm are about equal. Elbows-
close to the body. Front legs straight when viewed from any direction.
Pasterns short and straight. Dewclaws generally
removed. Feet small, round, and compact with black pads and nails.
Hindquarters
Rear angulation is moderate to match the front. Hindlegs straight
when viewed from behind. From the side, hindlegs are set under the body to
maintain a square appearance. The length of the upper thigh and the second
thigh are about equal with moderate bend to the stifle. Hocks- Moderately
angulated.
Coat
Dense hair, rough, harsh, and about 1" in length on the shoulders and body.
May be shorter on the rear and tail. Head, neck, chest, stomach and legs
have longer, less harsh coat. The mature Affenpinscher has a mane or cape
of strong hair which blends into the back coat at the withers area. The longer
hair on the head, eyebrows and beard stands off and frames the face to emphasize
the monkey-like expression. Hair on the ears is cut very short. A correct
coat needs little grooming to blend the various lengths of hair to maintain
a neat but shaggy appearance.
Color
Black, gray, silver, red, black and tan, or belge are all acceptable. Blacks
may have a rusty cast or a few white or silver hairs mixed with the black.
Reds may vary from a brownish red to an orangey tan. Blege has black, brown,
and/or white hairs mixed with the red. With various colors, the furnishings
may be a bit lighter. Some dogs may have black masks. A small white spot
on the chest is not penalized, but large white patches are undesirable. Color
is not a major consideration.
Gait
Light, free, sound, balanced, confident, the Affenpinscher carries itself
with comic seriousness. Viewed from the front or rear while walking, the
legs move parallel to each other. Trotting, the feet will converge toward
a midline as speed increases. Unsound gait is to be heavily penalized.
Temperament
General demeanor is game, alert, and inquisitive with great loyalty and
affection toward its master and friends. The breed is generally quiet, but
can become vehemently excited when threatened or attacked, and is fearless
toward any aggressor.
Approved June 12, 2000
Effective July 27, 2000
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