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About the Affenpinscher
Affenpinschers were bred in Germany and they are a very old breed that existed as far back as the 17th Century. They were bred for hunting rats and mice.
They are a “toy” sized breed with heights of 23 to 30 cm, and weights around 3-6kgs. Females tend to be a bit smaller than males. Affenpinschers come in a variety of colours including Black, grey, silver, red, black and tan, and beige. Their life expectancy is around 11 to-14 years. They are a brachycephalic breed and are susceptible to Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS).
The Affenpinscher is spritely, alert, and intelligent. On the flip side, they can be mischievous and stubborn. To their family, they are typically very loving and loyal, but can be defensive with strangers. Due to their small size and big personalities, they may be a better choice for families with older or no children. Daily exercise is important to keep them happy and healthy. Early socialisation and training with other dogs, people and animals is important to ensure good manners later in life. Show caution when introducing an Affenpinscher to other small animals, as they may still retain a strong prey drive and can be aggressive towards small animals. Affenpinschers can adapt to apartment living if they are given plenty of exercise, entertainment, and attention as boredom and loneliness can result in destructive behaviour.
They have a thick, shaggy coat that requires daily grooming. Frequent clipping at the groomers helps to keep them looking their best. Ear cleaning should also be a part of the regular grooming schedule to help keep the ears clean and free from debris to help prevent ear infections.
Common Health Concerns
According to PetSure data from 2013 to 2018, brachycephalic breeds have a higher prevalence for many major health problems including patella luxation, skin conditions, eye conditions, anal gland problems, digestive diseases, and ear infections. Brachycephalic airway syndrome is caused by changes in the airways which can result in lifelong breathing problems.
Data from 2016 to 2020 indicates that Affenpinschers most commonly visited the vet for cancer including meningioma and mast cell tumours, skin conditions such as allergies, and patella luxation (dislocating kneecap).
Table: The five most common reasons for an Affenpinscher to visit the vet from 2016- 2020. Source: PetSure claims data.
| Rank | Condition | Average cost for single treatment (average pet insurance claim amount) | Highest cost for single treatment (highest pet insurance claim seen for this condition) |
| 1 | Cancer, including meningioma and mast cell tumour | $598 | $3,074 |
| 2 | Skin conditions, including allergic skin disease | $161 | $704 |
| 3 | Patella luxation | $582 | $6,177 |
| 4 | Gastrointestinal problems | $255 | $1,727 |
| 5 | Traumatic accidents, including bite wounds and bone fractures | $822 | $6,557 |
Disclaimer: Reimbursement for these claims would be subject to limits, such as annual benefit limits or sub-limits, benefit percentage, applicable waiting periods and any applicable excess. Cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording available from the relevant provider
For the same five-year period (2016-2020), the top five highest single vet treatments (or highest pet insurance claims) for insured Affenpinscher from PetSure claims data were:
| Rank | Condition | Highest Cost of treatment for condition (average pet insurance claim amount) |
| 1 | Dog bite wound | $6,557 |
| 2 | Intervertebral disc disease | $6,227 |
| 3 | Patella luxation | $6,177 |
| 4 | Intervertebral disc disease | $5,858 |
| 5 | Vaginitis | $3,141 |
Disclaimer: Reimbursement for these claims would be subject to limits, such as annual benefit limits or sub-limits, benefit percentage, applicable waiting periods and any applicable excess. Cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording available from the relevant provider
Most popular Affenpinscher names (PetSure data, 2010-2020)
Most Popular names
- Alfie
- Gabby
- Daisy
- Dolly
- Scruffy
- Charlie
- Jet
- Merlin
- Sandy
- Baxter
Most popular female names
- Gabby
- Daisy
- Dolly
- Sandy
- Bess
- Coco
- Gypsy
- Hazel
- Opal
Most popular male names:
- Alfie
- Scruffy
- Charlie
- Jet
- Merlin
- Baxter
- Bob
- Chase
- Chewy
- Harvey
Did you know?
In France, the Affenpinscher is described as the diablotin moustachu which means “moustached demon”.
References
- American Kennel Club, Affenpinscher, accessed on 15/03/2021, available at: https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/affenpinscher/
- The Kennel Club, toy Affenpinscher, accessed on 15/03/2021, available at: https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/toy/affenpinscher/
- Wikipedia, Affenpinscher, accessed 15/03/2021 available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affenpinscher
Pet insurance can help by covering a portion of the eligible vet bill if the unexpected happens. Because it is difficult to predict the costs of veterinary care, it can help to have measures in place to help prepare for the unexpected. Check out our partner network and explore our policy tools to find a pet insurance policy.
Not all conditions or items are covered by Pet Insurance. Refer to the applicable Product Disclosure Statement for information about coverage and exclusions.
