Should I take a year old affenpinscher?

Question

Friends are giving him away, I have two boys, good boys but boys none the less. They are 6 and 4 respectively. We can give it attention but I was wondering if anyone has experience with the breed and what I may expect. Shedding? Good with children? Accident prone?

Answer 1

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/affenpinscher.htm

" This friendly little dog enjoys being with its family. It needs consistent, firm training. Make sure there is some variety in the training so the dog does not become bored. They learn commands very quickly. Some may be difficult to housebreak. They are not recommended for very young children, as Affenpinschers tend to guard their food and toys."

"This little dog does best with a family who likes entertainment and has a very good sense of humor."

"The Affenpinscher's harsh coat should never be clipped short because this ruins the coat for many years. It should be brushed and combed weekly and it may be necessary to pluck it. A dog-trimming specialist usually does this but it is possible to learn how to do it yourself. Show dogs require stripping. Hair sometimes grows in the corners of the eyes, causing irritation; they should be dealt with promptly. This breed sheds little to no hair."

The one thing you have to ask the friend is, if this dog has been raised around children? Most of the time small dogs are NOT recommended for smaller children as they are more tempermental and fragile. You will have to teach your kids the 'dog rules.' Like, no touching the dog while he/she eats .. no touching while the dog is sleeping etc. etc.

You should try a 'trial run' with the dog and see how things work out. Terriers are hyper so would probably be a good exercise for your 2 boys and a plus is they shed little to no hair (but need grooming, see above) .. and as long as you watch the dog like you watch your kids .. they should be no more accident prone than your kids.

It would be nice to offer this dog a home, but also ask WHY they are giving them away. If you cannot take the dog, or the arrangement does not work out .. you can contact this person and they will give you some numbers of local Affenpinscher Rescues where the dog will have a MUCH better chance of getting adopted and not put to sleep in a shelter: http://www.affenpinscher.org/rescue.htm

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

I did some research on the affenpinscher and I came up with websight.

www.pet-portraitartist.com/all-about-dogs/dogbreeds/Affenpinscher.htm

www.breedersrus.com/affenpinscher_breed_information.htm

Affenpinscher Dogs Description
Affenpinschers are a small dog breed with a shaggy hair coat and long facial hairs, which are usually black or dark grey, sometimes tan or red also appear in this breed.
They also have black eyes and a short neck.
Affenpinschers are closely related to terriers and may have originally come from the terrier breed. Affenpinschers tend to get along with other pets and dogs in your family, especially if introduced as a puppy but sometimes do not get along with very young children as they are very protective over toys and food.

They are a very active, brave and stubborn in temperament but love having fun.

Even though the Affenpinscher is a small breed, usually having a weight of 6-8 pounds and a height of 9-16 inches, they are quite bold and can be fearless when provoked by any size aggressor, even large dogs or large animals. This small dog does best with a family who likes entertainment and has a great sense of humor.

If you live in a hot area, please make sure you schedule their walks for the morning or any cooler time that is available or they can have difficulty breathing or overheating. Stop their walk or exercise if you notice heavy panting, snorting or gasping and if severe you should wet your Affenpinscher down with cold water.

When traveling with your Affenpinscher, you should always bring ice or cold water to avoid an accidental overheating. You can give your Affenpinscher ice to lick or pour cold water on him. Never leave your dog in a closed car without air conditioning.

If it is winter and cold outside you should always put a doggie coat or protective clothing
for your Affenpinscher when outside. Salt on a sidewalk can burn their feet so make sure to wash their feet when they are done walking outside.

Affenpinschers will do fine without a large yard to play in and are good for living in an apartment. The affenpinscher’s exercise needs can be satisfied with indoor play. They also enjoy long walks and can live for 10-12 years in a good environment. We always recommend dog vitamins from doggyvitamin.com for the needs of this breed.

The Affenpinscher was added to the American Kennel Club's list of AKC breeds in 1936.

Answer 3

Ask your friends to "borrow" the dog for a weekend. That is hands down the best way to learn about the dog. See how it interacts with your kids, etc.

Obviously the dog may go through separation anxiety at first, but that's normal. If you decide to take the dog, I would have the former owners try to settle him in your house, to make the transition easier on everyone.

Answer 4

Has the dog been raised around children that young? If not, I would not advise you to take it. Children inadvertantly frighten & hurt dogs, and dogs inadvertantly hurt children and will bite if frightened. If the dog is not accustomed to little children, it wouldn't be fair to either the kids or the dog.