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Dogs of the Affenpinscher type have been known since
about 1600, but were somewhat
larger, about 12 to 13 inches, and in colors of gray,
black, fawn, lack and tan, gray and tan, and even red.
White feet and chest were also a common thing.
These dogs were known as Ratters or Ratting Terriers
and were just the farm or store dog, running at large and
sleeping in the stables, Their purpose was to kill rats.
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From all history reports, a man from Lubeck, Germany
was the first to breed them in earnest. Soon they were
bred to a smaller size and used in the home as mousers.
Mice were the great fear of the women of the house due to
their long skirts. Most of the Ratting Terriers were salt
and pepper, reddish black (red gray with the black hair
mixed) or solid black. Dogs of the same description bred
in other parts of Germany were of salt and pepper in color
and more of the Schnauzer Ratter type of dog. Early
breeders of the two did much crossing of this breed with
other breeds to perfect what they were looking for in a
house dog. Some of these other breeds included Pug (giving
the start of the Brussels Griffon), the smooth haired
German Pinscher, as well as a German breed of Silky
Pinscher (giving some of the soft silver coat to some of
our dogs of today).
These crosses can be the cause of some of the reds and
black and tans we have today. One litter whelped in 1928,
four in the litter, had three solid black and one solid
white with black eyes and eye rims, black nails and pads,
nose and gums. The sire and dam had three previous matings,
producing all black.
Up to 1870 there was a small Schnauzer type of dog in
South Russia approximately 14 inches high, dark steel
gray, used by hunters to tree squirrels and morten. These
dogs were thought to have died out since the Tzars did so
much hunting and the game became extinct. However,
recently word has it there are still a very few of the
breed yet in Russia. It is believed the dogs first bred in
Lubeck, Germany were of this origin and crossed with
another breed. Usually the reds or black and tans had the
thicker, harder coat than the gray ones.
The majority of Miniature Schnauzer historians still
state the Mini came mostly from the Affen-Schnauzer
crossing as well as other breeds in minority. This may
well be true, as some of the early litters registered with
the Z.Z. of all registered as one-half Affenpinschers and
one-half as Miniature Schnauzers. In an English book on
Brussels Griffons, the author states "there has
always existed a breed of small, rough coated dogs, as
early as the 15th century or before,
and they were used for ratters and believed to be the
forerunners of the
present day Affenpinscher".
Around the 17th or 18th century there was a popular
breed in Germany called Schoosbundrassen (which is
translated as pet dog), they being more of the type of the
present Affen. The cross of the small standard Schnauzer
and the larger Affen is discounted by many of the very old
German breeders. From Mrs. Woods, an English and
International judge, come excerpts from old German records
and private letters describing the little black dogs,
their characteristics, actions, coat texture and such, the
same as our present day Affen. These letters are dated in
1720. It appears there were two sizes with slight
differences and actions. The larger becoming the Miniature
Schnauzer and the smaller becoming the Affenpinscher.
Around 1750 Herr Hans-Jochen Kossman was breeding a
small dog, a cross between the Mini Schnauzer and the
German Pinscher. Other dog lovers were also breeding
crosses using some of the same type of dogs still holding
to a basic breed, but adding small differences from the
other breeds used. When the Pug was used the nose was
greatly shortened and soon became known as the Brussels
Griffon. These breeders soon got together and concentrated
on breeding, preserving the original basic prototype in a
smaller dog of more style and type. These were the first
forerunners of the Affenpinscher as we know it today,
However, the breed has changed very little in the last
centuries and many of the old masters of art will show
small, black bearded dogs looking very much like our
present day Affenpinscher.
The color in Europe and England is always black, though
a light frosting of grey is permissible. Canada, Mexico
and Bermuda use the American Kennel Club standard, which
allows for several colors: black, silver, black and tan,
red, and belge (a mixture of red, black and white
hairs).
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