| The Affenpinscher does not have a detailed history of | | | | From the reports of historians, they were first bred in |
| their arrival in America as many of the other toy | | | | Lubeck, Germany. These dogs that resembled our |
| breeds have. There was an article published in the | | | | present day Affenpinschers were bred to a smaller |
| April 1950 issue of the AKC Gazette that says the | | | | size and used in homes to catch mice. There was |
| Affenpinscher breed was imported in the mid-thirties. | | | | much crossing done of the dogs that were salt and |
| Also known about the Affenpinscher breed is that Mrs. | | | | pepper, reddish black (red gray with the black hair |
| Bessie Mally of Cicero, Illinois imported at least a pair of | | | | mixed in ) or solid black to dogs that were salt and |
| Affenpinschers in 1935. The dam of this first litter was | | | | pepper in color and more of the Schnauzer Ratter |
| the first Affenpinscher registered with the American | | | | type dog. Some of these other breeds included the |
| Kennel Club. Her name was Nolli v Anwander. | | | | Pug, (which started the Brussels Griffon), the smooth |
| The Affenpinscher breed was first recognized by the | | | | haired German Pinscher and a German breed of Silky |
| American Kennel Club through the persistent efforts of | | | | Pinscher (giving some of the soft silver coat to our |
| Bessie Mally. There is very little known about Bessie | | | | Affenpinschers of today). |
| Mally. It is thought, however, that Bessie Mally must | | | | Breeders in the 1750's got together with their small dog |
| have been a woman of wealth and influence to | | | | crosses between the Mini Schnauzer and the German |
| accomplish what she did. In the 1930's few people | | | | Pinscher while other dog lovers during this time period |
| owned purebred dogs, and those that did were of the | | | | were breeding crosses using some of the same type |
| upper class. The unemployment rate during this period | | | | of dog holding to a basic breed but adding small |
| was quite high. People did not everyday travel to | | | | differences from the other breeds used. The Pug was |
| Europe on airplanes as they do today. The only way | | | | used and the nose was greatly shortened so this |
| to travel was by ocean liners, which was quite | | | | breed soon became our Brussels Griffon. All of this |
| expensive. The more common people could not afford | | | | activity was the beginnings of the Affenpinscher as |
| such a trip. | | | | we know it today. The breed is said to have changed |
| Although Bessie Mally was not the only one to bring | | | | very little in the last centuries and many of the old |
| Affenpinscher dogs to the U.S., she was the only one | | | | artists painted pictures of small, black bearded dogs |
| to do any breeding with the exception of one litter | | | | looking very much like our present day Affenpinscher. |
| produced by Evalyn Walsh McLean out of Mrs. Mally's | | | | In Europe and England the color has always been |
| stock. All the Affenpinscher dogs bred by Mrs. Mally | | | | black with a light frosting of grey permissible. Canada, |
| were sired by Osko v.d. Franziskusklause. The | | | | Mexico and Bermuda use the American Kennel Club |
| McLean Affenpinscher puppies were double Osko | | | | standard that allows for several colors which are |
| grandchildren. | | | | black, silver, black and tan, red, and beige (a mixture of |
| After World War II began, all breeding came to an end. | | | | red, black and white hairs). |
| The last Affenpinscher litter was whelped on June 24, | | | | The general appearance of our Affenpinscher today is |
| 1940. Nothing was bred for the next nine years. | | | | a balanced, wiry-haired terrier-like toy dog with high |
| Dogs that resembled the Affenpinscher were known | | | | intelligence. The name Affenpinscher means |
| to be bred since about 1600, but were somewhat | | | | "monkey-like terrier." The Affenpinscher is a sturdy, |
| larger. The colors of these dogs were gray, black, | | | | compact little toy dog with medium bone and not |
| fawn, black and tan, gray and tan, and red. White feet | | | | delicate in any way. The Affenpinscher moves with a |
| and chest were common. These dogs had the job of | | | | light, free, balanced and confident gait. The |
| being "Ratters." They were the farm or store dog | | | | Affenpinscher is said to carry itself with a comic-like |
| running around loose and sleeping in stables. Their main | | | | seriousness. |
| purpose was to kill rats. | | | | |