Affen Spaniel

The Affenpinscher is a small, sturdy toy dog that stands between nine and eleven and a half inches at the shoulder and weighs seven to ten pounds. This compact breed possesses a well-balanced, square build with medium bone structure, exhibiting neither a delicate nor overly robust frame. The body is proportioned so that the height at the withers is approximately equal to the length from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttocks, creating the characteristic square silhouette. The breed carries itself with a distinctly confident and alert posture, holding its head high to project an air of self-importance and comic seriousness. The coat is one of the Affenpinscher's most distinctive features, consisting of dense, rough, harsh hair approximately one inch long on the shoulders and body. The hair may be shorter on the rear and tail, while the head, neck, chest, stomach, and legs display longer, less harsh furnishings. Mature dogs develop a characteristic mane or cape of strong hair that blends into the back coat at the withers area. The longer hair on the head, eyebrows, and beard stands off from the face, framing it to create the breed's signature monkey-like expression. Acceptable coat colors include black, gray, silver, red, black and tan, or belge, with black being preferred by most standards. The head is carried confidently and remains proportionate to the body, featuring a round, domed skull with a prominent forehead and clearly defined stop. The muzzle is short and straight with a flat bridge, while the lower jaw protrudes beyond the upper jaw in a slightly undershot bite. Large, round, dark eyes are placed well apart and sparkle with mischief, contributing to the breed's distinctive facial expression. The ears are set high and may be cropped to stand erect or left natural in either erect, semi-erect, or dropped positions.

The Cocker Spaniel stands as the smallest member of the Sporting Group, presenting a sturdy, compact body with a cleanly chiseled and refined head. Males typically measure fifteen inches at the shoulder while females reach fourteen inches, with weights ranging from twenty to thirty pounds depending on sex and build. The breed displays perfect balance throughout, standing well up at the shoulder on straight forelegs with a topline that slopes slightly toward strong, moderately bent, muscular hindquarters. This athletic build enables the Cocker Spaniel to achieve considerable speed combined with great endurance. The head is one of the breed's most recognizable features, with a rounded skull and broad, square muzzle creating an elegant profile. Large, dark eyes set in slightly almond-shaped rims convey the breed's characteristic warm and intelligent expression. The long, lobular ears are set no higher than the lower part of the eye and are covered with long, silky, well-feathered hair that adds to the breed's graceful appearance. The neck flows smoothly into well-laid-back shoulders, while the back remains strong and sloping evenly from withers to the set-on of the docked or undocked tail, which is carried on line with the topline or slightly higher when the dog is in motion. The coat is perhaps the Cocker Spaniel's most striking feature, consisting of silky, flat or slightly wavy hair of medium length on the body with enough undercoating to provide protection. The ears, chest, abdomen, and legs display well-feathered hair, though never so excessive as to hide the dog's true lines or affect its function as a sporting dog. Colors include solid black, any solid color other than black known as ASCOB, and parti-colors featuring two or more definite colors with white being one of them. The flowing coat requires regular maintenance to keep it in optimal condition.