the affenpinscher is a small breed of dog in the toy group. these dogs originally came from germany. they are known to have existed since the 1600s. their name comes from the german word "affe," which means "monkey," because their faces remind people of monkeys. originally, the dog was bred to be a "ratter," a type of dog that kills rats and mice in homes, farms, and stables. now that mice are not so commonly found in the home, affenpinschers are usually just kept as pets.