Affenpinscher vs Chihuahua

Compare the Affenpinscher to the Chihuahua. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Affenpinschers and Chihuahuas.

Quick Summary

Below are a few quick comparisons between the two breeds.

Owner Experience - Both the Affenpinscher and Chihuahua are excellent choices for new or inexperienced owners.
Children - The Chihuahua is very child friendly. The Affenpinscher does not do well with children.
Grooming - Both breeds have low maintenance coats, but the Chihuahua is easier to groom.
Barking - The Chihuahua has an above-average tendency to bark, while the Affenpinscher is an average barker.

Choose Another Breed to Compare

vs

Highlight Differences
Highlight Similarities

Affenpinscher vs Chihuahua

Breed Name	Affenpinscher	Chihuahua
General Details
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred
Is Hypoallergenic	Yes	No
Lifespan	11-14 yrs.	15-20 yrs.
Height	9½-11½ in.	6-9 in.
Weight	6½-13¼ lb	3-6 lb
Intelligence	Average	High
History
Origin Country	Germany	Mexico
Origin Year	1600 AD	1850 AD
Temperament
Overall Friendliness	Good	Very Good
Family Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Kid Friendly	Poor	Very Good
Pet Friendly	Very Good	Below Average
Stranger Friendly	Good	Below Average
Personality
	Affectionate Loving Does Not Like Being Alone Stubborn	Affectionate Enjoys Attention Jealous Loving Does Not Like Being Alone Likes To Snuggle Willing To Please
Living Environment
Apartment	Yes	Yes
Indoor	Yes	Yes
Small Yard	No	No
Medium Yard	No	No
Large Yard	No	No
Temperature Tolerance ¹	30°F to 80°F	50°F to 80°F
Barks/Howls	Below Average	Often
Exercise Needs
Energy Level	High	High
Exercise Required	Low	Medium
Top Running Speed	15 mph	18 mph
Strength	Low	Low
Grooming Needs
Coat Maintenance	Low	Low
Shedding	Low	Medium
Dander	Low	Low
Drool Amount	None	None

¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.

Instincts & Behavior Comparison
Breed Name	Affenpinscher	Chihuahua
Breed Mentality
Dominant/Alpha	No	No
Family/Pack	No	Yes
Independent	Yes	No
Breed Focus
Distracted Easily	Yes	No
Average	No	Yes
Focused & Patient	No	No
Breed Instincts
Aggression	Average	Below Average
Burrow/Digging	Below Average	Below Average
Chasing	Below Average	Below Average
Follow Commands	Below Average	Below Average
Fighting	Average	Below Average
Guarding	Average	Below Average
Herding	Very Low	Very Low
Hunting	Below Average	Average
Protection	Average	Below Average
Remove Vermin	Average	High
Sledding	Very Low	Very Low
Watch	High	High

Health Comparison
Breed Name	Affenpinscher	Chihuahua
Lifespan
Lifespan	11-14 yrs.	15-20 yrs.
Common Health Issues
Cataracts	Yes	No
Collapsed Trachea	Yes	Yes
Fractures	Yes	No
Heart Murmurs	Yes	Yes
Hip Dysplasia	Yes	No
Hydrocephalus	No	Yes
Hypoglycemia	No	Yes
Legg-perthes Disease	Yes	No
Luxating Patella	Yes	No
Open Fontanel	Yes	Yes
Patellar Luxation	Yes	Yes
Patent Ductus Arteriosis	Yes	No
Pulmonic Stenosis	No	Yes
Shivering	No	Yes
Slipped Stifle	Yes	No

Appearance Comparison
Breed Name	Affenpinscher	Chihuahua
Coat
Fur	Yes	Yes
Coat Type
Wire Coat	Yes	No
Double Coat	No	Yes
Single Coat	No	Yes
Coat Texture
Rough	Yes	No
Scruffy	Yes	No
Shaggy	Yes	No
Silky	No	Yes
Straight	No	Yes
Coat Length(s)
Short	Yes	Yes
Medium	Yes	No
Long	No	Yes
Coat Color(s)
Belge	Yes	No
Black	Yes	Yes
Black & Silver	Yes	Yes
Black & Tan	Yes	Yes
Red	Yes	Yes
Black & Red	No	Yes
Black & White	No	Yes
Black Sabled Fawn	No	Yes
Black Sabled Silver	No	Yes
Blue	No	Yes
Blue & White	No	Yes
Blue Brindled Fawn	No	Yes
Blue Fawn	No	Yes
Chocolate	No	Yes
Chocolate & Tan	No	Yes
Chocolate & White	No	Yes
Chocolate Blue	No	Yes
Chocolate Brindled Fawn	No	Yes
Chocolate Sabled Fawn	No	Yes
Cream	No	Yes
Cream & White	No	Yes
Fawn	No	Yes
Fawn & White	No	Yes
Fawn Brindled Black	No	Yes
Gold	No	Yes
Gold & White	No	Yes
Red & White	No	Yes
Silver	No	Yes
Silver & White	No	Yes
White	No	Yes