Is the Affenpinscher Better than the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog as a Pet? Our Answer.

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Affenpinscher Versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Affenpinscher and for the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Affenpinscher or the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.

Affenpinscher versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog: Overview

A very important difference between the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Affenpinscher is a tiny-sized dog while the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a giant-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Affenpinscher belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

On the other hand, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Affenpinscher versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Affenpinscher to the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Factor Affenpinscher Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 1/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 5/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 14 years 7 to 9 years
Easy To Train 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 1/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
General Health 4/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Weight 7 to 9 pounds 85 to 140 pounds
Height 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 23 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 8.0 years
Average Price $3240 $2650
Price Range $1600 – $2750 $2272 – $3500
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
    		•
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination (Effective 7/1/15 the minimum eye exam age to qualify for CHIC is 18 months)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Shoulders
    		•

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Affenpinscher in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Affenpinscher is 83 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is 76 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Affenpinscher is a better pet than the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. So, you should get the Affenpinscher!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

    Below is a list of where the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog are most different:

    • Affenpinschers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Affenpinschers adapt well to apartment living. However, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    The Similarities Between the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

    The Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog are most similar:

    • Both the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog are not easy to train.
    • Both the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
    • Both the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog get along well with other dogs.
    • Both the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog are prone to nip and chew at things.
    • Both the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog are very playful.
    • Both the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Size Comparison of Affenpinscher versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.

    Affenpinschers weigh 7 to 9 pounds when fully grown. Affenpinschers are 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs weigh 85 to 140 pounds when fully grown. Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are 23 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Affenpinscher versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

    The lifespan of Affenpinschers is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Affenpinschers is 13.0 years.

    The lifespan of Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs is between 7 to 9 years. The average lifespan of Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs is 8.0 years.

    Affenpinschers live longer than Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs.

    Price of Affenpinscher versus Price of Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

    The average price of the Affenpinscher puppy is $3240. The price of the Affenpinscher typically ranges from $1600 – $2750. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 5 Affenpinscher puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog puppy is $2650. The price of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog typically ranges from $2272 – $3500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 63 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Affenpinscher is more expensive than the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Affenpinscher and Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. For different price points, the charts show how many Affenpinscher puppies or how many Greater Swiss Mountain Dog puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Affenpinschers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Affenpinschers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs

    A breakdown of the prices of Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Affenpinscher puppy or the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Health Problems of Affenpinscher versus Health Problems of Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is prone to the same number of genetic health problems as the Affenpinscher.

    4 health tests are recommended for Affenpinscher while 4 tests are recommended for the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Affenpinschers and in Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs.

    Affenpinscher Health Problems

    Affenpinschers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Affenpinscher puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Affenpinscher puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Affenpinscher breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Affenpinschers for:

  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Affenpinschers here.

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Health Problems

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Greater Swiss Mountain Dog puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Greater Swiss Mountain Dog breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs for:

  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination (Effective 7/1/15 the minimum eye exam age to qualify for CHIC is 18 months)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Shoulders

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Affenpinscher versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

    Affenpinschers do not like to be left alone.

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Affenpinschers shed more than Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs?

    Affenpinschers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Affenpinscher or the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

    Affenpinschers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Affenpinscher or the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog?

    Affenpinschers are moderately easy to groom.

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are very easy to groom.

    Does the Affenpinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog?

    Affenpinschers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Affenpinschers Bark and Howl? What about Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs?

    Affenpinschers are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Affenpinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Affenpinschers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Affenpinscher vs. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

    Affenpinschers do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Affenpinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Affenpinschers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Affenpinscher or the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog?

    Affenpinschers get along very well with other dogs.

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Affenpinschers good family dogs? What about Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs?

    Affenpinschers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Affenpinschers and Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs?

    Affenpinschers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Affenpinscher Easier to Train than the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog?

    Affenpinschers are not easy to train.

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Affenpinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog?

    Affenpinschers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Affenpinscher or the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog?

    Affenpinschers are very good for new dog owners.

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Affenpinscher versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Affenpinscher and the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog better suits you and your family.