Which is Better between the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier? A Very Detailed Review.

by

Affenpinscher versus Irish Terrier

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Affenpinscher Versus Irish Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier 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 Irish Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier 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 Irish Terrier. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier.

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 Irish Terrier

Affenpinscher versus Irish Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Affenpinscher is a tiny-sized dog while the Irish Terrier is a medium-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 Irish Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

Affenpinscher versus Irish Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Affenpinscher to the Irish Terrier 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.

Factor Affenpinscher Irish Terrier
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 1/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 14 years 12 to 16 years
Easy To Train 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 1/5
General Health 4/5 5/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Weight 7 to 9 pounds 25 to 27 pounds
Height 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 14.0 years
Average Price $2220 $1730
Price Range $500 – $1962 $1700 – $1700
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
    		•  No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 147 118
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 37 53

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org

    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 Irish Terrier. 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 a Affenpinscher is 83 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Irish Terrier is 78 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Affenpinscher is a better pet than the Irish Terrier. 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 Irish Terrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier are most different:

  • Affenpinschers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Irish Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Affenpinschers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies. However, Irish Terriers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Affenpinschers get along well with other dogs. However, Irish Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Affenpinschers are prone to nip and chew at things. However, Irish Terriers are not prone to nip and chew at things.

    • The Similarities Between the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier

    The Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier are most similar:

  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier are not easy to train.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier 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 Irish Terrier are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier are very playful.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Affenpinscher versus Irish Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier.

    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, Irish Terriers weigh 25 to 27 pounds when fully grown. Irish Terriers are 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Price of Affenpinscher versus Price of Irish Terrier

    The average price of the Affenpinscher puppy is $2220. The price of the Affenpinscher typically ranges from $500 – $1962. However, the price of a Affenpinscher can be as low as $150 and as high as $10000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 8 Affenpinscher puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Irish Terrier puppy is $1730. The price of the Irish Terrier typically ranges from $1700 – $1700. However, the price of a Irish Terrier can be as low as $800 and as high as $2800. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 7 Irish Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Affenpinscher is more expensive than the Irish Terrier.

    Affenpinscher Irish Terrier
    Average Price $2220 $1730
    Price Range $500 to $1962 $1700 to $1700

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Affenpinscher and Irish Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many Affenpinscher puppies or how many Irish Terrier 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 Irish Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of Irish Terriers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Affenpinscher puppy or the Irish Terrier 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 from 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 one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

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

    The Intelligence of the Affenpinscher versus the Intelligence of the Irish Terrier

    Affenpinscher Irish Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 37 out of 130 dog breeds 53 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

    • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Affenpinscher has an obedience intelligence rank of 37 out of 130 dog breeds. The Affenpinscher belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Affenpinschers tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The Irish Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 53 out of 130 dog breeds. The Irish Terrier belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Irish Terriers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Affenpinscher is more intelligent than the Irish Terrier.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Affenpinscher versus Popularity of Irish Terrier

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Affenpinscher and the Irish Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Irish Terrier is more popular with dog owners than the Affenpinscher. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Irish Terrier is 118 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Affenpinscher is 147 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Affenpinscher

    Popularity of Affenpinscher

    Popularity of Irish Terrier

    Popularity of Irish Terrier

    Year Affenpinscher Popularity Rank Irish Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 143 123
    2014 144 125
    2015 136 113
    2016 149 115
    2017 147 114
    2018 148 116
    2019 151 119
    2020 163 120

    Tolerates Being Alone: Affenpinscher versus Irish Terrier

    Affenpinschers do not like to be left alone.

    Irish Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    How Kid-friendly are Affenpinschers and Irish Terriers?

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

    Irish Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Do Affenpinschers shed more than Irish Terriers?

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

    Irish Terriers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Affenpinscher or the Irish Terrier

    Affenpinschers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Irish Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Is the Affenpinscher Easier to Train than the Irish Terrier?

    Affenpinschers are not easy to train.

    Irish Terriers are not easy to train.

    Do Affenpinschers Bark and Howl? What about Irish Terriers?

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

    Irish Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Wanderlust Potential: Affenpinscher vs. Irish Terrier

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

    Irish Terriers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Affenpinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Affenpinschers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Irish Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Affenpinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Irish Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Affenpinscher or the Irish Terrier?

    Affenpinschers are moderately easy to groom.

    Irish Terriers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Does the Affenpinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Terrier?

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

    Irish Terriers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Affenpinscher or the Irish Terrier?

    Affenpinschers are very good for new dog owners.

    Irish Terriers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Affenpinscher or the Irish Terrier?

    Affenpinschers get along very well with other dogs.

    Irish Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Is the Affenpinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Terrier?

    Affenpinschers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Irish Terriers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Are Affenpinschers good family dogs? What about Irish Terriers?

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

    Irish Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Affenpinscher

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Irish Terrier that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Irish Terrier:

  • Hovawart (75 percent match with Irish Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Affenpinscher vs Hovawart.
  • Lakeland Terrier (79 percent match with Irish Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Affenpinscher vs Lakeland Terrier.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Irish Terrier

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Affenpinscher that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Affenpinscher:

  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier (75 percent match with Affenpinscher). Here is our comparison of the Irish Terrier vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Peek A Poo (75 percent match with Affenpinscher). Here is our comparison of the Irish Terrier vs Peek A Poo.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Affenpinscher and how the Irish Terrier compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Affenpinscher and of the Irish Terrier to other breeds:

    Affenpinscher Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Affenpinscher versus English Cocker Spaniel     Affenpinscher versus Beaglier     Affenpinscher versus Dutch Shepherd     Affenpinscher versus Karelian Bear Dog     Affenpinscher versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Affenpinscher versus Skye Terrier     Affenpinscher versus Berger Picard     Affenpinscher versus Cavachon     Affenpinscher versus Border Collie     

    Irish Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Terrier versus Scottish Deerhound     Irish Terrier versus Tibetan Mastiff     Irish Terrier versus Cesky Terrier     Irish Terrier versus Brittany     Irish Terrier versus Lancashire Heeler     Irish Terrier versus Bernedoodle     Irish Terrier versus Chinese Crested     Irish Terrier versus Afghan Hound     Irish Terrier versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Irish Terrier versus Weimaraner     

    Conclusion: Affenpinscher versus Irish Terrier. 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 Irish Terrier better suits you and your family.