Is the Affenpinscher Better than the Labrador Retriever as a Pet? Answer…

Affenpinscher versus Labrador Retriever

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Affenpinscher Versus Labrador Retriever: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Affenpinscher and the Labrador Retriever? 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 Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retriever.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Affenpinscher and the Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retriever. 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 Labrador Retriever.

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 Labrador Retriever

Affenpinscher versus Labrador Retriever: Overview

A very important difference between the Affenpinscher and the Labrador Retriever is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Affenpinscher is a tiny-sized dog while the Labrador Retriever is a large-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 Labrador Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

Affenpinscher versus Labrador Retriever: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Affenpinscher to the Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retriever
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 1/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 5/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 3/5
Life Span 12 to 14 years 10 to 12 years
Easy To Train 2/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
Easygoing 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 1/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 1/5
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 55 to 80 pounds
Height 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 21 to 24 inches at the shoulder
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $2220 $1290
Price Range $500 – $1962 $850 – $1500
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Centronuclear Myopathy
  • D Locus (Dilute) DNA Test
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • prcd-PRA DNA Test
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 147 1
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 37 7

    *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 Labrador Retriever. 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 Labrador Retriever is 74 out of 125.

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

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Affenpinscher and the Labrador Retriever

    Below is a list of where the Affenpinscher and the Labrador Retriever are most different:

  • Affenpinschers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Labrador Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Affenpinschers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies. However, Labrador Retrievers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Affenpinschers are not easy to train. However, Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train.
  • Affenpinschers adapt well to apartment living. However, Labrador Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the Affenpinscher and the Labrador Retriever

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

  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Labrador Retriever do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retriever are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Labrador Retriever get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Labrador Retriever are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Labrador Retriever are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Labrador Retriever are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Labrador Retriever have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Labrador Retriever are very playful.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Labrador Retriever are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Affenpinscher versus Labrador Retriever

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Affenpinscher and the Labrador Retriever.

    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, Labrador Retrievers weigh 55 to 80 pounds when fully grown. Labrador Retrievers are 21 to 24 inches at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Price of Affenpinscher versus Price of Labrador Retriever

    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 Labrador Retriever puppy is $1290. The price of the Labrador Retriever typically ranges from $850 – $1500. However, the price of a Labrador Retriever can be as low as $100 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1413 Labrador Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Affenpinscher is more expensive than the Labrador Retriever.

    Affenpinscher Labrador Retriever
    Average Price $2220 $1290
    Price Range $500 to $1962 $850 to $1500

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Affenpinscher and Labrador Retriever. For different price points, the charts show how many Affenpinscher puppies or how many Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retrievers

    A breakdown of the prices of Labrador Retrievers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Affenpinscher puppy or the Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retriever

    Affenpinscher Labrador Retriever
    Intelligence Rank 37 out of 130 dog breeds 7 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 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 Labrador Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 7 out of 130 dog breeds. The Labrador Retriever belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Labrador Retrievers tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Labrador Retriever is more intelligent than the Affenpinscher.

    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 Labrador Retriever

    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 Labrador Retriever over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Labrador Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the Affenpinscher. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Labrador Retriever is 1 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 Labrador Retriever

    Popularity of Labrador Retriever

    Year Affenpinscher Popularity Rank Labrador Retriever Popularity Rank
    2013 143 1
    2014 144 1
    2015 136 1
    2016 149 1
    2017 147 1
    2018 148 1
    2019 151 1
    2020 163 1

    Health Problems of Affenpinscher versus Health Problems of Labrador Retriever

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

    Both the Affenpinscher and the Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retriever is prone to more genetic health problems than the Affenpinscher.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Labrador Retriever than for the Affenpinscher.

    4 health tests are recommended for Affenpinscher while 8 tests are recommended for the Labrador Retriever.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Affenpinschers and in Labrador Retrievers.

    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.

    Labrador Retriever Health Problems

    Labrador Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retrievers for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Centronuclear Myopathy
  • D Locus (Dilute) DNA Test
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • prcd-PRA DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Labrador Retrievers here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Affenpinscher versus Labrador Retriever

    Affenpinschers do not like to be left alone.

    Labrador Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    How Kid-friendly are Affenpinschers and Labrador Retrievers?

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

    Labrador Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Do Affenpinschers shed more than Labrador Retrievers?

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

    Labrador Retrievers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Affenpinscher or the Labrador Retriever

    Affenpinschers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Labrador Retrievers drool moderately.

    Is the Affenpinscher Easier to Train than the Labrador Retriever?

    Affenpinschers are not easy to train.

    Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Do Affenpinschers Bark and Howl? What about Labrador Retrievers?

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

    Labrador Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Wanderlust Potential: Affenpinscher vs. Labrador Retriever

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

    Labrador Retrievers 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 Labrador Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Affenpinschers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Labrador Retrievers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Can Affenpinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Labrador Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Labrador Retrievers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Affenpinscher or the Labrador Retriever?

    Affenpinschers are moderately easy to groom.

    Labrador Retrievers are very easy to groom.

    Does the Affenpinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Labrador Retriever?

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

    Labrador Retrievers 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 Labrador Retriever?

    Affenpinschers are very good for new dog owners.

    Labrador Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Affenpinscher or the Labrador Retriever?

    Affenpinschers get along very well with other dogs.

    Labrador Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Is the Affenpinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Labrador Retriever?

    Affenpinschers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Labrador Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Are Affenpinschers good family dogs? What about Labrador Retrievers?

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

    Labrador Retrievers 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 Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retriever:

  • Golden Retriever (75 percent match with Labrador Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Affenpinscher vs Golden Retriever.
  • Flat-Coated Retriever (77 percent match with Labrador Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Affenpinscher vs Flat-Coated Retriever.
  • Shiloh Shepherd (79 percent match with Labrador Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Affenpinscher vs Shiloh Shepherd.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Labrador Retriever

    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 Labrador Retriever vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Peek A Poo (75 percent match with Affenpinscher). Here is our comparison of the Labrador Retriever vs Peek A Poo.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Affenpinscher Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Affenpinscher versus Irish Terrier     Affenpinscher versus Belgian Tervuren     Affenpinscher versus Coton de Tulear     Affenpinscher versus Boerboel     Affenpinscher versus Neapolitan Mastiff     Affenpinscher versus Cavachon     Affenpinscher versus Plott     Affenpinscher versus Bullmastiff     Affenpinscher versus Tibetan Spaniel     Affenpinscher versus Keeshond     

    Labrador Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Labrador Retriever versus Lakeland Terrier     Labrador Retriever versus Dutch Shepherd     Labrador Retriever versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     Labrador Retriever versus German Wirehaired Pointer     Labrador Retriever versus Bernedoodle     Labrador Retriever versus Boxerdoodle     Labrador Retriever versus Belgian Malinois     Labrador Retriever versus Chi-Poo     Labrador Retriever versus Black Russian Terrier     Labrador Retriever versus Icelandic Sheepdog     

    Conclusion: Affenpinscher versus Labrador Retriever. 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 Labrador Retriever better suits you and your family.