Differences and Similarities between the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso.

Affenpinscher versus Lhasa Apso

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Affenpinscher Versus Lhasa Apso: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso 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 Lhasa Apso. 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 Lhasa Apso.

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 Lhasa Apso

Affenpinscher versus Lhasa Apso: Overview

Both the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso are similar in size. The Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso are both tiny-sized dogs.

Furthermore, both the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso are Companion Dogs. This means both the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso 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.

Affenpinscher versus Lhasa Apso: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Affenpinscher to the Lhasa Apso 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 Lhasa Apso
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 1/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 5/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 14 years 12 to 15 years
Easy To Train 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 4/5
Easygoing 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 1/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Weight 7 to 9 pounds 12 to 15 pounds
Height 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $2220 $1780
Price Range $500 – $1962 $1500 – $1996
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 71
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 37 68

    *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 Lhasa Apso. 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 Lhasa Apso is 79 out of 125.

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

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso

    Below is a list of where the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso are most different:

  • Affenpinschers do not like to be left alone. However, Lhasa Apsos can be left alone for some time without problems.
  • Affenpinschers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Lhasa Apsos get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • The Similarities Between the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso

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

  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso are not easy to train.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso 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 Lhasa Apso are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso are very playful.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Affenpinscher versus Lhasa Apso

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso.

    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, Lhasa Apsos weigh 12 to 15 pounds when fully grown. Lhasa Apsos are 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Price of Affenpinscher versus Price of Lhasa Apso

    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 Lhasa Apso puppy is $1780. The price of the Lhasa Apso typically ranges from $1500 – $1996. However, the price of a Lhasa Apso can be as low as $200 and as high as $3499. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 104 Lhasa Apso puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Affenpinscher is more expensive than the Lhasa Apso.

    Affenpinscher Lhasa Apso
    Average Price $2220 $1780
    Price Range $500 to $1962 $1500 to $1996

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Affenpinscher and Lhasa Apso. For different price points, the charts show how many Affenpinscher puppies or how many Lhasa Apso 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 Lhasa Apsos

    A breakdown of the prices of Lhasa Apsos

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Affenpinscher puppy or the Lhasa Apso 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.

    Adopting the Affenpinscher versus Adopting the Lhasa Apso

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Affenpinschers and many Lhasa Apsos are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Affenpinscher named Oakley that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Affenpinschers like Oakley on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Affenpinschers, Lhasa Apsos are also available for adoption. For example, Scooter is a Male Lhasa Apso that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Lhasa Apsos like Scooter that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Affenpinscher and the Lhasa Apso can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Rio is the name of another Affenpinscher (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also Cannelloni, an adorable Male Lhasa Apso on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Affenpinschers and Lhasa Apsos are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Affenpinschers and Lhasa Apsos that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Affenpinscher versus the Intelligence of the Lhasa Apso

    Affenpinscher Lhasa Apso
    Intelligence Rank 37 out of 130 dog breeds 68 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 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 Lhasa Apso has an obedience intelligence rank of 68 out of 130 dog breeds. The Lhasa Apso belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Lhasa Apsos tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Affenpinscher is more intelligent than the Lhasa Apso.

    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 Lhasa Apso

    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 Lhasa Apso over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Lhasa Apso is more popular with dog owners than the Affenpinscher. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Lhasa Apso is 71 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 Lhasa Apso

    Popularity of Lhasa Apso

    Year Affenpinscher Popularity Rank Lhasa Apso Popularity Rank
    2013 143 63
    2014 144 67
    2015 136 65
    2016 149 71
    2017 147 77
    2018 148 71
    2019 151 78
    2020 163 78

    Tolerates Being Alone: Affenpinscher versus Lhasa Apso

    Affenpinschers do not like to be left alone.

    Lhasa Apsos can be left alone for some time without problems.

    How Kid-friendly are Affenpinschers and Lhasa Apsos?

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

    Lhasa Apsos get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Do Affenpinschers shed more than Lhasa Apsos?

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

    Lhasa Apsos shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Affenpinscher or the Lhasa Apso

    Affenpinschers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Lhasa Apsos do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Is the Affenpinscher Easier to Train than the Lhasa Apso?

    Affenpinschers are not easy to train.

    Lhasa Apsos are fairly easy to train.

    Do Affenpinschers Bark and Howl? What about Lhasa Apsos?

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

    Lhasa Apsos are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Wanderlust Potential: Affenpinscher vs. Lhasa Apso

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

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

    Can Affenpinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Lhasa Apsos Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Affenpinschers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Lhasa Apsos can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Can Affenpinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Lhasa Apsos Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Lhasa Apsos cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Affenpinscher or the Lhasa Apso?

    Affenpinschers are moderately easy to groom.

    Lhasa Apsos require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Does the Affenpinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Lhasa Apso?

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

    Lhasa Apsos 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.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Affenpinscher or the Lhasa Apso?

    Affenpinschers are very good for new dog owners.

    Lhasa Apsos are very good for new dog owners.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Affenpinscher or the Lhasa Apso?

    Affenpinschers get along very well with other dogs.

    Lhasa Apsos get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Is the Affenpinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Lhasa Apso?

    Affenpinschers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Lhasa Apsos adapt very well to apartment living.

    Are Affenpinschers good family dogs? What about Lhasa Apsos?

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

    Lhasa Apsos 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 Lhasa Apso 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 Lhasa Apso:

  • Cardigan Welsh Corgi (77 percent match with Lhasa Apso). Here is our comparison of the Affenpinscher vs Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
  • Peek A Poo (79 percent match with Lhasa Apso). Here is our comparison of the Affenpinscher vs Peek A Poo.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Lhasa Apso

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

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

    Affenpinscher Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Affenpinscher versus Belgian Malinois     Affenpinscher versus Lhasapoo     Affenpinscher versus Rottweiler     Affenpinscher versus Hovawart     Affenpinscher versus Basset Hound     Affenpinscher versus Shih Tzu     Affenpinscher versus English Setter     Affenpinscher versus Chi-Poo     Affenpinscher versus Catahoula Bulldog     Affenpinscher versus Carolina Dog     

    Lhasa Apso Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Lhasa Apso versus Mudi     Lhasa Apso versus Great Pyrenees     Lhasa Apso versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde          Lhasa Apso versus Barbet     Lhasa Apso versus French Spaniel     Lhasa Apso versus Alaskan Malamute     Lhasa Apso versus English Springer Spaniel     Lhasa Apso versus Lhasapoo     Lhasa Apso versus Golden Cocker Retriever     

    Conclusion: Affenpinscher versus Lhasa Apso. 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 Lhasa Apso better suits you and your family.