Is the Affenpinscher Better than the Neapolitan Mastiff as a Pet? Answer…

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Affenpinscher Versus Neapolitan Mastiff: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Affenpinscher and the Neapolitan Mastiff 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 Neapolitan Mastiff. 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 Neapolitan Mastiff.

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 Neapolitan Mastiff

Affenpinscher versus Neapolitan Mastiff: Overview

A very important difference between the Affenpinscher and the Neapolitan Mastiff is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Affenpinscher is a tiny-sized dog while the Neapolitan Mastiff 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 Neapolitan Mastiff 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 Neapolitan Mastiff: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Affenpinscher to the Neapolitan Mastiff 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 Neapolitan Mastiff
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Kid-Friendly 1/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 5/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 1/5
Life Span 12 to 14 years 8 to 10 years
Easy To Train 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 5/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 1/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 5/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 5/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 1/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Weight 7 to 9 pounds 120 to 200 pounds
Height 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 24 to 31 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 9.0 years
Average Price $2220 $2930
Price Range $500 – $1962 $1800 – $3800
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 147 104

    *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 Neapolitan Mastiff. 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 Neapolitan Mastiff is 71 out of 125.

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

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Affenpinscher and the Neapolitan Mastiff

    Below is a list of where the Affenpinscher and the Neapolitan Mastiff are most different:

  • Affenpinschers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Neapolitan Mastiffs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Affenpinschers do not have the tendency to drool. However, Neapolitan Mastiffs have a very high tendency to drool.
  • Affenpinschers are good for new dog owners. However, Neapolitan Mastiffs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Affenpinschers adapt well to apartment living. However, Neapolitan Mastiffs do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the Affenpinscher and the Neapolitan Mastiff

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

  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Neapolitan Mastiff do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Neapolitan Mastiff are not easy to train.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Neapolitan Mastiff are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Neapolitan Mastiff 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 Neapolitan Mastiff are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Neapolitan Mastiff have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Neapolitan Mastiff are very playful.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Neapolitan Mastiff are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Affenpinscher versus Neapolitan Mastiff

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Affenpinscher and the Neapolitan Mastiff.

    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, Neapolitan Mastiffs weigh 120 to 200 pounds when fully grown. Neapolitan Mastiffs are 24 to 31 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Price of Affenpinscher versus Price of Neapolitan Mastiff

    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 Neapolitan Mastiff puppy is $2930. The price of the Neapolitan Mastiff typically ranges from $1800 – $3800. However, the price of a Neapolitan Mastiff can be as low as $500 and as high as $5500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 78 Neapolitan Mastiff puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Neapolitan Mastiff is more expensive than the Affenpinscher.

    Affenpinscher Neapolitan Mastiff
    Average Price $2220 $2930
    Price Range $500 to $1962 $1800 to $3800

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Affenpinscher and Neapolitan Mastiff. For different price points, the charts show how many Affenpinscher puppies or how many Neapolitan Mastiff 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 Neapolitan Mastiffs

    A breakdown of the prices of Neapolitan Mastiffs

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

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Affenpinschers and many Neapolitan Mastiffs 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, Neapolitan Mastiffs are also available for adoption. For example, Gus is a Male Neapolitan Mastiff that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Neapolitan Mastiffs like Gus that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Affenpinscher and the Neapolitan Mastiff can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

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

    Also Fang, an adorable Male Neapolitan Mastiff on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Affenpinschers and Neapolitan Mastiffs are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Affenpinschers and Neapolitan Mastiffs that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Popularity of Affenpinscher versus Popularity of Neapolitan Mastiff

    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 Neapolitan Mastiff over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Neapolitan Mastiff is more popular with dog owners than the Affenpinscher. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Neapolitan Mastiff is 104 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 Neapolitan Mastiff

    Popularity of Neapolitan Mastiff

    Year Affenpinscher Popularity Rank Neapolitan Mastiff Popularity Rank
    2013 143 111
    2014 144 114
    2015 136 106
    2016 149 99
    2017 147 107
    2018 148 102
    2019 151 100
    2020 163 100

    Health Problems of Affenpinscher versus Health Problems of Neapolitan Mastiff

    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 Neapolitan Mastiff 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 Neapolitan Mastiff 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 Neapolitan Mastiff.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Affenpinschers and in Neapolitan Mastiffs.

    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.

    Neapolitan Mastiff Health Problems

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

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Neapolitan Mastiffs here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Affenpinscher versus Neapolitan Mastiff

    Affenpinschers do not like to be left alone.

    Neapolitan Mastiffs do not like to be left alone.

    How Kid-friendly are Affenpinschers and Neapolitan Mastiffs?

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

    Neapolitan Mastiffs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Do Affenpinschers shed more than Neapolitan Mastiffs?

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

    Neapolitan Mastiffs shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Affenpinscher or the Neapolitan Mastiff

    Affenpinschers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Neapolitan Mastiffs have a very high tendency to drool.

    Is the Affenpinscher Easier to Train than the Neapolitan Mastiff?

    Affenpinschers are not easy to train.

    Neapolitan Mastiffs are fairly easy to train.

    Do Affenpinschers Bark and Howl? What about Neapolitan Mastiffs?

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

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Affenpinscher vs. Neapolitan Mastiff

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

    Neapolitan Mastiffs 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 Neapolitan Mastiffs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Affenpinschers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Neapolitan Mastiffs cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Can Affenpinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Neapolitan Mastiffs Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Neapolitan Mastiffs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Affenpinscher or the Neapolitan Mastiff?

    Affenpinschers are moderately easy to groom.

    Neapolitan Mastiffs are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Affenpinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Neapolitan Mastiff?

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

    Neapolitan Mastiffs 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 Neapolitan Mastiff?

    Affenpinschers are very good for new dog owners.

    Neapolitan Mastiffs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Affenpinscher or the Neapolitan Mastiff?

    Affenpinschers get along very well with other dogs.

    Neapolitan Mastiffs do not get along well with other dogs.

    Is the Affenpinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Neapolitan Mastiff?

    Affenpinschers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Neapolitan Mastiffs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Are Affenpinschers good family dogs? What about Neapolitan Mastiffs?

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

    Neapolitan Mastiffs 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 Neapolitan Mastiff 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 Neapolitan Mastiff:

  • Mastiff (72 percent match with Neapolitan Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the Affenpinscher vs Mastiff.
  • Spanish Mastiff (69 percent match with Neapolitan Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the Affenpinscher vs Spanish Mastiff.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Neapolitan Mastiff

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

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

    Affenpinscher Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Affenpinscher versus Cane Corso     Affenpinscher versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Affenpinscher versus Kai Ken     Affenpinscher versus Redbone Coonhound     Affenpinscher versus Toy Fox Terrier     Affenpinscher versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Affenpinscher versus Scottish Deerhound     Affenpinscher versus Redbone Coonhound     Affenpinscher versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Affenpinscher versus Irish Terrier     

    Neapolitan Mastiff Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Neapolitan Mastiff versus Mudi     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Neapolitan Mastiff versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Australian Cattle Dog     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Affenhuahua     Neapolitan Mastiff versus German Shepherd Dog     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Chinook     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Beagle     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Mountain Cur     

    Conclusion: Affenpinscher versus Neapolitan Mastiff. 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 Neapolitan Mastiff better suits you and your family.