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

Affenpinscher versus Papillon

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Affenpinscher Versus Papillon: Introduction

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

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

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 Papillon

Affenpinscher versus Papillon: Overview

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

Furthermore, both the Affenpinscher and the Papillon are Companion Dogs. This means both the Affenpinscher and the Papillon 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 Papillon: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Affenpinscher to the Papillon 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 Papillon
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Kid-Friendly 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 5/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 14 years 12 to 16 years
Easy To Train 2/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 5/5
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 3/5
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 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 4/5
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 5/5
Weight 7 to 9 pounds 4 to 9 pounds
Height 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 14.0 years
Average Price $2220 $1800
Price Range $500 – $1962 $1400 – $2000
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Eye Examination- recommend screening every 2 years
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 147 49
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 37 8

    *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 Papillon. 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 Papillon is 89 out of 125.

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

    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 Papillon so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Affenpinscher and the Papillon

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

  • Affenpinschers are not easy to train. However, Papillons are very easy to train.
  • The Similarities Between the Affenpinscher and the Papillon

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

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

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

    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, Papillons weigh 4 to 9 pounds when fully grown. Papillons are 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Price of Affenpinscher versus Price of Papillon

    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 Papillon puppy is $1800. The price of the Papillon typically ranges from $1400 – $2000. However, the price of a Papillon can be as low as $700 and as high as $3500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 108 Papillon puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Affenpinscher is more expensive than the Papillon.

    Affenpinscher Papillon
    Average Price $2220 $1800
    Price Range $500 to $1962 $1400 to $2000

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Affenpinscher and Papillon. For different price points, the charts show how many Affenpinscher puppies or how many Papillon 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 Papillons

    A breakdown of the prices of Papillons

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

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Affenpinschers and many Papillons 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 Will that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Affenpinschers like Will on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Affenpinschers, Papillons are also available for adoption. For example, Rascal is a Male Papillon that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Papillons like Rascal that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

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

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

    Also Pappi, an adorable Male Papillon on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

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

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

    The Intelligence of the Affenpinscher versus the Intelligence of the Papillon

    Affenpinscher Papillon
    Intelligence Rank 37 out of 130 dog breeds 8 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 Papillon has an obedience intelligence rank of 8 out of 130 dog breeds. The Papillon belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Papillons tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Papillon 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 Papillon

    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 Papillon over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Papillon is more popular with dog owners than the Affenpinscher. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Papillon is 49 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 Papillon

    Popularity of Papillon

    Year Affenpinscher Popularity Rank Papillon Popularity Rank
    2013 143 38
    2014 144 43
    2015 136 48
    2016 149 53
    2017 147 53
    2018 148 54
    2019 151 53
    2020 163 53

    Health Problems of Affenpinscher versus Health Problems of Papillon

    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 Papillon 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 Affenpinscher is prone to more genetic health problems than the Papillon.

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

    4 health tests are recommended for Affenpinscher while 2 tests are recommended for the Papillon.

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

    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.

    Papillon Health Problems

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

  • Eye Examination- recommend screening every 2 years
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Papillons here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Affenpinscher versus Papillon

    Affenpinschers do not like to be left alone.

    Papillons do not like to be left alone.

    How Kid-friendly are Affenpinschers and Papillons?

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

    Papillons get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Do Affenpinschers shed more than Papillons?

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

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

    Which one drools more, the Affenpinscher or the Papillon

    Affenpinschers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Papillons do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Is the Affenpinscher Easier to Train than the Papillon?

    Affenpinschers are not easy to train.

    Papillons are very easy to train.

    Do Affenpinschers Bark and Howl? What about Papillons?

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

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Affenpinscher vs. Papillon

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

    Papillons 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 Papillons Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Affenpinschers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Papillons cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Can Affenpinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Papillons Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Papillons can tolerate hot weather.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Affenpinscher or the Papillon?

    Affenpinschers are moderately easy to groom.

    Papillons are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Affenpinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Papillon?

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

    Papillons 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 Papillon?

    Affenpinschers are very good for new dog owners.

    Papillons are very good for new dog owners.

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

    Affenpinschers get along very well with other dogs.

    Papillons get along very well with other dogs.

    Is the Affenpinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Papillon?

    Affenpinschers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Papillons adapt very well to apartment living.

    Are Affenpinschers good family dogs? What about Papillons?

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

    Papillons 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 Papillon 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 Papillon:

  • Havanese (79 percent match with Papillon). Here is our comparison of the Affenpinscher vs Havanese.
  • Papipoo (86 percent match with Papillon). Here is our comparison of the Affenpinscher vs Papipoo.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Papillon

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

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

    Affenpinscher Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Affenpinscher versus Afador     Affenpinscher versus Skye Terrier     Affenpinscher versus German Wirehaired Pointer     Affenpinscher versus Saint Berdoodle     Affenpinscher versus Goldendoodle     Affenpinscher versus Cockapoo     Affenpinscher versus Border Collie     Affenpinscher versus Samoyed     Affenpinscher versus Skye Terrier     Affenpinscher versus Airedale Terrier     

    Papillon Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Papillon versus Pomsky     Papillon versus Scottish Deerhound     Papillon versus Norwegian Lundehund     Papillon versus Kai Ken     Papillon versus Pyredoodle     Papillon versus Shiranian     Papillon versus Cockalier     Papillon versus Karelian Bear Dog     Papillon versus Yorkshire Terrier     Papillon versus Portuguese Water Dog     

    Conclusion: Affenpinscher versus Papillon. 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 Papillon better suits you and your family.