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

Affenpinscher versus Tibetan Mastiff

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Affenpinscher Versus Tibetan Mastiff: Introduction

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

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

Affenpinscher versus Tibetan Mastiff: Overview

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

The table below compares the Affenpinscher to the Tibetan 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 Tibetan Mastiff
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Kid-Friendly 1/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 5/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Life Span 12 to 14 years 10 to 14 years
Easy To Train 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
Easygoing 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 1/5
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 2/5
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 75 to 160 pounds
Height 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 2 feet to 2 feet, 2 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 12.0 years
Average Price $2220 $3560
Price Range $500 – $1962 $1575 – $5250
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 147 135

    *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 Tibetan 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 Tibetan Mastiff is 77 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Affenpinscher is a better pet than the Tibetan 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 Tibetan 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 Tibetan Mastiff

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

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

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

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

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Affenpinscher and the Tibetan 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, Tibetan Mastiffs weigh 75 to 160 pounds when fully grown. Tibetan Mastiffs are 2 feet to 2 feet, 2 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Price of Affenpinscher versus Price of Tibetan 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 Tibetan Mastiff puppy is $3560. The price of the Tibetan Mastiff typically ranges from $1575 – $5250. However, the price of a Tibetan Mastiff can be as low as $1000 and as high as $8000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 14 Tibetan Mastiff puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Tibetan Mastiff is more expensive than the Affenpinscher.

    Affenpinscher Tibetan Mastiff
    Average Price $2220 $3560
    Price Range $500 to $1962 $1575 to $5250

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Tibetan Mastiffs

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

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

    Also, like Affenpinschers, Tibetan Mastiffs are also available for adoption. For example, Sugar Bear is a Male Tibetan Mastiff that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Tibetan Mastiffs like Sugar Bear that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

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

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

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

    The Popularity of Affenpinscher versus Popularity of Tibetan 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 Tibetan Mastiff over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Tibetan Mastiff is more popular with dog owners than the Affenpinscher. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Tibetan Mastiff is 135 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 Tibetan Mastiff

    Popularity of Tibetan Mastiff

    Year Affenpinscher Popularity Rank Tibetan Mastiff Popularity Rank
    2013 143 132
    2014 144 135
    2015 136 133
    2016 149 135
    2017 147 153
    2018 148 131
    2019 151 128
    2020 163 140

    Health Problems of Affenpinscher versus Health Problems of Tibetan 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 Tibetan 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 Tibetan 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 Tibetan Mastiff.

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

    Tibetan Mastiff Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Tibetan Mastiffs here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Affenpinscher versus Tibetan Mastiff

    Affenpinschers do not like to be left alone.

    Tibetan Mastiffs do not like to be left alone.

    How Kid-friendly are Affenpinschers and Tibetan Mastiffs?

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

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

    Do Affenpinschers shed more than Tibetan Mastiffs?

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

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

    Which one drools more, the Affenpinscher or the Tibetan Mastiff

    Affenpinschers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Tibetan Mastiffs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Is the Affenpinscher Easier to Train than the Tibetan Mastiff?

    Affenpinschers are not easy to train.

    Tibetan Mastiffs are not easy to train.

    Do Affenpinschers Bark and Howl? What about Tibetan Mastiffs?

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

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Affenpinscher vs. Tibetan Mastiff

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

    Tibetan Mastiffs 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 Tibetan Mastiffs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Affenpinschers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Tibetan Mastiffs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Affenpinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Tibetan Mastiffs Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

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

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

    Affenpinschers are moderately easy to groom.

    Tibetan Mastiffs are very easy to groom.

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

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

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

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Affenpinscher or the Tibetan Mastiff?

    Affenpinschers are very good for new dog owners.

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

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

    Affenpinschers get along very well with other dogs.

    Tibetan Mastiffs get along very well with other dogs.

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

    Affenpinschers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Tibetan Mastiffs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Are Affenpinschers good family dogs? What about Tibetan Mastiffs?

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

    Tibetan 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 Tibetan 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 Tibetan Mastiff:

  • Bernedoodle (71 percent match with Tibetan Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the Affenpinscher vs Bernedoodle.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Tibetan 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 Tibetan Mastiff vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Peek A Poo (75 percent match with Affenpinscher). Here is our comparison of the Tibetan Mastiff vs Peek A Poo.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Affenpinscher Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Affenpinscher versus Pomchi     Affenpinscher versus Papillon     Affenpinscher versus Dalmatian     Affenpinscher versus Mountain Cur     Affenpinscher versus American Eskimo Dog     Affenpinscher versus Akita     Affenpinscher versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Affenpinscher versus Norwegian Buhund     Affenpinscher versus Pyredoodle     Affenpinscher versus Whippet     

    Tibetan Mastiff Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Tibetan Mastiff versus Irish Water Spaniel     Tibetan Mastiff versus Dogo Argentino     Tibetan Mastiff versus American Water Spaniel     Tibetan Mastiff versus Great Dane     Tibetan Mastiff versus Berger Picard     Tibetan Mastiff versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Tibetan Mastiff versus Saluki     Tibetan Mastiff versus Lhasapoo     Tibetan Mastiff versus Spinone Italiano     Tibetan Mastiff versus Afador     

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