Affenpoos are lovable fluff balls that belong to the Doodle “designer breed” family. The Affenpoo dog breed originated in the US in the 1990s [1]https://wagwalking.com/breed/affenpoo. They are a crossbreed between a Poodle and an Affenpinscher.
After conducting some in-depth research to learn everything about this lovely Doodle breed, I can confidently say I am an Affenpoo lover! These pups are cute as a button and super smart.
If you are thinking of adding an Affenpoo to your family or are just eager to learn more about the breed, this ultimate in-depth guide to Affenpoo dogs provides all the information you need.
This article will discuss the Affenpoo’s temperament, traits, appearance, pictures, history, and much, much more!
Introduction To Affenpoos
The Affenpoo was crossbred with a sturdy, wiry-haired Affenpinscher and a Poodle. These intelligent, friendly dogs are highly trainable and make excellent companions for both the young and elderly.
This unique mix is commonly called Affenpoos but they can also be referred to as Affendoodles or Affenpoodles.
Affenpoos have so much to offer their family. They are affectionate and loyal toward the people they love and will protect them at all costs. If a fun, cute, cuddly pooch is what you are looking for, then an Affenpoo could be a good choice for your family.
Popularity/Modern Culture
In recent decades, Affenpoos have become more and more popular. They were “designed” by crossbreeding two purebred dogs. The two parents breeds are the Poodle and the Affenpinscher.
Affenpoos have become increasingly popular over the years, along with many other Doodle breeds, because they are fun, easy to train, and non-shedding. They also live quite long and are at a lower risk to common canine diseases.
Over the years, these adorable dogs have proven to be some of the best dog companions around!
Affenpoos Parent Breeds
Affenpoos are believed to have been bred in the United States in the early 1990s. To understand the Affenpoo dog breed better, we need to take a deep dive into the breed history of its two parents: the Poodle and the Affenpinscher.
Affenpinscher
The Affenpinscher dog breed originated in Germany during the 1600s and was used as ratters [2]https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/affenpinscher/. They are a small dog breed, which made them perfect for chasing rodents out of tight, hard-to-reach areas.
You can learn all about Affenpinschers in this great, informational video below:
Poodle
The other half of the crossbreed is a Poodle which also originates from Germany. Poodles are amongst the most intelligent dog breeds in the world, and they have passed this trait, as well as their incredible agility, down to their Affenpoo offspring.
There are three recognized sizes of the Poodle: Toy Poodle, Miniature Poodle, and Standard Poodle.
Since the Affenpoo is a new hybrid breed, there is not a common standard set for what size of Poodle is used as the parent. Since Affenpinschers are petite dogs, it is more natural for them to breed with the Toy Poodle or Miniature Poodle.
Both the Affenpinscher and Poodle (all sizes) are recognized breeds of the American Kennel Club. However, since the Affenpoo is a Poodle mix they are not officially recognized by many kennel clubs. They are recognizd by the ACHC (American Canine Hybrid Club).
Appearance Of An Affenpoo
Here is what you can expect an Affenpoo to look like based on the genes from both parent breeds.
Face
An Affenpoo’s muzzle is shorter than a Poodle’s long muzzle, and they have flipped-down, triangular ears, small black button noses, and big round buttony eyes.
Their unique face can be attributed to the Affenpinscher, which is sometimes referred to as a “monkey dog”.
Coat
Affenpoos have coarse, dense, medium-length, curly coats. Even though they have low-shedding coats, brushing them at least once a week is recommended to prevent matting.
Colors
Affenpoos come in many colors: chocolate brown, black, brown, grey, and tan. Sometimes they only have one solid color throughout their entire body, but they can also have mixed color patches depending on their parents’ colors.
Affenpinschers usually have a black coat but their coats can also be silver, beige, tan, or red [3]https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/affenpinscher/. Poodles have a variety of possible colors: red, blue, black, white, cream, brown, and many more.
Pictures of Affenpoos
Size Of An Affenpoo
Affenpoos (also known as Affendoodles) are quite short dogs with an average height of 10″ to 18″. Female Affenpoos weigh around 8-22 lbs. The males can weigh anywhere between 10 and 25 lbs [4]https://www.dogproductpicker.com/affenpoo-dog-breed-info/.
As with any hybrid dog, the adult size can range considerably. The size of the parents offer the best estimate for how big or small your dog will be. Of course, lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise play an important role on size.
Temperament/Energy Of Affenpoos
Affenpoos are affectionate, sweet, and very loyal to their owners. They are playful by nature and don’t mind spending time indoors. They are active and alert; therefore, having toys and activities is important for mental stimulation.
Affenpoos are quite needy in the sense that they don’t like to be left alone. They struggle with separation anxiety when their owners leave for work or other long-hour activities. Therefore, if you are away from home most of the day, then an Affenpoo might not be the ideal dog for you.
The other option is to get a pet sitter or take them to doggy daycare, but this can become very expensive.
They are well suited to living in either a house or apartment. Having a yard is a plus, but not required so long as you take your Affenpoo on daily walks.
Intelligence Of Affenpoos
Affenpoos are highly-intelligent, hard-working dogs that are an absolute pleasure to train. They also have an intense desire to please their owners and obey instructions.
They can, however, be stubborn at times and don’t want to engage in any training. Their stubbornness can be overcome with a little bit of positive reinforcement, aka doggy treats!
Exercise Requirements Of Affenpoos
Affenpoos do not need extensive walks or runs to stay healthy and happy. The only time it is necessary is when they get bored or see they have some energy to burn. If not properly exercised or stimulated, like all dogs, an Affenpoo can resort to destructive behavior around the house.
They are better suited for socialization with other dogs, whether on a walk to the park or walking with a dog walker who walks more than one dog at a time. They are agile dogs that would rather perform cool tricks than go for long walks, and this way, they get treats!
Since they are not insanely energetic dogs, a long daily walk (or two) and dedicated time spent on training in the backyard should keep your Affenpoo in tip-top shape!
Affenpoo Health Issues
The Affenpoo breed is relatively new and has no documented major health disorders. The only way to “predict” their health status for the future would be to look at the parent breed’s medical history.
If the parents have had any health conditions or diseases, there is a possibility that they could have passed it down to their offspring. Generally, hybrids are susceptible to health problems that their parents had but are at lower risk since the gene pool is mixed between both parents.
Luckily, Affenpinschers don’t have many health issues common to their breed. The only issues to keep an eye out for are hip dysplasia, heart anomalies, and luxating patella [5]https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/affenpinscher/.
Poodles are at risk for more breed-specific health issues than Affens. A few of these include epilepsy, eye disease, gastric dilatation, hip dysplasia, and a few more [6]https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/poodle-standard/.
Based on the two parent breeds, Affenpoos are at an elevated risk to encounter patellar luxation, cataracts, and hip dysplasia at an older age.
General Care Of Affenpoo
As we’ve already learned, Affenpoos aren’t necessarily high maintenance, and they are not too demanding either. The only important thing you need to do is maintain your Affenpoo’s fitness and hygiene.
Any unfit, dirty dog tends to be more susceptible to infections and diseases. As an Affenpoo owner, the most important thing you can do is to keep their health up to date, which requires regular veterinarian checkups, proper nutrition, and daily exercise.
Affenpoo Grooming
In general, Affenpoos are very easy to maintain and do not require too much grooming. Their low-shedding coats mean less hair cleanup, and you only need to give them a good brushing with a bristle brush from head to paws once or twice a week.
If you don’t do this, their coat will become tangled and matted over time, and then you will have to take them to a professional pet groomer to brush them. Although taking them to a professional dog groomer is also a good idea every month to get their ear, teeth, and coat cleaned.
Breed Summary
Price of Affenpoo Puppies
Since all Doodles are technically designer dog breeds, the price for a puppy can be hefty. Fortunately, Affenpoos tend to be less expensive than the typical Doodle dog. The average price for an Affenpoo puppy ranges from about $600 to $900.
This does not mean that they aren’t expensive. Affenpoos need a good diet to support their overall wellbeing, and you will need to invest in a few toys that will keep them stimulated. However, maintaining and feeding them will cost you a lot less than a larger dog due to their small size.
These little guys are not just for laying around and looking cute; they are curious, clever, and love to learn new tricks that they can impress you with later.
FAQs
Below is a series of commonly asked questions regarding the Affenpoo dog breed.
Are Affenpoos Aggressive Toward Young Children?
Affenpoos are small dogs, and they can easily feel threatened or intimidated by small children that like to play a little too rough. Young children often don’t have a good sense of how gentle to be with dogs, which puts them at risk of scaring or upsetting the dog.
If Affenpoos feel vulnerable, they can show their teeth and snap at little hands. Therefore, Affenpoos are more suited for families with older children who know to be kind and gentle toward animals.
How Long Do Affenpoos Live?
The average lifespan of an Affenpoo is 12 to 16 years. Ultimately, their life expectancy depends on their lifestyle, genes, and overall health.
Do Affenpoos Bark A Lot?
Unfortunately, Affenpoos tend to bark excessively when bored or if they receive too little stimulation. However, the Poodle in the Affenpoo is extremely protective, and more often than not, this trait gets passed down to their hybrid offspring.
They will bark when they sense something suspicious or smell an unfamiliar person near their home. So, if you keep them entertained with dog toys and give them enough attention, they are less likely to bark. Excessive barking can become a problem if you live in an apartment or a close-knit community.
Neighbors are generally lenient when it comes to a neighbor’s dog barking now and again, but if it becomes too often, you may develop a sour relationship. Ensure that the area and community where you live tolerate barking dogs.
Are Affenpoos Hypoallergenic?
There is no such thing as a 100% hypoallergenic dog. Affenpoos are considered as having hypoallergenic coats due it being low-shedding, but it does not mean that someone who is allergic to dog dander won’t be affected by an Affenpoos coat.
Different dog breeds produce different types of proteins in different amounts. People with sensitivities can have allergic reactions to different types of proteins. So, the best and safest thing you can do if your dog allergies are severe is to opt for another pet, perhaps a cat instead.
Are Affenpoos A First-Generation Mix?
Even though Affenpoos are designer dogs, it does not guarantee that they are first-generation mixes. Designer hybrid dogs can be multi-generation mixes which means that while one of their parents may be purebred (Poodle or Affenpinscher), the other could be a hybrid.
They can also be the offspring of two hybrid parents, and many times, people who want to get an Affenpoo, prefer this because they can adopt an Affenpoo that is much closer to their favorite preference, whether it be the Affenpinscher or the Poodle.
This doesn’t guarantee that the Affendoodle will inherit all the characteristics from their dominating heritage.
Do Affenpoos Get Along With Other Pets/Animals?
Affenpoos can get along perfectly well with other pets if they respect their boundaries. The best thing you can do to help them get used to and tolerate other dogs is regular socializing.
It would be best to start socializing them when they are still puppies. However, if you supervise your older Affenpoo when meeting other animals, they can become used to and tolerant toward other pets.
Another thing to remember is that their Affenpinscher side is likely to have a prey drive. Therefore, an Affenpoo might not tolerate cats, hamsters, rabbits, and other smaller pets like a larger pet.
Do Affenpoos Make Good Watchdogs?
Thanks to their suspicious, protective nature, Affenpoos make great watchdogs. Affenpoos will alert their owners if they sense intruders or anything else that is out of the ordinary.
Poodles are good guard dogs, which gives the Affenpoo a natural inclination to protect the family from any funny business.
Can Affenpoos be trained?
Affenpoos are highly trainable. They are smart dogs and respond well to obedience training, especially when used with positive reinforcement.
Conclusion
These adorable Doodles are full of life and have so much love to give. With that being said, it does take an owner who has lots of love to give back and who can vow to give their Affenpoo the care and affection they need to live the happy and healthy life they deserve.
Affenpoos are a special type of dog. They are smart, social, and loving. Now it’s time to start looking for Affenpoo puppies for sale near you!
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