Affenpoo: Affenpinscher & Poodle Mix
| Height: | 10-20 inches |
| Weight: | 8-30 pounds |
| Lifespan: | 12-16 years |
| Colors: | brown, black, chocolate, tan, gray |
| Suitable for: | Singles and seniors, as well as families with older children |
| Temperament: | Friendly, affectionate, lively, irritable |
The Affenpoo is a hybrid breed that combines the affable Affenpinscher with the intelligent Poodle. Its size depends on whether it is a descendant of the miniature, toy, or standard breeds. However, they are generally regarded as a small breed, and while they are loving and affectionate with their family, they can be easily irritated and may become snappy with young children that don’t yet know how to behave around dogs.
The hybrid breed is intelligent and considered easy to train, which is little surprise considering its Poodle lineage. They tend to be eager to please and are very clever, although they can be stubborn and independent on occasion, so you will need to keep training enjoyable and fun if you want to get the best, ongoing results.
Described as hypoallergenic thanks to their low-shedding Poodle heritage, the Affenpoo requires a daily walk and regular interaction, does not do well when left alone for long periods, and the breed requires only minimal care and grooming to keep it healthy. Common health conditions include bloat, joint dysplasia, and patellar luxation but this breed is considered generally healthy.
What is a Affenpoo?
Also known as the Affendoodle, the Affenpoo is an adorable little dog that has a lot of personality.
These dogs combine the best traits of the Affenpinscher and Poodle, but they do require a bit of patience. So while their looks and friendliness may tempt you to bring one home, keep reading to learn more and determine if this pooch would be the right fit for your family.
The Affenpoo is a cross between a purebred Affenpinscher and Poodle.
Origin
The Affenpoo is a designer crossbreed from the United States. It was developed in the 1990s, during a time when designer dogs became popular.
Pedigree
The Affenpoo is a cross between a purebred Affenpinscher and Poodle.
How easy are Affenpoo to train?
The Affenpoo is considered intelligent and is usually eager to please. This combination means that the breed is easy to train. However, it also has a stubborn and independent streak, which means that there will be times when the dog simply decides it doesn’t want to do training. To avoid this, try to keep training sessions fairly short and ensure that they are fun and lively. This will help keep your dog’s attention and it will prevent getting bored and walking away.
The Aff is a lively little dog and has the energy and intelligence to partake in agility and other canine sports. In fact, the Poodle is highly renowned for its ability in the ring, and this has likely been passed down to the hybrid breed.
You should socialize your dog when it is young. Socializing not only helps ensure that it will be friendly and get along with people when it gets older, but it prepares the dog for new situations. Try to start when your dog is a puppy, attend puppy classes, but be prepared to introduce it to new and unique situations. It needs to meet people of different sizes and ages, in uniform and standard attire, as well as people that are running and those that are cycling. Your dog should be introduced to contractors, people at your own door, and people in the street.
Diet and Nutrition
You should feed your Affenpoo a good quality dry food, wet food, or combination. Expect to feed anywhere from ½ a cup to 1½ cups of dry food per day, depending on where it falls in the scale of standard size. If you’re feeding wet food, follow the guidelines on the packaging, and if feeding a combination, reduce the amount you feed of both types of food. For example, feed half the recommended wet food and half the required amount of dry kibble, per day. Feed this over two or even three meals a day.
Always ensure that any dog has fresh water available. Your dog should be able to access a water bowl, whenever they are thirsty.
If you feed treats, or you use food or snacks as a training tool, you will need to take this into account when calculating the amount of food you give your dog each day. The Affenpoo could be quite small, so even a handful of treats can have a big impact on their diet.
How would you describe the temperament of Affenpoo?
Affenpoos are social dogs that do not like being alone. They should not be left at home alone for long periods of time, so this breed may not be the best choice if you travel a lot or you work long hours. Separation anxiety and destructive behaviors could develop as a result of your dog becoming lonely and depressed, so be sure to spend plenty of time interacting with your pet.
This breed also benefits from mental stimulation, so giving your dog some puzzle toys is a good idea. When Affenpoos become bored, they can excessively bark and become destructive, so keeping a variety of toys within reach will help keep your pooch entertained.
Also, like the Poodle, the Affenpoo is protective and will bark when suspicious. For example, an unfamiliar person could cause your dog to start barking. These animals are curious and alert, and they can be good watchdogs. However, they can also be possessive, even with their own toys and bowls.
If you have young children, the Affenpoo may not be the best choice, as these dogs may not get along well with them. They are not very patient with children who do not know how to handle them gently. They will, however, get along well with older children who know how to handle them with care.
Weight
A small-sized breed, the Affenpoo weighs between 10 and 25 pounds.
How healthy are Affenpoo?
The Affenpoo is considered a hardy breed. Some owners are convinced that they have hybrid vigor, which means that hybrid dogs are less prone to genetic conditions and illnesses that are passed on from one generation to the next in purebred dogs. That being said, you should look for signs and symptoms of the following diseases and conditions, and visit your vet if necessary.
Serious Conditions
- Patellar luxation
- Hip dysplasia
Minor Conditions
- Bloat
- Cataracts
How active are Affenpoo?
The Affenpoo might be smaller, but it is a terrier, and this means that it will expect a moderate amount of exercise each day. This means that you will have to walk your hybrid every day. A 30 to 40-minute walk should be adequate.
You should also look to provide some assortment of toys for them to play with.
How long will Affenpoo live?
The Affenpoo has an average lifespan of 12 to 16 years.
Recognized Clubs
The Affenpoo is not recognized by the American Kennel Club, as it is considered to be a hybrid breed. However, this breed is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), the Designer Breed Registry (DBR), the Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC), the Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA), and the International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR).
Coat
With the single-layer coat of the Poodle parent, the Affenpoo does not really shed. It will lose some stray hairs when being brushed or simply when brushing against surfaces, but it won’t have the annual or bi-annual blowout that breeds like the Golden Retriever are known for. It is considered hypoallergenic because of its single coat and because it does not produce a lot of dander.
You should, however, brush your dog’s coat at least once a week. This will help remove dead hairs that can become entangled in the coat. It will also dust out any debris and will make it easier to manage your Aff’s coat.
Nails will usually need trimming every month to 2 months. If your dog walks on hard, abrasive surfaces, this will keep the nails relatively trim and so you should only have to cut them down every 2 months or so. Otherwise, cut them when you can hear them clipping on hard surfaces. Be careful not to cut down to the quick and if you do cause some bleeding while trimming, use flour or a bleeding stick to stop the flow.
Your dog needs help brushing its teeth too. Start when your dog is young, brush a minimum of three times a week, and use a finger brush if you cannot convince the dog to let you use a full-sized brush.
Puppies
Affenpoo puppies will be very small, so they should be handled with care. Teach your children how to interact with your dog so he won’t get hurt and so he can learn to trust your kids.
Socializing an Affenpoo from a young age will also ensure that he will be a friendly and social dog, as well as comfortable around other people, children, and other pets.
Male vs Female
There is very little difference between the male and female of this hybrid breed. The male may grow a little larger than the female, thanks to its Poodle heritage. However, this isn’t the case with Affenpinschers, so may not be obvious in the hybrid, either.
Related Questions
What’s the Price of Affenpoo Puppies?
When you purchase an Affenpoo puppy from a reputable dog breeder, you can expect to pay between $600 and $900 for the pooch.
Keep in mind that there are a lot of other expenses that go along with getting a new puppy, including medical bills and food. It’s important to be certain that your budget can accommodate a dog for the entirety of its life.
Do Affenpoos Get Along with Other Pets?
The Affenpoo is a spunky and sociable dog that loves other animals. It’s important to start socializing this designer dog from the start to ensure yours is confident and calm around new dogs.
Are Affenpoos Good for Families?
Yes, the Affenpoo makes a fantastic pet for families with older children. Younger kids may not fully comprehend the Affenpoo’s small size, and may accidentally injure him while rough-housing.
Final Thoughts
The Affenpoo is a hybrid breed that combines the Affenpinscher ratter breed with the Poodle. It can combine any of the three standards of Poodle, which means that its size can vary wildly according to the parent dogs.
The breed is lively and energetic and will usually get along with family members of all ages except for very young children who may not know how to behave properly around small dogs yet. It can get along with other dogs, but should not be left alone around smaller animals. It is intelligent, eager to please, and is considered a relatively easy breed to train. It can adapt to life in an apartment but will also enjoy living in a property with its own yard and outdoor space.
One of the reasons for the breed’s popularity is that it shares the same hypoallergenic properties as its Poodle parent. Its single coat means that the Affenpoo rarely sheds and does not produce much dander, so allergic reactions should be minimal around the Affenpoo.
