Affenhuahua (Affenpinscher & Chihuahua Mix): Info, Pictures, & Traits

The Affenhuahua, or the Chipinscher as he is sometimes called, is a sweet but sassy hybrid pooch. He is teeny tiny but full of big dog personality.

He is the puppy of the Chihuahua, and the lesser-known Affenpinscher. The Chihuahua is described as charming, graceful, and sassy, and the Affenpinscher is described as confident, funny, and fearless. Mix that all together, and that is what you can expect from this little guy.

But it’s not all fun and games, because each dog breed, be that a purebred or a mixed dog, has traits that are not suited to every family. And because he is a rare pooch, he is also challenging to track down.

This is why you need to read this complete guide to the Affenhuahua. We will take you through everything you need to know, from his personality to how to find him. As well as his training and exercise needs and much more.

As long as you can give him what he needs, he is a delightful designer doggie who will put a dazzling spell on you. Let’s jump straight in!

Affenhuahua Puppies

The Affenhuahua isn’t just a pet, he is part of the pack, and you best know it soon-to-be Affenhuahua owners! This guy is a sassy pooch who commands the best attention and belly rubs. He is quite a needy guy who will stick to you like glue. If you like a canine to leave you to it, this is not your guy.

The Affenhuahua can get very protective over his family, which is why he needs to be homed with an experienced family who knows how to train the over-protectiveness out of him. Yes, this is alleviated by socialization. But he also needs firm training from an owner who will not allow him to get away with naughty behaviors just because he is small.

He is stubborn and does whatever he wants on Affenhuahua time, so don’t expect a fully obedient pooch. He also has selective hearing. Rustle a packet, and he’ll come running, but say his name, and he’ll just stare at you. If you are looking for an obedient dog, you might want to look at another hybrid altogether.

He is full of energy and lots of character. He needs a family that can keep up with him and keeps him entertained. Because once he gets bored with you, he will be hard to keep in line. He is also very intelligent, and he can outsmart his humans. So you need to keep him on his toes and keep that talented brain of his ticking.

Because he is a rare pooch, you need to be prepared to put the work in to find a reputable breeder. It’s more than likely that you will need to travel to different states to find one that you want to work with. And it’s even rarer to find one of these guys in a rescue shelter.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Affenhuahua

1. The Affenhuahua is a very rare breed.

It is more than likely that you’ll be the only Affenhuahua owner in your neighborhood. So much so, that you will probably have to travel out of state to find an Affenhuahua breed.

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2. The Affenhuahua’s personality is like a Terriers.

His Affenpinscher parent’s name translates to monkey dog or ape terrier in German. This is because his original purpose was to exterminate rats on farms, and he has a quirky terrier personality. So you can expect the Affenhuahua to inherit the same spunky terrier personality.

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3. The Affenhuahua is a low shedder.

Because his Affenpinscher parent is a hypoallergenic dog, there is a chance that this guy could be a relatively low shedder throughout the year too. Don’t count on him being totally hypoallergenic, though, because his Chihuahua parent isn’t.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Affenhuahua 🧠

The Affenhuahua is a cute little pooch who loves his human pack very much. He craves human company and hates to be left alone for longer than a few hours. For this reason, he needs to be homed with a family who can spend most of their time with him. If you work long hours, this match is not going to work.

But as the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. And what this means for you is that he has a lot of love to give. He is full of cuddles and kisses for his family and will reward your company with affection.

He forms a close bond with everyone in the household. But if you want to secure cuddles that evening, sneak him a few treats, and he’ll stick to you like glue.

He is lots of fun, and he will provide you with a lot of entertainment. He has short outbursts of energy where he will go mental, so get your cameras out for the next viral pooch. Thankfully, his outbursts only last a short while, and he will settle in your lap for a lazy boy cuddle.

He is a bit of a goofball, and he’ll likely inherit the comical personality of his Affenpinscher parent. His parent is described as being famously funny, so hopefully, the Affenhuahua will turn out to be a bit of a canine clown too.

The Affenhuahua is very intelligent. He can learn commands very quickly when he is in the mood to do so. Because this guy is stubborn and has his own Affenhuahua schedule, he’ll only take part in your training sessions when he wants to.

Are Affenhuahuas Good for Families? 🏡

Yes, the Affenhuahua is good for families, but like all dogs, it has to be the right family. The Affenhuahua needs time and company, so a family that can spend a lot of time with him is essential. He also needs a family that can invest time into training him and have the enthusiasm to be firm with him.

He also needs to be homed with a family with older children, for two reasons. The first is that because he is so tiny, many young children see him as a toy to play with. This can be dangerous for him, and it often leads to a visit to the emergency vet.

Secondly, he is also not very tolerant of over-enthusiastic kids and can get very grumpy with them. So, for this reason, we advise that this guy only goes to a home with older children.

He is suited to apartment living, and as long as his exercise needs are met, he is happy for it to be a tiny apartment, just like him. Equally, he is glad to live in a larger home with land to roam, but you best send a memo to the local cats and rats if you have any.

Do Affenhuahuas Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

As long as this guy is socialized well, he will get along with all dogs, be that big or small. Without socialization, he may see other dogs as a threat to his family, so this is key.

Because of his Affenspinsher parents ratting history, he cannot be homed with a family that has pet rodents. Because, without getting gory, they will not last very long!

He will probably get along with cats because they are bigger than him. But if you are a multi-pet household, it’s essential to arrange several pre-meets before fully committing to him because sometimes personalities clash for no reason.

Things to Know When Owning an Affenhuahua

Now that you know all about his personality and what you can expect from him, it’s time to take a look at his other needs. Without this, he is not going to be a very happy Affenhuahua, so you need to pay close attention.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The Affenhuahua is a relatively small pooch who will eat around 1 cup a day. This may be more or less depending on his age, size, and energy levels. You’ll soon learn how much to feed him.

Always feed your Affenhuahua the best diet that you can afford because nutrition is one of the easiest ways to keep him healthy. A high-quality kibble will be AAFCO compliant (the organization that sets standards for pet foods) and full of all the nutrients he needs.

Being a small pup, you need to find a kibbe that is small enough that he can eat with ease. Look for a kibble that is specifically designed for toy or small breeds.

The Affenhuahua is predisposed to hypoglycemia, which is essentially low blood sugar. As such, your vet might suggest that you feed him smaller meals more frequently to keep his blood levels topped up throughout the day.

Exercise 🐕

The Affenhuahua needs around 30 minutes of exercise every day to keep him happy and healthy. He needs more than just a stroll around the block, but he also couldn’t keep up for hours and hours of mountainous walks.

Thankfully, being so tiny, if he gets tired, you can carry him with you if you are an adventurous family.

He also needs several interactive games throughout the day with his family. Because of his terrier outbursts, he’ll get the sudden case of the zoomies, and he’ll need to burn some energy. You best be around when he gets it, otherwise, he’ll probably take it out on your furniture.

We advise keeping this guy on a leash because his high prey drive will get him into trouble. The second his eyes lock onto a rodent will be the second he’s off.

Training 🦮

The Affenhuahua needs a firm owner that will begin training with him as soon as he gets home. This is another reason to work with a reputable who will start training with him as soon as he can walk.

This includes socialization with his littermates, parent, humans, other animals, and different environments and noises. The more you expose him to as a pup, the more confident an adult he will grow into. And the more relaxed your life will be as an Affenhuahua owner.

He can be a sensitive pooch who doesn’t appreciate being told off, so positive reinforcement training is the only way to train this guy. The trick is to find out what he likes to be rewarded with, and use that to your advantage when training him.

Many small dogs are known to suffer from something called ‘little dog syndrome.’ This is not entirely his fault, in fact, most of it is caused by us. And it is where his owners allow him to get away with naughty behaviors simply because he is a small dog who couldn’t possibly do any harm. But our reaction to his naughty acts just reinforces it. So please avoid this at all costs.

It’s also a good idea to crate train this guy too. He hates to be left alone, so it’s a good idea to give him a space that he will feel most safe in. It will also allow you to relax, knowing that he is not up to any mischief when you cannot be with him.

Grooming ✂️

The Affenhuahua is an easy maintenance pooch when it comes to his grooming schedule. He can either be scruffy in appearance and if so, you’ll have to brush him every other day or so to prevent his fur from matting. If he sports a shorter coat, you’ll only need to brush him once a week to keep him looking healthy.

Thankfully, because he is so small, it doesn’t take too long to brush him. When it comes to other grooming rituals, such as nail clipping or ear cleaning, he is the same as every other pooch. Bathe him once every 8 to 12 weeks to keep him smelling fresh.

The only difference is, is that because he has a compact mouth, his teeth need brushing several times a week. As long as you make this a pleasant experience for him when he is a pup, he will learn to accept it.

Health Conditions ❤️

Just like any mixed breed pup, he could inherit the health concerns of either of his parents. For this reason, it is essential that you understand the main concerns below, as well as the associated symptoms.

Male vs. Female

There is little difference between male and female Affenhuahuas. The males are ever so slightly bigger than the females, but the size difference will be hardly noticeable considering how small they are anyway.

The most influential factor in their personality is training and the environment that they live in. So invest time into his training schedule, and you’ll get the lovely Affenhuahua that you want.

Final Thoughts: Affenhuahua

The Affenhuahua is a fun and feisty little guy who loves to be with his human pack at all times. He’s sweet and affectionate and loves to snuggle in the evening. He also provides plenty of comical entertainment throughout the day with his zoomies.

As long as he is homed with the right family, he’ll be a fantastic family pet who will brighten everyone’s day. The trickiest part will be to find him from a reputable breeder, good luck!

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Featured Image Credit: Blick, Shutterstock