Also known as the Affen Chi or Chipinscher, the Affenhuahua is a hybrid breed, a cross between the tiny Chihuahua and the mischievous Affenpinscher. Both these parent breeds are known for their larger-than-life personality, and the Affenhuahua is much the same: a huge personality inside of a minute package. These tiny dogs make great companion animals for apartment living, although they can be a bit yappy at times, a trait that your neighbor will not appreciate!

Breed Overview

Affenhuahuas have surprisingly high energy levels despite their small stature, and without the appropriate exercise, they can be mischievous and boisterous little pooches. Overall, they are sweet and loving dogs but are known for their confident, fearless nature, a trait that can land them in hot water with other dogs at times. This makes them best suited to one-dog households, and they are far happier to be the center of attention. They can be stubborn at times and have an independent nature that can be difficult in training, but with early socialization and dedication, they are full of personality and a joy to own.

If you’d like to know more about this designer breed, read on for an in-depth look at the sassy, bold, and endlessly entertaining Affenhuahua.

Affenhuahua Puppies

Before you bring home an Affenhuahua puppy, you should know that these dogs are highly attention-demanding, and despite their reputation for being aloof at times, they are pack-oriented animals that need to be close to their owners at all times. If you are away from home frequently, the Affenhuahua may not be the breed for you.

They are also a difficult breed for a novice dog owner because they have an independent and stubborn nature that can be extremely frustrating during training. One minute, they’ll be the most obedient dog, listening to your every command, and the next moment, they’ll have lost all interest and simply walk away, no matter how much you plead. This can, of course, be overcome with the correct training techniques, but for an inexperienced owner, it can quickly become overwhelming.

This independent, fearless, and confidant nature is part of what makes the breed so appealing, though, and they are truly fun-loving, joyful dogs that will bring a ton of laughter and entertainment into your home.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Affenhuahua

The Affenhuahua is a friendly and affectionate pooch that loves nothing more than being with their owners, so much so that they will suffer from extreme separation anxiety when left alone for long periods. If you are away most of the day, this is definitely not the breed for you. Affenhuahuas are typical Velcro dogs, and they crave attention from and interaction with their human owners, despite their reputation for being independent and aloof.

They are intelligent little dogs that have a keen sense of their environment and surroundings, and even though they may be happy doing their own thing at times, you’ll quickly notice how aware they are of your presence, being known to follow their owners around the home almost constantly. They are energetic dogs that can be sprinting around and comically playing one minute and then snuggled up with you on the sofa the next, and these short bursts of high energy can come at any moment!

One thing to be aware of before bringing home an Affenhuahua puppy is their tendency for vocalization — or yapping, to be more accurate! This can become a real issue if you have neighbors close by, as these dogs are known to bark at anything and everything that they perceive as a potential threat. They are also known to be protective of their owners and will yap and bark at new faces and may even be snappy without adequate socialization.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

Affenhuahuas make great family pets, although they are better suited to families with older children, as they are not tolerant of over-enthusiastic kids and can quickly become overwhelmed, often leading them to snap in irritation. They are adaptable pooches that do well in apartments and larger properties, and as long as they get their required exercise, they are happy to spend time indoors.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

Affenhuahuas typically get along well with other dogs, provided that they are socialized well. Without training and proper socialization, other dogs may be seen as a threat, and no dog is too big to scare off an Affenhuahua in defense of their family! This can lead to problems, so socialization is key with these dogs.

Cats are usually not a problem, provided that they are introduced correctly, but other small pets may be an issue. With the parent breeds’ ratting history, your pet rat or guinea pig will be seen as vermin to flush out, and even with loads of training, it can be hard to convince an Affenhuahua that this is a pet and not food!

Things to Know When Owning an Affenhuahua

Now that you are more familiar with the personality and temperament of the Affenhuahua, quirks and all, let’s look at the basic needs of this breed. They are not too different from other small breeds, but their fearless personality and somewhat stubborn nature require a fair bit of extra time investment from their owners.

Food & Diet Requirements

Affenhuahuas are small in size and small in appetite and only need around 1 cup of high-quality dry kibble per day. The kibble that you feed your Affenhuahua should be as high quality and nutrient-dense as possible because these dogs can easily get overweight. The food should also be specially designed for small or toy dogs, with bite-sized kibble that is easy for them to eat.

Protein is important to these high-energy little dogs, and an animal-based protein should always be the first-listed ingredient. Look out for too many filler ingredients, like wheat, corn, and soy, because these are empty calories that can quickly cause your pooch to get overweight. As with any dog, make sure they always have access to clean, fresh water.

Exercise

Affenhuahuas are energetic little pooches that need their daily exercise to stay happy and healthy. These dogs will be content with around 30 minutes a day, but an hour or so is preferable. They are known for their short bursts of energy and don’t have much endurance, so try to split daily walks into two shorter sessions if possible — these dogs get tired fairly quickly.

Playtime is also a vital part of these dog’s daily exercise, and they need mental and physical stimulation. They love short games of fetch and playing with dog toys, especially any toys that require you to be interactive with them. Without the required exercise, these dogs are known for excessive chewing, barking, and digging, so a regular exercise regimen is vital.

Training

With their somewhat stubborn and independent nature, these dogs have a reputation for being difficult to train, especially for novice owners. This is why we highly recommend beginning training and socialization as soon as you bring your puppy home. The reputation that these dogs have earned is somewhat unfair, however, and with dedication, patience, and consistency, they are fairly easy to train. Because these dogs are sensitive pooches, we recommend reward-based training techniques, as they don’t respond well to harsh training methods.

Crate training is also a great idea with these dogs, as they will likely be traveling regularly (their small size makes them perfectly suited for it), and this will get them accustomed to the process. These dogs do not enjoy being alone and are often easily overwhelmed, and a crate can be a great little space that they can retreat to and feel safe.

Grooming ✂️

Affenhuahuas do not need much maintenance or grooming, especially if they have the short coat of their Chihuahua parent. They are also low-shedding dogs and only need brushing around once a week to remove dead hair. They may need a bath occasionally when they get very dirty, but be sure to use dog shampoos only or you’ll risk damaging the natural oils on their skin and coat. One important part of grooming these dogs is dental hygiene. Because they have such small mouths, they will need regular teeth brushing to avoid dental decay.

Health and Conditions

Affenhuahuas, like most hybrid breeds, benefit from hybrid vigor, and on the whole, they are healthy dogs with few genetic health problems to be concerned about. That said, they may potentially inherit some of the conditions of their parent breeds, and it is important to keep an eye out for any symptoms.

Male vs Female

Now that you’ve decided that the Affenhuahua is for you, you’ll need to decide whether a male or female is the best choice. Generally, there are few differences between male and female Affenhuahuas, although males may be slightly larger than females and more prone to territorial behavior.

Training, environment, and genetics have far larger parts to play in your dog’s personality than their sex, so good training, socialization, and a gentle upbringing will be the best way to have a loyal, loving, and well-behaved dog.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Affenhuahua

1. They have truly unique expressions

With parent breeds like the Chihuahua, a dog known for underbites and a World’s Ugliest Dog title, and the Affenpinscher, often referred to as the “Monkey Dog” due to their Simian-like face, you can be sure your Affenhuahua will have a truly unique appearance. This and their hilarious expressions are part of what makes the Affenhuahua so endearing, though, and they are one of the most expressive breeds around.

2. They are prone to phobias

The Chihuahua is known for developing phobias and anxieties, especially separation anxiety and fear of large crowds, traffic, or thunderstorms. This is why it is essential to socialize your Affenhuahua pup as early as possible, as it will get them accustomed to a variety of situations and make them less likely to suffer from phobias that can be difficult to rectify.

3. They are expert ratters

Both the Chihuahua and the Affenpinscher are expert ratters, with the Affenpinscher being specifically developed for the job. The Affenhuahua is a tiny, nimble, fast, and alert pooch that can fit into small places that most dogs cannot, making them experts at sniffing out and catching rats.

Final Thoughts

The Affenhuahua is a feisty little dog with a ton of personality packed into a small package. They are fun dogs that are a real joy to be around, and although they can be high energy at times, frenetic even, they also love to cuddle on the sofa just as much. They get attached to their human companions, so it is important to keep these dogs close to you as much as possible — they will not be happy at home alone.

With proper training and socialization, they can make great family pets, and their adaptability makes them ideal for almost any living environment. They can be stubborn and aloof at times but make up for it with plenty of affection and entertainment, and they are, on the whole, loving and social animals.

If you are looking for a small, easy-to-manage pooch with plenty of personality, the Affenhuahua is a great choice!

Featured Image Credit: Blick, Shutterstock