Last Updated: Jun 17, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Great Dane Versus Affenpinscher: Introduction
- Great Dane versus Affenpinscher: Overview
- Great Dane versus Affenpinscher: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Affenpinscher
- The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Affenpinscher
- Size Comparison of the Great Dane versus Affenpinscher
- Appearance (Colors) of the Great Dane and the Affenpinscher
- Lifespan of Great Dane versus Affenpinscher
- Price of Great Dane versus Price of Affenpinscher
- Adopting the Great Dane versus Adopting the Affenpinscher
- The Intelligence of the Great Dane versus the Intelligence of the Affenpinscher
- The Popularity of Great Dane versus Popularity of Affenpinscher
- Health Problems of Great Dane versus Health Problems of Affenpinscher
- Tolerates Being Alone: Great Dane versus Affenpinscher
- Do Great Danes shed more than Affenpinschers?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Affenpinscher?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Great Dane or the Affenpinscher?
- Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Affenpinschers?
- Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Affenpinscher?
- Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Affenpinscher
- How Kid-friendly are Great Danes and Affenpinschers?
- Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Affenpinscher?
- Do Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Affenpinschers?
- Can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Affenpinschers Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Affenpinscher
- Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Affenpinschers Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds
- Conclusion: Great Dane versus Affenpinscher. Which One is a Better Pet?
Great Dane Versus Affenpinscher: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Great Dane and the Affenpinscher? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Great Dane and the Affenpinscher 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 Great Dane and the Affenpinscher.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Great Dane and the Affenpinscher 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 Great Dane and for the Affenpinscher. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Great Dane and the Affenpinscher.
Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Great Dane or the Affenpinscher.
Great Dane versus Affenpinscher: Overview
A very important difference between the Great Dane and the Affenpinscher is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Great Dane is a giant-sized dog while the Affenpinscher is a tiny-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Great Dane 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.
On the other hand, 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.
Great Dane versus Affenpinscher: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Great Dane to the Affenpinscher 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.
Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Great Dane and the Affenpinscher
| Factor | Great Dane | Affenpinscher |
|---|---|---|
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Weight | 100 to 200 pounds | 7 to 9 pounds |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Height | 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder | 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Intelligence | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| General Health | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 1/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Train | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Life Span | 7 to 10 years | 12 to 14 years |
| Average Lifespan | 8.5 years | 13.0 years |
| Average Price | $1560 | $2220 |
| Price Range | $1000 – $2000 | $500 – $1962 |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests | ||
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 15 | 148 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 48 | 37 |
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Great Dane 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 Affenpinscher. 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 the Great Dane is 73 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Affenpinscher is 83 out of 125.
Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Affenpinscher, we still believe that the Great Dane is a better pet than the Affenpinscher.
This is because Great Danes are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Great Dane will come out on top.
Also, we are biased in favor of the Great Dane :-). We are for the Great Dane. So get a Great Dane!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Affenpinscher
Below is a list of where the Great Dane and the Affenpinscher are most different:
The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Affenpinscher
The Great Dane and the Affenpinscher are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Great Dane and the Affenpinscher are most similar:
Size Comparison of the Great Dane versus Affenpinscher
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Great Dane and the Affenpinscher.
The Great Dane weighs 100 to 200 pounds when fully grown. The Great Dane is 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
On the other hand, the Affenpinscher weighs 7 to 9 pounds when fully grown. The Affenpinscher is 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Appearance (Colors) of the Great Dane and the Affenpinscher
Great Dane Colors
The Great Dane comes in the following beautiful primary colors:
- Black
- Harlequin
- Merle (Blue)
- Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
- Brown / Chocolate
- White / Cream
- Brindle
- Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
- Merle (Red)
- Bicolor
- Gray / Blue / Silver
The Great Dane comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:
- White / Cream
- Brown / Chocolate
- Black
- Gray / Blue / Silver
- Golden
- Merle (Blue)
- Harlequin
- Brindle
Affenpinscher Colors
The Affenpinscher comes in the following beautiful primary colors:
- Apricot / Beige
The Affenpinscher comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:
Lifespan of Great Dane versus Affenpinscher
The lifespan of the Great Dane is between 7 to 10 years. The average lifespan of the Great Dane is 8.5 years.
The lifespan of the Affenpinscher is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of the Affenpinscher is 13.0 years.
The Affenpinscher live longer than the Great Dane.
Price of Great Dane versus Price of Affenpinscher
The average price of the Great Dane puppy is $1560. The price of the Great Dane typically ranges from $1000 – $2000. However, the price of a Great Dane can be as low as $100 and as high as $5500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1324 Great Dane puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The average price of the Affenpinscher puppy is $2220. The price of the Affenpinscher typically ranges from $500 – $1962. However, the price of the Affenpinscher can be as low as $150 and as high as $10000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 8 Affenpinscher puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Affenpinscher is more expensive than the Great Dane.
| Great Dane | Affenpinscher | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $1560 | $2220 |
| Price Range | $1000 to $2000 | $500 to $1962 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Great Dane and Affenpinscher. For different price points, the charts show how many Great Dane puppies or how many Affenpinscher puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of Great Danes. The typical price range is shaded Green.
A breakdown of the prices of Affenpinschers
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Great Dane puppy or the Affenpinscher 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 to buy 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 a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.
You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.
Adopting the Great Dane versus Adopting the Affenpinscher
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Great Danes and many Affenpinschers 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 Great Dane named Marmaduke that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Great Danes like Marmaduke on pefinder.com.
Also, like Great Danes, Affenpinschers are also available for adoption. For example, Milo is a Male Affenpinscher that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Affenpinschers like Milo that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
Curly is the name of another Great Dane (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.
Also, Belmont is an adorable Male Affenpinscher on petfinder.com that you can adopt.
You can find more Great Danes and Affenpinschers that are available for adoption on petfinder.
The Intelligence of the Great Dane versus the Intelligence of the Affenpinscher
| Great Dane | Affenpinscher | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 48 out of 130 dog breeds | 37 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions | Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 Repetitions |
Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.
According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:
Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.
This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.
To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.
Prof. Coren found that the Great Dane has an obedience intelligence rank of 48 out of 130 dog breeds. The Great Dane belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Great Danes tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
The Affenpinscher has an obedience intelligence rank of 37 out of 130 dog breeds. The Affenpinscher belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Affenpinschers tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.
The Affenpinscher is more intelligent than the Great Dane.
However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.
The Popularity of Great Dane versus Popularity of Affenpinscher
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 Great Dane and the Affenpinscher over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Great Dane is more popular with dog owners than the Affenpinscher. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Great Dane is 15 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Affenpinscher is 148 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Great Dane
Popularity of Affenpinscher
| Year | Great Dane Popularity Rank | Affenpinscher Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 16 | 143 |
| 2014 | 15 | 144 |
| 2015 | 15 | 136 |
| 2016 | 14 | 149 |
| 2017 | 14 | 147 |
| 2018 | 16 | 148 |
| 2019 | 17 | 151 |
| 2020 | 15 | 163 |
| 2021 | 17 | 159 |
Health Problems of Great Dane versus Health Problems of Affenpinscher
Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.
Both the Great Dane and the Affenpinscher 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 Affenpinscher is prone to the same number of genetic health problems as the Great Dane.
4 health tests are recommended for Great Dane while 4 tests are recommended for the Affenpinscher.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Great Danes and in Affenpinschers.
Great Dane Health Problems
Great Danes are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Great Dane 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 Great Dane puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Great Dane 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 Great Danes for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Great Danes here.
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:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Affenpinschers here.
More Discussions on Health Problems in Great Danes and Affenpinschers
Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Great Dane Breed is Shoulder problems.
This is because the Great Dane ranks 4 out of 22 dog breeds for Shoulder problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 183 Great Danes, 10 of them had Shoulder problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Great Danes, and how common these diseases are in Great Danes relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Affenpinscher Breed is Patella problems.
This is because the Affenpinscher ranks 40 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 404 Affenpinschers, 16 of them had Patella problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Affenpinschers, and how common these diseases are in Affenpinschers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
The table below lists the common health problems in Great Dane and in Affenpinscher and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Great Dane and the Affenpinscher:
| Disease | Great Dane Rank | Affenpinscher Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Shoulder problems | 4 out of 22 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Advanced Cardiac problems | 33 out of 71 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Dentition Database problems | 35 out of 49 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Congenital Cardiac problems | 40 out of 159 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Thyroid problems | 42 out of 115 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Eyes problems | 59 out of 182 dog breeds | 157 out of 182 dog breeds |
| Elbow problems | 75 out of 144 dog breeds | 73 out of 144 dog breeds |
| Hips problems | 92 out of 198 dog breeds | 44 out of 198 dog breeds |
| Patella problems | 130 out of 145 dog breeds | 40 out of 145 dog breeds |
*To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.
Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.
Tolerates Being Alone: Great Dane versus Affenpinscher
Great Danes do not like to be left alone.
Affenpinschers do not like to be left alone.
Do Great Danes shed more than Affenpinschers?
Great Danes shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Affenpinschers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Affenpinscher?
Great Danes are very easy to groom.
Affenpinschers are moderately easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Great Dane or the Affenpinscher?
Great Danes get along very well with other dogs.
Affenpinschers get along very well with other dogs.
Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Affenpinschers?
Great Danes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Affenpinschers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Affenpinscher?
Great Danes are very easy to train.
Affenpinschers are not easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Affenpinscher
Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool.
Affenpinschers do have a very low tendency to drool.
How Kid-friendly are Great Danes and Affenpinschers?
Great Danes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Affenpinschers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Affenpinscher?
Great Danes have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.
Affenpinschers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.
Do Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Affenpinschers?
Great Danes are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Affenpinschers are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Affenpinschers Tolerate Cold Weather?
Great Danes cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Affenpinschers can moderately tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Affenpinscher
Great Danes have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
Affenpinschers do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Affenpinschers Tolerate Hot Weather?
Great Danes can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Affenpinschers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Is the Great Dane Better for Apartment Owners than the Affenpinscher?
Great Danes do not adapt well to apartment living.
Affenpinschers adapt very well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Great Dane or the Affenpinscher?
Great Danes are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Affenpinschers are very good for new dog owners.
Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds
You may also be interested in how the Great Dane compares to other breeds aside from the Affenpinscher. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Great Dane to other breeds:
Great Dane versus Golden Retriever Great Dane versus Xoloitzcuintli Great Dane versus Pyrenean Shepherd Great Dane versus Border Collie Great Dane versus Collie Great Dane versus Norwegian Lundehund Great Dane versus Sheepadoodle Great Dane versus Estrela Mountain Dog Great Dane versus Black Mouth Cur Great Dane versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog Great Dane versus Dutch Shepherd Great Dane versus Saint Bernard Great Dane versus Airedale Terrier Great Dane versus Rottweiler Great Dane versus Vizsla Great Dane versus Papipoo Great Dane versus Australian Kelpie Great Dane versus Yorkipoo
Conclusion: Great Dane versus Affenpinscher. 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 Great Dane and the Affenpinscher better suits you and your family.