Affenshire (Yorkshire Terrier & Affenpinscher Mix)

The charismatic Affenpinscher & Yorkshire Terrier mix can be described as a big dog’s personality trapped in a small dog’s body! These larger-than-life dogs are often also called Affenshires. Their adorable good looks and small size is helping to catapult these little dogs into the limelight, but are they the right breed for you?

In theory, a smaller dog breed should be lower maintenance than a larger breed, but that’s not always the case in reality! The Affenshire is a loyal and affectionate breed around their humans, but they can also be vocal, possessive, and wary of strangers.

As a newer designer dog breed, you might not yet know that much about these little pups. We go over everything you need to know, so you can decide whether one of these little pups could be the perfect breed for you.

Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier Puppies — Before You Buy…

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Going to visit a litter of Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier puppies before you’re 100% sure that this is the right breed for you is dangerous. These little dogs are incredibly cute, and you may find it impossible to leave without putting your name down for a puppy!

Before you do, though, it’s important to realize that every dog breed comes with their fair share of positives and negatives, and the Affenshire is no different. They might be small, but these little pups are packed full of personality and can be too much for some people.

What’s the Price of Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier Puppies?

While the Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier is becoming more popular, they’re still an unusual enough breed that you’ll need to spend time tracking down a breeder with experience of producing healthy pups.

You should budget to spend somewhere around $800 to $1,000, and just because you see a puppy advertised cheaper than that, don’t assume that it will be a bargain. It’s important to do your research to make sure you’re not buying from a puppy mill or inexperienced backyard breeder. Puppies from these breeders are more likely to suffer from illnesses or behavioral issues due to poor breeding, lack of socialization, or just plain neglect.

Always spend time speaking to a breeder at length to find out their procedures involving health checks, breeding programs, vaccinations, and how they socialize the pups. If you can, try to visit the breeder to get an idea of the temperament of both parent dogs.

3 Little-Known Facts About Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier

1. They’re a designer, or hybrid, breed.

As the result of a cross between two different purebred dogs, the Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier is what’s known as a designer dog breed. You might also see them called hybrids. The popularity of designer dogs exploded in the 1980s, thanks to the Labradoodle.

This hybrid between the Labrador and the Poodle proved so incredibly popular, we now have literally hundreds of different designer dog breeds to choose from, including, of course, the feisty little Affenshire!

2. Affenshire pups are a pick ‘n’ mix.

As with any designer breed, Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier puppies can inherit a broad range of traits from both their parents. Some puppies will look like their Affenpinscher parent but have the temperament of a Yorkshire Terrier, and the opposite is possible as well!

Other pups will combine the temperament and appearance of both parent breeds into a combination that’s exclusively Affenshire.

3. Prepare for anything with an Affenshire!

You need to be prepared for the fact that your designer breed puppy could have more possibilities in terms of appearance and temperament than their purebred cousins.

If you have your heart set on a pup that looks exactly like a Yorkshire Terrier, you might be upset to discover that the pups in the litter you’re visiting all look more like an Affenpinscher. The only way to be truly prepared for whatever your designer breed pup is going to be like is to make sure you know and love all the aspects of both parent breeds. That way, no matter how your tiny pup ends up, you’ll love them.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier

The Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier is undoubtedly a clever little pup, but as with any Terrier breed, they can also be stubborn and bossy too! They have great potential to be amazing pets, but don’t fall into the trap of thinking that because they’re small, you can get away without training them.

An Affenshire can be vocal, possessive, and demanding attention, all the time! They can also be stubborn when it comes to training. They love companionship and won’t enjoy being left home alone all day. In fact, they can think of plenty of ways to create trouble if they get bored.

The Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier is definitely full of energetic Terrier sparkle. They won’t fail to make you smile, but they will benefit from an owner willing to put in the time to make sure they’re well trained and socialized.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

The Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier does make a good family dog, but they’re better suited to families with older children who realize that this breed’s tiny size means they need to be handled with care.

While they love a good play session, their tiny size does mean they can be prone to getting injured. They can also be prone to nipping if someone plays with them a bit too roughly.

These pups can suffer from separation anxiety, so they prefer to be in a house where someone will be home to keep them company most of the time. If you do need to go to work, then doggy daycare or getting a pet sitter in are both great choices so your Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier doesn’t get lonely.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

Affenshires can love being part of a multi-pet household, as long as they’re introduced to other pets with care.

They usually get along fine with other dogs, although the Affenshire can be possessive of both people and their food. Feeding each dog in a separate part of the house can help keep food time less stressful.

With a Terrier parent, it’s no surprise that the Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier has a high prey drive. This can make keeping them in the same house as timid cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, or other rodents a bit of a challenge. Even if you keep a cage in another part of the house, if your little pup sniffs out the fact that there’s something in there to investigate (and to chase!), they might not give up worrying at the door until they make their way in.

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Things to Know When Owning an Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier

By now, you might have figured out that even though the Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier might be tiny, they’re still going to need a great deal of both your time and money. So, before you make your final decision, here is more information to help you make up your mind.

Food & Diet Requirements

Choosing a food specifically designed for small and toy breeds is a good idea to make sure your pup gets the correct levels of nutrients. Start with a puppy food, and then transition onto an adult food as your dog matures.

Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terriers do not require much food at all, so make sure you follow the guidelines so your pup doesn’t become obese. If you use treats during training, make sure you adjust your dog’s ration at mealtimes accordingly.

Exercise

Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terriers don’t need a huge amount of exercise, thanks to their tiny size. A 20- to 30-minute walk once a day should be enough for them, as well as some playtime or training sessions.

If they’re left to get bored on a rainy day or you miss a walk, these vocal little pups will soon let you know all about it!

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Training

This is one breed that absolutely benefits from puppy training classes and socialization. This can help your pup get used to meeting other people and dogs and reduce their tendency to be possessive and vocal.

Like many Terrier hybrids, the Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier can have a stubborn streak. Using positive reinforcement is a great way to keep your pup engaged, interested, and motivated!

The Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier can be vocal, so focusing early training on reducing this as much as possible is a good idea unless you don’t have any neighbors!

Grooming ✂️

Most Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier dogs end up having a medium-length coat. This can be soft and silky or rough coated and wiry, depending on what they inherit from their parents. Whichever your pup has, their coat will need grooming two or three times a week to keep it free of tangles and mats.

You might choose to get your puppy clipped regularly, especially during hot weather. This will reduce the amount of time that you need to spend grooming but also help your dog feel comfortable.

Affenshires can have dental problems due to their small mouths, so regular check-ups and teeth brushing will help keep problems to a minimum.

It’s also a good idea to train your little pup to accept having their nails trimmed and ears checked at the same time you’re grooming them.

Health and Conditions

The Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier is generally a healthy breed, but there are a few health conditions to be aware of. It’s a good idea to chat with any breeders to find out how they go about testing for or reducing the likelihood of their puppies developing these conditions.

Male vs Female

By now, you might already be looking up breeders and deciding if your dream pup will be male or female. At this point, we’d recommend waiting until you get to meet those puppies in person!

A pup’s personality won’t be defined by their sex, so if you want an outgoing male pup, you might find out that the female pups in a particular litter are the bold and confident ones.

Final Thoughts

While the tiny Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier isn’t yet one of the best-known designer breeds, they’re certainly becoming more and more popular. The combination of tiny bodies and huge personalities is hard to resist!

Before you take the plunge, though, make sure you can invest the time needed to train these sassy little dogs. A well-trained Affenpinscher Yorkshire Terrier can be a joy to live with, but if you don’t invest that time early on, you can end up with a possessive and vocal little dog that becomes tricky to handle.

If you can put the time in, though, you’ll have an awesome little companion that will always be right there to entertain you!

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Featured Image Credit: Dean Jarvey, Flickr