Breed Comparison: Afghan Hound Versus American Pit Bull Terrier

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Afghan Hound Versus American Pit Bull Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier? 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 Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier 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 Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier 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 Afghan Hound and for the American Pit Bull Terrier. 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 Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Afghan Hound or the American Pit Bull Terrier.

Afghan Hound versus American Pit Bull Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Afghan Hound is a large-sized dog while the American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Afghan Hound belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

On the other hand, the American Pit Bull Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

Afghan Hound versus American Pit Bull Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Afghan Hound to the American Pit Bull Terrier 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 Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier

Factor Afghan Hound American Pit Bull Terrier
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 5/5 3/5
Easy To Train 1/5 4/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 12 to 16 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 1/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 1/5
Height 24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder 17 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 1/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 1/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 3/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 5/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Weight 50 to 60 pounds 30 to 85 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 14.0 years
Average Price $2290 $1160
Price Range $1912 – $2500 $450 – $1200
Temperament Score 72.7 percent 87.4 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•  No Data

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Afghan Hound 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 American Pit Bull Terrier. 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 Afghan Hound is 78 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the American Pit Bull Terrier is 75 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Afghan Hound is a better pet than the American Pit Bull Terrier. So, you should get the Afghan Hound!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier are most different:

    • Afghan Hounds require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, American Pit Bull Terriers are very easy to groom.
    • Afghan Hounds are not easy to train. However, American Pit Bull Terriers are very easy to train.
    • Afghan Hounds are not very friendly towards strangers. However, American Pit Bull Terriers are very friendly towards strangers.
    • Afghan Hounds do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful. However, American Pit Bull Terriers do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
    • Afghan Hounds get along well with other dogs. However, American Pit Bull Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.
    • Afghan Hounds can tolerate cold weather. However, American Pit Bull Terriers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier

    The Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier are most similar:

    • Both the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier are very playful.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.

    Size Comparison of Afghan Hound versus American Pit Bull Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier.

    Afghan Hounds weigh 50 to 60 pounds when fully grown. Afghan Hounds are 24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, American Pit Bull Terriers weigh 30 to 85 pounds when fully grown. American Pit Bull Terriers are 17 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Afghan Hound versus American Pit Bull Terrier

    The lifespan of Afghan Hounds is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Afghan Hounds is 11.0 years.

    The lifespan of American Pit Bull Terriers is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of American Pit Bull Terriers is 14.0 years.

    American Pit Bull Terriers live longer than Afghan Hounds.

    Temperament of the Afghan Hound Versus the American Pit Bull Terrier

    The American Pit Bull Terrier has a better temperament than the Afghan Hound.

    This is because the temperament score for the American Pit Bull Terrier is 87.4 percent while the temperament score for the Afghan Hound is 72.7 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 72.7 percent, the Afghan Hound has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 87.4 percent, the American Pit Bull Terrier has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 165 Afghan Hounds and 931 American Pit Bull Terriers.

    Price of Afghan Hound versus Price of American Pit Bull Terrier

    The average price of the Afghan Hound puppy is $2290. The price of the Afghan Hound typically ranges from $1912 – $2500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 14 Afghan Hound puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the American Pit Bull Terrier puppy is $1160. The price of the American Pit Bull Terrier typically ranges from $450 – $1200. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 561 American Pit Bull Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Afghan Hound is more expensive than the American Pit Bull Terrier.

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Afghan Hound and American Pit Bull Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many Afghan Hound puppies or how many American Pit Bull Terrier puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Afghan Hounds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Afghan Hounds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of American Pit Bull Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of American Pit Bull Terriers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Afghan Hound puppy or the American Pit Bull Terrier 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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus American Pit Bull Terrier

    Afghan Hounds do not like to be left alone.

    American Pit Bull Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Afghan Hounds shed more than American Pit Bull Terriers?

    Afghan Hounds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    American Pit Bull Terriers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the American Pit Bull Terrier

    Afghan Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    American Pit Bull Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the American Pit Bull Terrier?

    Afghan Hounds require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    American Pit Bull Terriers are very easy to groom.

    Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the American Pit Bull Terrier?

    Afghan Hounds have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    American Pit Bull Terriers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about American Pit Bull Terriers?

    Afghan Hounds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    American Pit Bull Terriers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can American Pit Bull Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    American Pit Bull Terriers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Wanderlust Potential: Afghan Hound vs. American Pit Bull Terrier

    Afghan Hounds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    American Pit Bull Terriers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can American Pit Bull Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather.

    American Pit Bull Terriers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afghan Hound or the American Pit Bull Terrier?

    Afghan Hounds get along very well with other dogs.

    American Pit Bull Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about American Pit Bull Terriers?

    Afghan Hounds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    American Pit Bull Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and American Pit Bull Terriers?

    Afghan Hounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    American Pit Bull Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the American Pit Bull Terrier?

    Afghan Hounds are not easy to train.

    American Pit Bull Terriers are very easy to train.

    Is the Afghan Hound Better for Apartment Owners than the American Pit Bull Terrier?

    Afghan Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.

    American Pit Bull Terriers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Afghan Hound or the American Pit Bull Terrier?

    Afghan Hounds are OK for new dog owners.

    American Pit Bull Terriers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Afghan Hound versus American Pit Bull Terrier. 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 Afghan Hound and the American Pit Bull Terrier better suits you and your family.