Afghan Hound versus Bernese Mountain Dog. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

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Afghan Hound Versus Bernese Mountain Dog: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog? 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 Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog. 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 Bernese Mountain Dog.

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 Bernese Mountain Dog.

Afghan Hound versus Bernese Mountain Dog: Overview

A very important difference between the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Afghan Hound is a large-sized dog while the Bernese Mountain Dog is a giant-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 Bernese Mountain Dog 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.

Afghan Hound versus Bernese Mountain Dog: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Afghan Hound to the Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog

FactorAfghan HoundBernese Mountain Dog
Does NOT Drool5/52/5
Easy To Groom1/53/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight5/52/5
Easy To Train1/54/5
Life Span10 to 12 years6 to 10 years
Tolerates Being Alone2/51/5
Friendly Toward Strangers2/55/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl4/52/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor4/53/5
Height24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder23 to 28 inches
Good For Novice Owners3/52/5
General Health3/51/5
Does NOT chew on things3/51/5
Dog Friendly4/53/5
Does NOT Shed2/51/5
Intelligence4/54/5
Minimal Exercise Needs2/53/5
Potential For Playfulness4/54/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living5/51/5
Easygoing1/52/5
Tolerates Cold Weather5/55/5
Tolerates Hot Weather5/51/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/55/5
Low Prey Drive1/51/5
Tendency NOT to Wander1/53/5
NOT Rambunctious1/52/5
Weight50 to 60 pounds70 to 115 pounds
Average Lifespan11.0 years8.0 years
Average Price$2290$2870
Price Range$1912 – $2500$1800 – $3438
Temperament Score72.7 percent86.6 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • AKC DNA Profile
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degeneratative Mylopathy (DM) DNA results for both SOD1-A and SOD1-B, or an at-risk result for either SOD1-A or SOD1-B registered with the OFA.
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
    • Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)7922

    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 Bernese Mountain Dog. 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 Bernese Mountain Dog is 66 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Afghan Hound is a better pet than the Bernese Mountain Dog. 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 Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog

    Below is a list of where the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog are most different:

    • Afghan Hounds do not have the tendency to drool. However, Bernese Mountain Dogs have a very high tendency to drool.
    • Afghan Hounds are not prone to gaining weight easily. However, Bernese Mountain Dogs gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
    • Afghan Hounds are not easy to train. However, Bernese Mountain Dogs are very easy to train.
    • Afghan Hounds are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Bernese Mountain Dogs are very friendly towards strangers.
    • Afghan Hounds adapt well to apartment living. However, Bernese Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.
    • Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather. However, Bernese Mountain Dogs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog

    The Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog are most similar:

    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog get along well with other dogs.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog are very playful.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog can tolerate cold weather.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.

    Size Comparison of Afghan Hound versus Bernese Mountain Dog

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog.

    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, Bernese Mountain Dogs weigh 70 to 115 pounds when fully grown. Bernese Mountain Dogs are 23 to 28 inches when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Afghan Hound versus Bernese Mountain Dog

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

    The lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dogs is between 6 to 10 years. The average lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dogs is 8.0 years.

    Afghan Hounds live longer than Bernese Mountain Dogs.

    Temperament of the Bernese Mountain Dog Versus the Afghan Hound

    The Bernese Mountain Dog has a better temperament than the Afghan Hound.

    This is because the temperament score for the Bernese Mountain Dog is 86.6 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 86.6 percent, the Bernese Mountain Dog has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog by measuring the temperaments of 165 Afghan Hounds and 194 Bernese Mountain Dogs.

    Price of Afghan Hound versus Price of Bernese Mountain Dog

    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 Bernese Mountain Dog puppy is $2870. The price of the Bernese Mountain Dog typically ranges from $1800 – $3438. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 446 Bernese Mountain Dog puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Bernese Mountain Dog is more expensive than the Afghan Hound.

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Afghan Hound and Bernese Mountain Dog. For different price points, the charts show how many Afghan Hound puppies or how many Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dogs

    A breakdown of the prices of Bernese Mountain Dogs

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Afghan Hound puppy or the Bernese Mountain Dog 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.

    The Intelligence of the Afghan Hound versus the Intelligence of the Bernese Mountain Dog

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    Afghan Hound Bernese Mountain Dog
    Intelligence Rank 79 out of 130 dog breeds 22 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More! Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 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:
    • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
    • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
    • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

    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 Afghan Hound has an obedience intelligence rank of 79 out of 130 dog breeds. The Afghan Hound belongs to the `Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Afghan Hounds tend to learn new commands after 80 to 100 repetitions or more!.

    The Bernese Mountain Dog has an obedience intelligence rank of 22 out of 130 dog breeds. The Bernese Mountain Dog belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Bernese Mountain Dogs tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Bernese Mountain Dog is more intelligent than the Afghan Hound.

    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.

    Health Problems of Afghan Hound versus Health Problems of Bernese Mountain Dog

    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 Afghan Hound and the Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog is prone to more genetic health problems than the Afghan Hound.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Bernese Mountain Dog than for the Afghan Hound.

    3 health tests are recommended for Afghan Hound while 6 tests are recommended for the Bernese Mountain Dog.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Afghan Hounds and in Bernese Mountain Dogs.

    Afghan Hound Health Problems

    Afghan Hounds are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Afghan Hound 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 Afghan Hound puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Afghan Hound 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 Afghan Hounds for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Afghan Hounds here.

    Bernese Mountain Dog Health Problems

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dogs for:

  • AKC DNA Profile
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degeneratative Mylopathy (DM) DNA results for both SOD1-A and SOD1-B, or an at-risk result for either SOD1-A or SOD1-B registered with the OFA.
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Bernese Mountain Dogs here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Bernese Mountain Dog

    Afghan Hounds do not like to be left alone.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Bernese Mountain Dogs?

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Bernese Mountain Dog

    Afghan Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs have a very high tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Bernese Mountain Dog?

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Bernese Mountain Dog?

    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.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs 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.

    Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Bernese Mountain Dogs?

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Bernese Mountain Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Afghan Hound vs. Bernese Mountain Dog

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Bernese Mountain Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afghan Hound or the Bernese Mountain Dog?

    Afghan Hounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Bernese Mountain Dogs?

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Bernese Mountain Dogs?

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

    Bernese Mountain Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Bernese Mountain Dog?

    Afghan Hounds are not easy to train.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are very easy to train.

    Is the Afghan Hound Better for Apartment Owners than the Bernese Mountain Dog?

    Afghan Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Afghan Hound or the Bernese Mountain Dog?

    Afghan Hounds are OK for new dog owners.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Afghan Hound versus Bernese Mountain Dog. 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 Bernese Mountain Dog better suits you and your family.