Afghan Hound versus Finnish Lapphund. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

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Afghan Hound Versus Finnish Lapphund: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund. 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 Finnish Lapphund.

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 Finnish Lapphund.

Afghan Hound versus Finnish Lapphund: Overview

A very important difference between the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Afghan Hound is a large-sized dog while the Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

Afghan Hound versus Finnish Lapphund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Afghan Hound to the Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund

Factor Afghan Hound Finnish Lapphund
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 5/5 2/5
Easy To Train 1/5 5/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 12 to 15 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 4/5
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 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 4/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 4/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 5/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Weight 50 to 60 pounds 33 to 53 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $2290 No Data
Price Range $1912 – $2500 No Data
Temperament Score 72.7 percent 62.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
    		•

    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 Finnish Lapphund. 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 Finnish Lapphund is 84 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Finnish Lapphund is a better pet than the Afghan Hound. So, you should get the Finnish Lapphund!

    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 Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund

    Below is a list of where the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund are most different:

    • Afghan Hounds require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to groom.
    • Afghan Hounds are not prone to gaining weight easily. However, Finnish Lapphunds gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
    • Afghan Hounds are not easy to train. However, Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to train.
    • Afghan Hounds do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful. However, Finnish Lapphunds do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
    • Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather. However, Finnish Lapphunds cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund

    The Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund are most similar:

    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund get along well with other dogs.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund are very playful.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund adapt well to apartment living.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund can tolerate cold weather.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
    • Both the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.

    Size Comparison of Afghan Hound versus Finnish Lapphund

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund.

    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, Finnish Lapphunds weigh 33 to 53 pounds when fully grown. Finnish Lapphunds are 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Afghan Hound versus Finnish Lapphund

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

    The lifespan of Finnish Lapphunds is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Finnish Lapphunds is 13.5 years.

    Finnish Lapphunds live longer than Afghan Hounds.

    Temperament of the Finnish Lapphund Versus the Afghan Hound

    The Afghan Hound has a better temperament than the Finnish Lapphund.

    This is because the temperament score for the Afghan Hound is 72.7 percent while the temperament score for the Finnish Lapphund is 62.5 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 62.5 percent, the Finnish Lapphund has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Afghan Hound and the Finnish Lapphund by measuring the temperaments of 165 Afghan Hounds and 8 Finnish Lapphunds.

    Health Problems of Afghan Hound versus Health Problems of Finnish Lapphund

    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 Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund is prone to more genetic health problems than the Afghan Hound.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Finnish Lapphund than for the Afghan Hound.

    3 health tests are recommended for Afghan Hound while 6 tests are recommended for the Finnish Lapphund.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Afghan Hounds and in Finnish Lapphunds.

    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.

    Finnish Lapphund Health Problems

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

  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Finnish Lapphunds here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Finnish Lapphund

    Afghan Hounds do not like to be left alone.

    Finnish Lapphunds do not like to be left alone.

    Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Finnish Lapphunds?

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

    Finnish Lapphunds shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Finnish Lapphund

    Afghan Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Finnish Lapphunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Finnish Lapphund?

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

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to groom.

    Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Finnish Lapphund?

    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.

    Finnish Lapphunds 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 Finnish Lapphunds?

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

    Finnish Lapphunds bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Finnish Lapphunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Afghan Hound vs. Finnish Lapphund

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

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

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather.

    Finnish Lapphunds cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afghan Hound or the Finnish Lapphund?

    Afghan Hounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Finnish Lapphunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Finnish Lapphunds?

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

    Finnish Lapphunds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Finnish Lapphunds?

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

    Finnish Lapphunds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Finnish Lapphund?

    Afghan Hounds are not easy to train.

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to train.

    Is the Afghan Hound Better for Apartment Owners than the Finnish Lapphund?

    Afghan Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Finnish Lapphunds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Afghan Hound or the Finnish Lapphund?

    Afghan Hounds are OK for new dog owners.

    Finnish Lapphunds are very good for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Afghan Hound versus Finnish Lapphund. 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 Finnish Lapphund better suits you and your family.