Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Afghan Hound Versus Irish Terrier: Introduction
- Afghan Hound versus Irish Terrier: Overview
- Afghan Hound versus Irish Terrier: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Afghan Hound and the Irish Terrier
- The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Irish Terrier
- Size (Weight and Height) of Afghan Hound versus Irish Terrier
- Price of Afghan Hound versus Price of Irish Terrier
- The Intelligence of the Afghan Hound versus the Intelligence of the Irish Terrier
- The Popularity of Afghan Hound versus Popularity of Irish Terrier
- Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Irish Terrier
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Irish Terrier?
- Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Irish Terrier?
- Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Irish Terrier
- Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Irish Terriers?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afghan Hound or the Irish Terrier?
- Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Irish Terriers?
- Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Irish Terriers?
- How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Irish Terriers?
- Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Terrier?
- Wanderlust Potential: Afghan Hound vs. Irish Terrier
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Afghan Hound
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Irish Terrier
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Afghan Hound versus Irish Terrier. Which One is a Better Pet?
Afghan Hound Versus Irish Terrier: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Afghan Hound and the Irish Terrier? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Afghan Hound and the Irish 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 Irish Terrier.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Afghan Hound and the Irish 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 Irish Terrier. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Afghan Hound and the Irish 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 Irish Terrier
Afghan Hound versus Irish Terrier: Overview
A very important difference between the Afghan Hound and the Irish Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Afghan Hound is a large-sized dog while the Irish 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 Irish 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 Irish Terrier: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Afghan Hound to the Irish 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.
| Factor | Afghan Hound | Irish Terrier |
|---|---|---|
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Train | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Life Span | 10 to 12 years | 12 to 16 years |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Height | 24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder | 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Good For Novice Owners | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| General Health | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| 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 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Weight | 50 to 60 pounds | 25 to 27 pounds |
| Average Lifespan | 11.0 years | 14.0 years |
| Average Price | $2390 | $1730 |
| Price Range | $2250 – $2500 | $1700 – $1700 |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
No Data |
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 105 | 118 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 79 | 53 |
*Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org
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 Irish 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 a Afghan Hound is 78 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Irish Terrier is 78 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Irish Terrier is not better or worse than the Afghan Hound. So, you can get the Irish Terrier or 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 Irish 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 Irish Terrier
Below is a list of where the Afghan Hound and the Irish Terrier are most different:
The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Irish Terrier
The Afghan Hound and the Irish Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Afghan Hound and the Irish Terrier are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Afghan Hound versus Irish Terrier
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Afghan Hound and the Irish 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, Irish Terriers weigh 25 to 27 pounds when fully grown. Irish Terriers are 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Price of Afghan Hound versus Price of Irish Terrier
The average price of the Afghan Hound puppy is $2390. The price of the Afghan Hound typically ranges from $2250 – $2500. However, the price of a Afghan Hound can be as low as $1800 and as high as $3000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 21 Afghan Hound puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The average price of the Irish Terrier puppy is $1730. The price of the Irish Terrier typically ranges from $1700 – $1700. However, the price of a Irish Terrier can be as low as $800 and as high as $2800. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 7 Irish Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Afghan Hound is more expensive than the Irish Terrier.
| Afghan Hound | Irish Terrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $2390 | $1730 |
| Price Range | $2250 to $2500 | $1700 to $1700 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Afghan Hound and Irish Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many Afghan Hound puppies or how many Irish 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 Irish Terriers
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Afghan Hound puppy or the Irish 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 from 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 one of those puppy mills that 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 Irish Terrier
| Afghan Hound | Irish Terrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 79 out of 130 dog breeds | 53 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More! | Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 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 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 Irish Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 53 out of 130 dog breeds. The Irish Terrier belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Irish Terriers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
The Irish Terrier 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.
The Popularity of Afghan Hound versus Popularity of Irish Terrier
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 Afghan Hound and the Irish Terrier over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Afghan Hound is more popular with dog owners than the Irish Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Afghan Hound is 105 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Irish Terrier is 118 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Afghan Hound
Popularity of Irish Terrier
| Year | Afghan Hound Popularity Rank | Irish Terrier Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 95 | 123 |
| 2014 | 98 | 125 |
| 2015 | 100 | 113 |
| 2016 | 113 | 115 |
| 2017 | 93 | 114 |
| 2018 | 113 | 116 |
| 2019 | 111 | 119 |
| 2020 | 122 | 120 |
Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Irish Terrier
Afghan Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.
Irish Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Irish Terrier?
Afghan Hounds require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Irish Terriers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Irish Terrier?
Afghan Hounds are not easy to train.
Irish Terriers are not easy to train.
Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Irish Terrier
Afghan Hounds do not like to be left alone.
Irish Terriers do not like to be left alone.
Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Irish Terriers?
Afghan Hounds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Irish Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Afghan Hound or the Irish Terrier?
Afghan Hounds are OK for new dog owners.
Irish Terriers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afghan Hound or the Irish Terrier?
Afghan Hounds get along very well with other dogs.
Irish Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.
Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Irish Terriers?
Afghan Hounds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Irish Terriers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Is the Afghan Hound Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Terrier?
Afghan Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.
Irish Terriers adapt moderately well to apartment living.
Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?
Afghan Hounds can very well tolerate cold weather.
Irish Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.
Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?
Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather.
Irish Terriers can tolerate hot weather.
Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Irish Terriers?
Afghan Hounds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Irish Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Irish Terriers?
Afghan Hounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Irish Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish 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.
Irish Terriers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.
Wanderlust Potential: Afghan Hound vs. Irish Terrier
Afghan Hounds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Irish Terriers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Afghan Hound
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Irish Terrier that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.
We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Irish Terrier:
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Irish Terrier
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Afghan Hound that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.
We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Afghan Hound:
Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
You may also be interested in how the Afghan Hound and how the Irish Terrier compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Afghan Hound and of the Irish Terrier to other breeds:
Afghan Hound Versus Other Dog Breeds
Afghan Hound versus Mastiff Afghan Hound versus Labradoodle Afghan Hound versus Black Mouth Cur Afghan Hound versus Airedale Terrier Afghan Hound versus Pyrenean Mastiff Afghan Hound versus Labradoodle Afghan Hound versus English Cocker Spaniel Afghan Hound versus Kuvasz Afghan Hound versus Bull Terrier Afghan Hound versus Standard Schnauzer
Irish Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds
Irish Terrier versus Samoyed Irish Terrier versus Shiloh Shepherd Irish Terrier versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog Irish Terrier versus Bedlington Terrier Irish Terrier versus English Springer Spaniel Irish Terrier versus Komondor Irish Terrier versus Stabyhoun Irish Terrier versus Akita Irish Terrier versus Welsh Terrier Irish Terrier versus Kerry Blue Terrier
Conclusion: Afghan Hound versus Irish 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 Irish Terrier better suits you and your family.