Afghan Hound versus Irish Water Spaniel. Final Verdict on Which is a Better Pet.

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Afghan Hound Versus Irish Water Spaniel: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Afghan Hound and the Irish Water Spaniel 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 Water Spaniel. 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 Water Spaniel.

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 Water Spaniel

Afghan Hound versus Irish Water Spaniel: Overview

A very important difference between the Afghan Hound and the Irish Water Spaniel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Afghan Hound is a large-sized dog while the Irish Water Spaniel 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 Water Spaniel belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

Afghan Hound versus Irish Water Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Afghan Hound to the Irish Water Spaniel 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 Water Spaniel
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 5/5 3/5
Easy To Train 1/5 5/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 10 to 12 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 3/5
Height 24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
General Health 3/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 5/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 3/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
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 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Weight 50 to 60 pounds 45 to 65 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $2390 No Data
Price Range $2250 – $2500 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 105 156
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 79 24

    *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 Water Spaniel. 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 Water Spaniel is 81 out of 125.

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

    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 Water Spaniel 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 Water Spaniel

    Below is a list of where the Afghan Hound and the Irish Water Spaniel are most different:

  • Afghan Hounds are not easy to train. However, Irish Water Spaniels are very easy to train.
  • Afghan Hounds are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Irish Water Spaniels are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Afghan Hounds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies. However, Irish Water Spaniels do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    • The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Irish Water Spaniel

    The Afghan Hound and the Irish Water Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Afghan Hound and the Irish Water Spaniel are most similar:

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

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Afghan Hound versus Irish Water Spaniel

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Afghan Hound and the Irish Water Spaniel.

    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 Water Spaniels weigh 45 to 65 pounds when fully grown. Irish Water Spaniels are 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    The Intelligence of the Afghan Hound versus the Intelligence of the Irish Water Spaniel

    Afghan Hound Irish Water Spaniel
    Intelligence Rank 79 out of 130 dog breeds 24 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 Irish Water Spaniel has an obedience intelligence rank of 24 out of 130 dog breeds. The Irish Water Spaniel belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Irish Water Spaniels tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Irish Water Spaniel 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 Water Spaniel

    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 Water Spaniel over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Afghan Hound is more popular with dog owners than the Irish Water Spaniel. 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 Water Spaniel is 156 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Afghan Hound

    Popularity of Afghan Hound

    Popularity of Irish Water Spaniel

    Popularity of Irish Water Spaniel

    Year Afghan Hound Popularity Rank Irish Water Spaniel Popularity Rank
    2013 95 141
    2014 98 152
    2015 100 144
    2016 113 150
    2017 93 164
    2018 113 159
    2019 111 170
    2020 122 174

    Health Problems of Afghan Hound versus Health Problems of Irish Water Spaniel

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Afghan Hound and the Irish Water Spaniel 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 Irish Water Spaniel is prone to more genetic health problems than the Afghan Hound.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Irish Water Spaniel than for the Afghan Hound.

    3 health tests are recommended for Afghan Hound while 5 tests are recommended for the Irish Water Spaniel.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Afghan Hounds and in Irish Water Spaniels.

    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.

    Irish Water Spaniel Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Irish Water Spaniels here.

    Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Irish Water Spaniel

    Afghan Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Irish Water Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Irish Water Spaniel?

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

    Irish Water Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

    Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Afghan Hounds are not easy to train.

    Irish Water Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Irish Water Spaniel

    Afghan Hounds do not like to be left alone.

    Irish Water Spaniels can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Irish Water Spaniels?

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

    Irish Water Spaniels are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Afghan Hound or the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Afghan Hounds are OK for new dog owners.

    Irish Water Spaniels are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afghan Hound or the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Afghan Hounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Irish Water Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Irish Water Spaniels?

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

    Irish Water Spaniels do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Is the Afghan Hound Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Afghan Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Irish Water Spaniels adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Irish Water Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather.

    Irish Water Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Irish Water Spaniels?

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

    Irish Water Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Irish Water Spaniels?

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

    Irish Water Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Water Spaniel?

    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 Water Spaniels 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.

    Wanderlust Potential: Afghan Hound vs. Irish Water Spaniel

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

    Irish Water Spaniels 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 Water Spaniel 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 Water Spaniel:

  • Kerry Blue Terrier (78 percent match with Irish Water Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Afghan Hound vs Kerry Blue Terrier.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Irish Water Spaniel

    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:

  • Bedlington Terrier (69 percent match with Afghan Hound). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs Bedlington Terrier.
  • Standard Schnauzer (72 percent match with Afghan Hound). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs Standard Schnauzer.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Afghan Hound and how the Irish Water Spaniel compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Afghan Hound and of the Irish Water Spaniel to other breeds:

    Afghan Hound Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Afghan Hound versus Bouvier des Flandres     Afghan Hound versus English Toy Spaniel     Afghan Hound versus American Water Spaniel     Afghan Hound versus Brittany     Afghan Hound versus German Longhaired Pointer     Afghan Hound versus Bordoodle     Afghan Hound versus Flat-Coated Retriever     Afghan Hound versus Labradoodle     Afghan Hound versus Airedale Terrier     Afghan Hound versus Beaglier     

    Irish Water Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Water Spaniel versus Whippet     Irish Water Spaniel versus Basset Hound     Irish Water Spaniel versus Boxerdoodle     Irish Water Spaniel versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Tibetan Spaniel     Irish Water Spaniel versus Norwegian Lundehund     Irish Water Spaniel versus Beagle          Irish Water Spaniel versus Miniature Pinscher     Irish Water Spaniel versus German Shorthaired Pointer     

    Conclusion: Afghan Hound versus Irish Water Spaniel. 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 Water Spaniel better suits you and your family.