Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Afghan Hound Versus Irish Wolfhound: Introduction
- Afghan Hound versus Irish Wolfhound: Overview
- Afghan Hound versus Irish Wolfhound: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Afghan Hound and the Irish Wolfhound
- The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Irish Wolfhound
- Size (Weight and Height) of Afghan Hound versus Irish Wolfhound
- Price of Afghan Hound versus Price of Irish Wolfhound
- Adopting the Afghan Hound versus Adopting the Irish Wolfhound
- The Intelligence of the Afghan Hound versus the Intelligence of the Irish Wolfhound
- The Popularity of Afghan Hound versus Popularity of Irish Wolfhound
- Health Problems of Afghan Hound versus Health Problems of Irish Wolfhound
- Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Irish Wolfhound
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Irish Wolfhound?
- Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Irish Wolfhound?
- Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Irish Wolfhound
- Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Irish Wolfhounds?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afghan Hound or the Irish Wolfhound?
- Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Irish Wolfhounds?
- Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Wolfhounds Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Wolfhounds Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Irish Wolfhounds?
- How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Irish Wolfhounds?
- Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Wolfhound?
- Wanderlust Potential: Afghan Hound vs. Irish Wolfhound
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Afghan Hound
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Irish Wolfhound
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Afghan Hound versus Irish Wolfhound. Which One is a Better Pet?
Afghan Hound Versus Irish Wolfhound: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Afghan Hound and the Irish Wolfhound? 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 Wolfhound 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 Wolfhound.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Afghan Hound and the Irish Wolfhound 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 Wolfhound. 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 Wolfhound.
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 Wolfhound
Afghan Hound versus Irish Wolfhound: Overview
A very important difference between the Afghan Hound and the Irish Wolfhound is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Afghan Hound is a large-sized dog while the Irish Wolfhound is a giant-sized dog.
Furthermore, both the Afghan Hound and the Irish Wolfhound are Hound Dogs. This means both the Afghan Hound and the Irish Wolfhound 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.
Afghan Hound versus Irish Wolfhound: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Afghan Hound to the Irish Wolfhound 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 Wolfhound |
|---|---|---|
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Train | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Life Span | 10 to 12 years | 6 to 8 years |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Height | 24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder | 32 to 35 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Good For Novice Owners | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| General Health | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 5/5 | 1/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 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 | 1/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Weight | 50 to 60 pounds | 115 to 180 pounds |
| Average Lifespan | 11.0 years | 7.0 years |
| Average Price | $2390 | $1780 |
| Price Range | $2250 – $2500 | $1000 – $2200 |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
|
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 105 | 73 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 79 | 41 |
*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 Wolfhound. 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 Wolfhound is 82 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Irish Wolfhound is a better pet than the Afghan Hound. So, you should get the Irish Wolfhound!
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 Wolfhound 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 Wolfhound
Below is a list of where the Afghan Hound and the Irish Wolfhound are most different:
The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Irish Wolfhound
The Afghan Hound and the Irish Wolfhound are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Afghan Hound and the Irish Wolfhound are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Afghan Hound versus Irish Wolfhound
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Afghan Hound and the Irish Wolfhound.
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 Wolfhounds weigh 115 to 180 pounds when fully grown. Irish Wolfhounds are 32 to 35 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Price of Afghan Hound versus Price of Irish Wolfhound
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 Wolfhound puppy is $1780. The price of the Irish Wolfhound typically ranges from $1000 – $2200. However, the price of a Irish Wolfhound can be as low as $720 and as high as $4000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 68 Irish Wolfhound puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Afghan Hound is more expensive than the Irish Wolfhound.
| Afghan Hound | Irish Wolfhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $2390 | $1780 |
| Price Range | $2250 to $2500 | $1000 to $2200 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Afghan Hound and Irish Wolfhound. For different price points, the charts show how many Afghan Hound puppies or how many Irish Wolfhound 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 Wolfhounds
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Afghan Hound puppy or the Irish Wolfhound 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.
Adopting the Afghan Hound versus Adopting the Irish Wolfhound
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Afghan Hounds and many Irish Wolfhounds are currently available for adoption.
These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.
Below is an adorable Male Afghan Hound named Sam that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Afghan Hounds like Sam on pefinder.com.
Also, like Afghan Hounds, Irish Wolfhounds are also available for adoption. For example, Cash (Cp) is a Male Irish Wolfhound that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Irish Wolfhounds like Cash (Cp) that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
Also Frank, an adorable Male Irish Wolfhound on petfinder.com that you can adopt.
You can find more Afghan Hounds and Irish Wolfhounds that are available for adoption on petfinder.
The Intelligence of the Afghan Hound versus the Intelligence of the Irish Wolfhound
| Afghan Hound | Irish Wolfhound | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 79 out of 130 dog breeds | 41 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 Wolfhound has an obedience intelligence rank of 41 out of 130 dog breeds. The Irish Wolfhound belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Irish Wolfhounds tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
The Irish Wolfhound 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 Wolfhound
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 Wolfhound over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Irish Wolfhound is more popular with dog owners than the Afghan Hound. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Irish Wolfhound is 73 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Afghan Hound is 105 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Afghan Hound
Popularity of Irish Wolfhound
| Year | Afghan Hound Popularity Rank | Irish Wolfhound Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 95 | 73 |
| 2014 | 98 | 72 |
| 2015 | 100 | 69 |
| 2016 | 113 | 73 |
| 2017 | 93 | 73 |
| 2018 | 113 | 76 |
| 2019 | 111 | 76 |
| 2020 | 122 | 74 |
Health Problems of Afghan Hound versus Health Problems of Irish Wolfhound
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 Wolfhound 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 Wolfhound is prone to more genetic health problems than the Afghan Hound.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Irish Wolfhound than for the Afghan Hound.
3 health tests are recommended for Afghan Hound while 5 tests are recommended for the Irish Wolfhound.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Afghan Hounds and in Irish Wolfhounds.
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:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Afghan Hounds here.
Irish Wolfhound Health Problems
Irish Wolfhounds are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Irish Wolfhound 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 Wolfhound puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Irish Wolfhound 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 Wolfhounds for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Irish Wolfhounds here.
Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Irish Wolfhound
Afghan Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.
Irish Wolfhounds do have a very low tendency to drool.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Irish Wolfhound?
Afghan Hounds require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Irish Wolfhounds are moderately easy to groom.
Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Irish Wolfhound?
Afghan Hounds are not easy to train.
Irish Wolfhounds are fairly easy to train.
Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Irish Wolfhound
Afghan Hounds do not like to be left alone.
Irish Wolfhounds do not like to be left alone.
Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Irish Wolfhounds?
Afghan Hounds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Irish Wolfhounds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Afghan Hound or the Irish Wolfhound?
Afghan Hounds are OK for new dog owners.
Irish Wolfhounds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afghan Hound or the Irish Wolfhound?
Afghan Hounds get along very well with other dogs.
Irish Wolfhounds get along very well with other dogs.
Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Irish Wolfhounds?
Afghan Hounds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Irish Wolfhounds shed moderately.
Is the Afghan Hound Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Wolfhound?
Afghan Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.
Irish Wolfhounds do not adapt well to apartment living.
Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Wolfhounds Tolerate Cold Weather?
Afghan Hounds can very well tolerate cold weather.
Irish Wolfhounds can very well tolerate cold weather.
Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Wolfhounds Tolerate Hot Weather?
Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather.
Irish Wolfhounds cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Irish Wolfhounds?
Afghan Hounds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Irish Wolfhounds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Irish Wolfhounds?
Afghan Hounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Irish Wolfhounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Wolfhound?
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 Wolfhounds 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 Wolfhound
Afghan Hounds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Irish Wolfhounds 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 Wolfhound 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 Wolfhound:
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Irish Wolfhound
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 Wolfhound compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Afghan Hound and of the Irish Wolfhound to other breeds:
Afghan Hound Versus Other Dog Breeds
Afghan Hound versus Sussex Spaniel Afghan Hound versus Cocker Spaniel Afghan Hound versus Harrier Afghan Hound versus Briard Afghan Hound versus Norwegian Buhund Afghan Hound versus Shiba Inu Afghan Hound versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Afghan Hound versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog Afghan Hound versus Shetland Sheepdog Afghan Hound versus Redbone Coonhound
Irish Wolfhound Versus Other Dog Breeds
Irish Wolfhound versus Sloughi Irish Wolfhound versus West Highland White Terrier Irish Wolfhound versus Cesky Terrier Irish Wolfhound versus Bulldog Irish Wolfhound versus Cavapoo Irish Wolfhound versus Papipoo Irish Wolfhound versus American Foxhound Irish Wolfhound versus Giant Schnauzer Irish Wolfhound versus Shetland Sheepdog Irish Wolfhound versus Kuvasz
Conclusion: Afghan Hound versus Irish Wolfhound. 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 Wolfhound better suits you and your family.