Is the Afghan Hound Better than the Kooikerhondje as a Pet? Answer…

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Afghan Hound versus Kooikerhondje

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Afghan Hound Versus Kooikerhondje: Introduction

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

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

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 Kooikerhondje

Afghan Hound versus Kooikerhondje

Afghan Hound versus Kooikerhondje: Overview

A very important difference between the Afghan Hound and the Kooikerhondje is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Afghan Hound is a large-sized dog while the Kooikerhondje 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 Kooikerhondje 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 Kooikerhondje: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Afghan Hound to the Kooikerhondje 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 Kooikerhondje
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 14 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 2/5
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 14 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 3/5
General Health 3/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 3/5
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 4/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 5/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Weight 50 to 60 pounds 20 to 25 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.0 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
    		•  No Data

    *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 Kooikerhondje. 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 Kooikerhondje is 70 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Afghan Hound is a better pet than the Kooikerhondje. 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 Kooikerhondje so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Afghan Hound versus Kooikerhondje

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Afghan Hound and the Kooikerhondje

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

  • Afghan Hounds do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful. However, Kooikerhondjes do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Afghan Hounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly. However, Kooikerhondjes do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    • The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Kooikerhondje

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

  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kooikerhondje do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kooikerhondje require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kooikerhondje are not easy to train.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kooikerhondje do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kooikerhondje are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kooikerhondje are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kooikerhondje shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kooikerhondje are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kooikerhondje require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kooikerhondje are very playful.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kooikerhondje adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kooikerhondje 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 Kooikerhondje can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Kooikerhondje 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 Kooikerhondje

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

    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, Kooikerhondjes weigh 20 to 25 pounds when fully grown. Kooikerhondjes are 14 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Afghan Hound versus Kooikerhondje

    Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Kooikerhondje

    Afghan Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Kooikerhondjes do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Kooikerhondje?

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

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

    Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Kooikerhondje?

    Afghan Hounds are not easy to train.

    Kooikerhondjes are not easy to train.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Kooikerhondje

    Afghan Hounds do not like to be left alone.

    Kooikerhondjes do not like to be left alone.

    Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Kooikerhondjes?

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

    Kooikerhondjes bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Afghan Hounds are OK for new dog owners.

    Kooikerhondjes are OK for new dog owners.

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

    Afghan Hounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Kooikerhondjes do not get along well with other dogs.

    Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Kooikerhondjes?

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

    Kooikerhondjes shed moderately.

    Is the Afghan Hound Better for Apartment Owners than the Kooikerhondje?

    Afghan Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Kooikerhondjes adapt very well to apartment living.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Kooikerhondjes Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Kooikerhondjes can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Kooikerhondjes Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather.

    Kooikerhondjes can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Kooikerhondjes?

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

    Kooikerhondjes are good family dogs. They are affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Kooikerhondjes?

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

    Kooikerhondjes do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Kooikerhondje?

    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.

    Kooikerhondjes have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Wanderlust Potential: Afghan Hound vs. Kooikerhondje

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

    Kooikerhondjes 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 Kooikerhondje 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 Kooikerhondje:

  • Lakeland Terrier (75 percent match with Kooikerhondje). Here is our comparison of the Afghan Hound vs Lakeland Terrier.
  • Lhasapoo (75 percent match with Kooikerhondje). Here is our comparison of the Afghan Hound vs Lhasapoo.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Kooikerhondje

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

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Afghan Hound Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Afghan Hound versus Sloughi     Afghan Hound versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Afghan Hound versus Hovawart     Afghan Hound versus Fila Brasileiro     Afghan Hound versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Afghan Hound versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Afghan Hound versus Shih Tzu     Afghan Hound versus Belgian Malinois     Afghan Hound versus Boxerdoodle     Afghan Hound versus Sloughi     

    Kooikerhondje Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Kooikerhondje versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Kooikerhondje versus Saluki     Kooikerhondje versus Cavachon     Kooikerhondje versus Australian Cattle Dog     Kooikerhondje versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Kooikerhondje versus English Setter     Kooikerhondje versus Dogue de Bordeaux     Kooikerhondje versus Norwegian Buhund     Kooikerhondje versus American Foxhound     Kooikerhondje versus Stabyhoun     

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