Afghan Hound versus Lagotto Romagnolo. Final Verdict on Which is a Better Pet.

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Afghan Hound Versus Lagotto Romagnolo: Introduction

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

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

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 Lagotto Romagnolo

Afghan Hound versus Lagotto Romagnolo: Overview

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

The table below compares the Afghan Hound to the Lagotto Romagnolo 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 Lagotto Romagnolo
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 1/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 5/5 3/5
Easy To Train 1/5 4/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 14 to 17 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 4/5
Height 24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder 14 to 19 inches
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 4/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 5/5
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 2/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
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 3/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Weight 50 to 60 pounds 24 to 35 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 15.5 years
Average Price $2390 $5210
Price Range $2250 – $2500 $4994 – $5819
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Benign Familial Juvenile Epilepsy
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye examination each year, results registered with the OFA.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Lagotto Storage Disease
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 105 101

    *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 Lagotto Romagnolo. 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 Lagotto Romagnolo is 80 out of 125.

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

    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 Lagotto Romagnolo 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 Lagotto Romagnolo

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

  • Afghan Hounds are not easy to train. However, Lagotto Romagnolos are very easy to train.
  • Afghan Hounds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies. However, Lagotto Romagnolos do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Afghan Hounds adapt well to apartment living. However, Lagotto Romagnolos do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Lagotto Romagnolo

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

  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Lagotto Romagnolo do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Lagotto Romagnolo require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Lagotto Romagnolo do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Lagotto Romagnolo are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Lagotto Romagnolo are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Lagotto Romagnolo do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Lagotto Romagnolo get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Lagotto Romagnolo are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Lagotto Romagnolo require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Lagotto Romagnolo are very playful.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Lagotto Romagnolo can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Lagotto Romagnolo have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Lagotto Romagnolo 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 Lagotto Romagnolo

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

    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, Lagotto Romagnolos weigh 24 to 35 pounds when fully grown. Lagotto Romagnolos are 14 to 19 inches when fully grown.

    Price of Afghan Hound versus Price of Lagotto Romagnolo

    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 Lagotto Romagnolo puppy is $5210. The price of the Lagotto Romagnolo typically ranges from $4994 – $5819. However, the price of a Lagotto Romagnolo can be as low as $3850 and as high as $6100. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 12 Lagotto Romagnolo puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Lagotto Romagnolo is more expensive than the Afghan Hound.

    Afghan Hound Lagotto Romagnolo
    Average Price $2390 $5210
    Price Range $2250 to $2500 $4994 to $5819

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Afghan Hound and Lagotto Romagnolo. For different price points, the charts show how many Afghan Hound puppies or how many Lagotto Romagnolo 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 Afghan Hounds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Lagotto Romagnolos

    A breakdown of the prices of Lagotto Romagnolos

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Afghan Hound puppy or the Lagotto Romagnolo 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 Popularity of Afghan Hound versus Popularity of Lagotto Romagnolo

    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 Lagotto Romagnolo over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Lagotto Romagnolo is more popular with dog owners than the Afghan Hound. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Lagotto Romagnolo is 101 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 Afghan Hound

    Popularity of Lagotto Romagnolo

    Popularity of Lagotto Romagnolo

    Year Afghan Hound Popularity Rank Lagotto Romagnolo Popularity Rank
    2013 95 no data
    2014 98 no data
    2015 100 no data
    2016 113 114.0
    2017 93 117.0
    2018 113 99.0
    2019 111 90.0
    2020 122 88.0

    Health Problems of Afghan Hound versus Health Problems of Lagotto Romagnolo

    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 Lagotto Romagnolo 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 Lagotto Romagnolo is prone to more genetic health problems than the Afghan Hound.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Lagotto Romagnolo than for the Afghan Hound.

    3 health tests are recommended for Afghan Hound while 6 tests are recommended for the Lagotto Romagnolo.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Afghan Hounds and in Lagotto Romagnolos.

    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.

    Lagotto Romagnolo Health Problems

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

  • Benign Familial Juvenile Epilepsy
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye examination each year, results registered with the OFA.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Lagotto Storage Disease
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Lagotto Romagnolos here.

    Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Lagotto Romagnolo

    Afghan Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Lagotto Romagnolos do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Lagotto Romagnolo?

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

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

    Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Lagotto Romagnolo?

    Afghan Hounds are not easy to train.

    Lagotto Romagnolos are very easy to train.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Lagotto Romagnolo

    Afghan Hounds do not like to be left alone.

    Lagotto Romagnolos can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Lagotto Romagnolos?

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

    Lagotto Romagnolos bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Afghan Hounds are OK for new dog owners.

    Lagotto Romagnolos are very good for new dog owners.

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

    Afghan Hounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Lagotto Romagnolos get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Lagotto Romagnolos?

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

    Lagotto Romagnolos do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Is the Afghan Hound Better for Apartment Owners than the Lagotto Romagnolo?

    Afghan Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Lagotto Romagnolos do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Lagotto Romagnolos Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Lagotto Romagnolos can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Lagotto Romagnolos Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather.

    Lagotto Romagnolos can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Lagotto Romagnolos?

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

    Lagotto Romagnolos are good family dogs. They are affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Lagotto Romagnolos?

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

    Lagotto Romagnolos get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Lagotto Romagnolo?

    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.

    Lagotto Romagnolos 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. Lagotto Romagnolo

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

    Lagotto Romagnolos 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 Lagotto Romagnolo 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 Lagotto Romagnolo:

  • Boxerdoodle (77 percent match with Lagotto Romagnolo). Here is our comparison of the Afghan Hound vs Boxerdoodle.
  • Polish Lowland Sheepdog (77 percent match with Lagotto Romagnolo). Here is our comparison of the Afghan Hound vs Polish Lowland Sheepdog.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Lagotto Romagnolo

    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 Lagotto Romagnolo vs Bedlington Terrier.
  • Standard Schnauzer (72 percent match with Afghan Hound). Here is our comparison of the Lagotto Romagnolo vs Standard Schnauzer.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Afghan Hound Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Afghan Hound versus Dogo Argentino     Afghan Hound versus Jack Russell Terrier     Afghan Hound versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Afghan Hound versus Greyhound     Afghan Hound versus Borzoi     Afghan Hound versus Collie     Afghan Hound versus Jack Russell Terrier     Afghan Hound versus Belgian Tervuren     Afghan Hound versus Skye Terrier     Afghan Hound versus Shihpoo     

    Lagotto Romagnolo Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Lagotto Romagnolo versus Sealyham Terrier     Lagotto Romagnolo versus Miniature Poodle     Lagotto Romagnolo versus Irish Setter     Lagotto Romagnolo versus Belgian Sheepdog     Lagotto Romagnolo versus Standard Schnauzer     Lagotto Romagnolo versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Lagotto Romagnolo versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Lagotto Romagnolo versus Saint Bernard     Lagotto Romagnolo versus Swedish Vallhund     Lagotto Romagnolo versus Icelandic Sheepdog     

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