Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Afghan Hound Versus Leonberger: Introduction
- Afghan Hound versus Leonberger: Overview
- Afghan Hound versus Leonberger: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Afghan Hound and the Leonberger
- The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Leonberger
- Size (Weight and Height) of Afghan Hound versus Leonberger
- Price of Afghan Hound versus Price of Leonberger
- Adopting the Afghan Hound versus Adopting the Leonberger
- The Popularity of Afghan Hound versus Popularity of Leonberger
- Health Problems of Afghan Hound versus Health Problems of Leonberger
- Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Leonberger
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Leonberger?
- Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Leonberger?
- Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Leonberger
- Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Leonbergers?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afghan Hound or the Leonberger?
- Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Leonbergers?
- Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Leonbergers Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Leonbergers Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Leonbergers?
- How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Leonbergers?
- Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Leonberger?
- Wanderlust Potential: Afghan Hound vs. Leonberger
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Afghan Hound
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Leonberger
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Afghan Hound versus Leonberger. Which One is a Better Pet?
Afghan Hound Versus Leonberger: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Afghan Hound and the Leonberger? 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 Leonberger 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 Leonberger.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Afghan Hound and the Leonberger 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 Leonberger. 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 Leonberger.
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 Leonberger
Afghan Hound versus Leonberger: Overview
A very important difference between the Afghan Hound and the Leonberger is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Afghan Hound is a large-sized dog while the Leonberger is a giant-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 Leonberger belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.
Afghan Hound versus Leonberger: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Afghan Hound to the Leonberger 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 | Leonberger |
|---|---|---|
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Easy To Train | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Life Span | 10 to 12 years | 10 to 12 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 | 2/5 |
| Height | 24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder | 25 to 31 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Good For Novice Owners | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| General Health | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| 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 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 5/5 | 1/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Weight | 50 to 60 pounds | 120 to 170 pounds |
| Average Lifespan | 11.0 years | 11.0 years |
| Average Price | $2390 | $300 |
| Price Range | $2250 – $2500 | $300 – $300 |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
|
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 105 | 97 |
*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 Leonberger. 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 Leonberger is 63 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Afghan Hound is a better pet than the Leonberger. 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 Leonberger 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 Leonberger
Below is a list of where the Afghan Hound and the Leonberger are most different:
The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Leonberger
The Afghan Hound and the Leonberger are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Afghan Hound and the Leonberger are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Afghan Hound versus Leonberger
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Afghan Hound and the Leonberger.
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, Leonbergers weigh 120 to 170 pounds when fully grown. Leonbergers are 25 to 31 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Price of Afghan Hound versus Price of Leonberger
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 Leonberger puppy is $300. The price of the Leonberger typically ranges from $300 – $300. However, the price of a Leonberger can be as low as $300 and as high as $300. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 2 Leonberger puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Afghan Hound is more expensive than the Leonberger.
| Afghan Hound | Leonberger | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $2390 | $300 |
| Price Range | $2250 to $2500 | $300 to $300 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Afghan Hound and Leonberger. For different price points, the charts show how many Afghan Hound puppies or how many Leonberger 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 Leonbergers
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Afghan Hound puppy or the Leonberger 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 Leonberger
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Afghan Hounds and many Leonbergers 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, Leonbergers are also available for adoption. For example, Dale is a Male Leonberger that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Leonbergers like Dale that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
You can find more Afghan Hounds and Leonbergers that are available for adoption on petfinder.
The Popularity of Afghan Hound versus Popularity of Leonberger
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 Leonberger over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Leonberger is more popular with dog owners than the Afghan Hound. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Leonberger is 97 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 Leonberger
| Year | Afghan Hound Popularity Rank | Leonberger Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 95 | 98 |
| 2014 | 98 | 104 |
| 2015 | 100 | 93 |
| 2016 | 113 | 95 |
| 2017 | 93 | 100 |
| 2018 | 113 | 93 |
| 2019 | 111 | 95 |
| 2020 | 122 | 98 |
Health Problems of Afghan Hound versus Health Problems of Leonberger
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 Leonberger 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 Leonberger is prone to more genetic health problems than the Afghan Hound.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Leonberger than for the Afghan Hound.
3 health tests are recommended for Afghan Hound while 10 tests are recommended for the Leonberger.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Afghan Hounds and in Leonbergers.
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.
Leonberger Health Problems
Leonbergers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Leonberger 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 Leonberger puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Leonberger 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 Leonbergers for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Leonbergers here.
Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Leonberger
Afghan Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.
Leonbergers drool moderately.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Leonberger?
Afghan Hounds require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Leonbergers are very easy to groom.
Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Leonberger?
Afghan Hounds are not easy to train.
Leonbergers are not easy to train.
Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Leonberger
Afghan Hounds do not like to be left alone.
Leonbergers do not like to be left alone.
Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Leonbergers?
Afghan Hounds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Leonbergers bark and howl, but not very much.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Afghan Hound or the Leonberger?
Afghan Hounds are OK for new dog owners.
Leonbergers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afghan Hound or the Leonberger?
Afghan Hounds get along very well with other dogs.
Leonbergers get along fairly well with other dogs.
Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Leonbergers?
Afghan Hounds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Leonbergers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Is the Afghan Hound Better for Apartment Owners than the Leonberger?
Afghan Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.
Leonbergers do not adapt well to apartment living.
Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Leonbergers Tolerate Cold Weather?
Afghan Hounds can very well tolerate cold weather.
Leonbergers can very well tolerate cold weather.
Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Leonbergers Tolerate Hot Weather?
Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather.
Leonbergers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Leonbergers?
Afghan Hounds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Leonbergers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Leonbergers?
Afghan Hounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Leonbergers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Leonberger?
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.
Leonbergers 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. Leonberger
Afghan Hounds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Leonbergers do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Afghan Hound
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Leonberger 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 Leonberger:
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Leonberger
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 Leonberger compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Afghan Hound and of the Leonberger to other breeds:
Afghan Hound Versus Other Dog Breeds
Afghan Hound versus Valley Bulldog Afghan Hound versus Kishu Ken Afghan Hound versus Norwegian Lundehund Afghan Hound versus Chihuahua Afghan Hound versus Cockapoo Afghan Hound versus Swedish Vallhund Afghan Hound versus Bernese Mountain Dog Afghan Hound versus Chinook Afghan Hound versus Papipoo
Leonberger Versus Other Dog Breeds
Leonberger versus Boxerdoodle Leonberger versus Morkie Leonberger versus Newfoundland Leonberger versus Karelian Bear Dog Leonberger versus American Hairless Terrier Leonberger versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Leonberger versus Silky Terrier Leonberger versus Yorkshire Terrier Leonberger versus American Hairless Terrier Leonberger versus Lhasa Apso
Conclusion: Afghan Hound versus Leonberger. 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 Leonberger better suits you and your family.