Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Afghan Hound Versus Mudi: Introduction
- Afghan Hound versus Mudi: Overview
- Afghan Hound versus Mudi: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Afghan Hound and the Mudi
- The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Mudi
- Size (Weight and Height) of Afghan Hound versus Mudi
- Health Problems of Afghan Hound versus Health Problems of Mudi
- Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Mudi
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Mudi?
- Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Mudi?
- Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Mudi
- Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Mudis?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afghan Hound or the Mudi?
- Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Mudis?
- Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Mudis Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Mudis Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Mudis?
- How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Mudis?
- Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Mudi?
- Wanderlust Potential: Afghan Hound vs. Mudi
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Afghan Hound
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Mudi
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Afghan Hound versus Mudi. Which One is a Better Pet?
Afghan Hound Versus Mudi: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Afghan Hound and the Mudi? 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 Mudi 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 Mudi.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Afghan Hound and the Mudi 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 Mudi. 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 Mudi.
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 Mudi
Afghan Hound versus Mudi: Overview
A very important difference between the Afghan Hound and the Mudi is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Afghan Hound is a large-sized dog while the Mudi 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 Mudi belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.
Afghan Hound versus Mudi: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Afghan Hound to the Mudi 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 | Mudi |
|---|---|---|
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Easy To Train | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| 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 | 2/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Height | 24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder | 14 to 20 inches |
| Good For Novice Owners | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| General Health | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| 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 | 2/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Weight | 50 to 60 pounds | 18 to 29 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 |
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*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 Mudi. 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 Mudi is 76 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Afghan Hound is a better pet than the Mudi. 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 Mudi 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 Mudi
Below is a list of where the Afghan Hound and the Mudi are most different:
The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Mudi
The Afghan Hound and the Mudi are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Afghan Hound and the Mudi are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Afghan Hound versus Mudi
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Afghan Hound and the Mudi.
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, Mudis weigh 18 to 29 pounds when fully grown. Mudis are 14 to 20 inches when fully grown.
Health Problems of Afghan Hound versus Health Problems of Mudi
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 Mudi 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 Mudi is prone to more genetic health problems than the Afghan Hound.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Mudi than for the Afghan Hound.
3 health tests are recommended for Afghan Hound while 10 tests are recommended for the Mudi.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Afghan Hounds and in Mudis.
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.
Mudi Health Problems
Mudis are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Mudi 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 Mudi puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Mudi 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 Mudis for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Mudis here.
Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Mudi
Afghan Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.
Mudis do have a very low tendency to drool.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Mudi?
Afghan Hounds require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Mudis are very easy to groom.
Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Mudi?
Afghan Hounds are not easy to train.
Mudis are very easy to train.
Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Mudi
Afghan Hounds do not like to be left alone.
Mudis do not like to be left alone.
Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Mudis?
Afghan Hounds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Mudis are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Afghan Hound or the Mudi?
Afghan Hounds are OK for new dog owners.
Mudis are very good for new dog owners.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afghan Hound or the Mudi?
Afghan Hounds get along very well with other dogs.
Mudis do not get along well with other dogs.
Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Mudis?
Afghan Hounds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Mudis shed moderately.
Is the Afghan Hound Better for Apartment Owners than the Mudi?
Afghan Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.
Mudis do not adapt well to apartment living.
Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Mudis Tolerate Cold Weather?
Afghan Hounds can very well tolerate cold weather.
Mudis can moderately tolerate cold weather.
Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Mudis Tolerate Hot Weather?
Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather.
Mudis can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Mudis?
Afghan Hounds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Mudis are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Mudis?
Afghan Hounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Mudis do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Mudi?
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.
Mudis 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. Mudi
Afghan Hounds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Mudis have a high tendency to wander. They are easily 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 Mudi 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 Mudi:
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Mudi
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 Mudi compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Afghan Hound and of the Mudi to other breeds:
Afghan Hound Versus Other Dog Breeds
Afghan Hound versus Chorkie Afghan Hound versus Pyrenean Shepherd Afghan Hound versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Afghan Hound versus Border Collie Afghan Hound versus Barbet Afghan Hound versus Plott Afghan Hound versus Catahoula Leopard Dog Afghan Hound versus Lancashire Heeler Afghan Hound versus American Staffordshire Terrier Afghan Hound versus Biewer Terrier
Mudi Versus Other Dog Breeds
Mudi versus Biewer Terrier Mudi versus Chinese Shar-Pei Mudi versus English Springer Spaniel Mudi versus Gordon Setter Mudi versus Great Dane Mudi versus American Foxhound Mudi versus Bergamasco Sheepdog Mudi versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog Mudi versus Standard Poodle Mudi versus English Cocker Spaniel
Conclusion: Afghan Hound versus Mudi. 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 Mudi better suits you and your family.