Afghan Hound versus Pyrenean Mastiff. Final Verdict on Which is a Better Pet.

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Afghan Hound Versus Pyrenean Mastiff: Introduction

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

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

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 Pyrenean Mastiff

Afghan Hound versus Pyrenean Mastiff: Overview

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

The table below compares the Afghan Hound to the Pyrenean Mastiff 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 Pyrenean Mastiff
Does NOT Drool 5/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 5/5 4/5
Easy To Train 1/5 3/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 10 to 13 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 1/5
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 24 to 31 inches
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 3/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 2/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 5/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Weight 50 to 60 pounds 130 to 200 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 11.5 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 Pyrenean Mastiff. 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 Pyrenean Mastiff is 78 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Pyrenean Mastiff is not better or worse than the Afghan Hound. So, you can get the Pyrenean Mastiff or 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 Pyrenean Mastiff 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 Pyrenean Mastiff

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

  • Afghan Hounds do not have the tendency to drool. However, Pyrenean Mastiffs have a very high tendency to drool.
  • Afghan Hounds adapt well to apartment living. However, Pyrenean Mastiffs do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Afghan Hounds have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Pyrenean Mastiffs have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Afghan Hounds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects. However, Pyrenean Mastiffs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Mastiff

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

  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Mastiff are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Mastiff are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Mastiff are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Mastiff get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Mastiff shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Mastiff are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Mastiff require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Mastiff are very playful.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Mastiff 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 Pyrenean Mastiff can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Mastiff are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Mastiff get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Mastiff 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 Pyrenean Mastiff

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

    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, Pyrenean Mastiffs weigh 130 to 200 pounds when fully grown. Pyrenean Mastiffs are 24 to 31 inches when fully grown.

    Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Pyrenean Mastiff

    Afghan Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Pyrenean Mastiffs have a very high tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Pyrenean Mastiff?

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

    Pyrenean Mastiffs are moderately easy to groom.

    Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Pyrenean Mastiff?

    Afghan Hounds are not easy to train.

    Pyrenean Mastiffs are fairly easy to train.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Pyrenean Mastiff

    Afghan Hounds do not like to be left alone.

    Pyrenean Mastiffs can be left alone for some time without problems.

    Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Pyrenean Mastiffs?

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

    Pyrenean Mastiffs bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Afghan Hounds are OK for new dog owners.

    Pyrenean Mastiffs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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

    Afghan Hounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Pyrenean Mastiffs get along very well with other dogs.

    Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Pyrenean Mastiffs?

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

    Pyrenean Mastiffs shed moderately.

    Is the Afghan Hound Better for Apartment Owners than the Pyrenean Mastiff?

    Afghan Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Pyrenean Mastiffs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Pyrenean Mastiffs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Pyrenean Mastiffs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pyrenean Mastiffs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather.

    Pyrenean Mastiffs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Pyrenean Mastiffs?

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

    Pyrenean Mastiffs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Pyrenean Mastiffs?

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

    Pyrenean Mastiffs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Pyrenean Mastiff?

    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.

    Pyrenean Mastiffs have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Wanderlust Potential: Afghan Hound vs. Pyrenean Mastiff

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

    Pyrenean Mastiffs 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 Pyrenean Mastiff 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 Pyrenean Mastiff:

  • Central Asian Shepherd Dog (74 percent match with Pyrenean Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the Afghan Hound vs Central Asian Shepherd Dog.
  • Estrela Mountain Dog (75 percent match with Pyrenean Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the Afghan Hound vs Estrela Mountain Dog.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Pyrenean Mastiff

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

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

    Afghan Hound Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Afghan Hound versus Fila Brasileiro     Afghan Hound versus Lhasapoo     Afghan Hound versus Spanish Mastiff     Afghan Hound versus Catahoula Bulldog     Afghan Hound versus Swedish Vallhund     Afghan Hound versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Afghan Hound versus Sheepadoodle     Afghan Hound versus Airedale Terrier     Afghan Hound versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     

    Pyrenean Mastiff Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pyrenean Mastiff versus Great Pyrenees     Pyrenean Mastiff versus Belgian Malinois     Pyrenean Mastiff versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Pyrenean Mastiff versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Pyrenean Mastiff versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Pyrenean Mastiff versus Beaglier     Pyrenean Mastiff versus Lhasapoo     Pyrenean Mastiff versus Silky Terrier     Pyrenean Mastiff versus Lancashire Heeler     Pyrenean Mastiff versus Golden Retriever     

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