Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Afghan Hound Versus Pyrenean Shepherd: Introduction
- Afghan Hound versus Pyrenean Shepherd: Overview
- Afghan Hound versus Pyrenean Shepherd: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Shepherd
- The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Shepherd
- Size (Weight and Height) of Afghan Hound versus Pyrenean Shepherd
- Adopting the Afghan Hound versus Adopting the Pyrenean Shepherd
- The Popularity of Afghan Hound versus Popularity of Pyrenean Shepherd
- Health Problems of Afghan Hound versus Health Problems of Pyrenean Shepherd
- Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Pyrenean Shepherd
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Pyrenean Shepherd?
- Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Pyrenean Shepherd?
- Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Pyrenean Shepherd
- Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Pyrenean Shepherds?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afghan Hound or the Pyrenean Shepherd?
- Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Pyrenean Shepherds?
- Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Pyrenean Shepherds Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pyrenean Shepherds Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Pyrenean Shepherds?
- How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Pyrenean Shepherds?
- Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Pyrenean Shepherd?
- Wanderlust Potential: Afghan Hound vs. Pyrenean Shepherd
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Afghan Hound
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Pyrenean Shepherd
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Afghan Hound versus Pyrenean Shepherd. Which One is a Better Pet?
Afghan Hound Versus Pyrenean Shepherd: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Shepherd? 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 Shepherd 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 Shepherd.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Shepherd 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 Shepherd. 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 Shepherd.
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 Shepherd
Afghan Hound versus Pyrenean Shepherd: Overview
A very important difference between the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Shepherd is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Afghan Hound is a large-sized dog while the Pyrenean Shepherd 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 Pyrenean Shepherd 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 Pyrenean Shepherd: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Afghan Hound to the Pyrenean Shepherd 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 Shepherd |
|---|---|---|
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Train | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Life Span | 10 to 12 years | 15 to 17 years |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Height | 24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder | 15 to 21 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Good For Novice Owners | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| General Health | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| 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 | 5/5 |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| 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 | 25 to 30 pounds |
| Average Lifespan | 11.0 years | 16.0 years |
| Average Price | $2390 | No Data |
| Price Range | $2250 – $2500 | No Data |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
|
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 105 | 178 |
*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 Shepherd. 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 Shepherd is 72 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Afghan Hound is a better pet than the Pyrenean Shepherd. 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 Pyrenean Shepherd 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 Shepherd
Below is a list of where the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Shepherd are most different:
The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Shepherd
The Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Shepherd are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Shepherd are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Afghan Hound versus Pyrenean Shepherd
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Afghan Hound and the Pyrenean Shepherd.
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 Shepherds weigh 25 to 30 pounds when fully grown. Pyrenean Shepherds are 15 to 21 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Adopting the Afghan Hound versus Adopting the Pyrenean Shepherd
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Afghan Hounds and many Pyrenean Shepherds 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, Pyrenean Shepherds are also available for adoption. For example, Boone is a Male Pyrenean Shepherd that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Pyrenean Shepherds like Boone that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
You can find more Afghan Hounds and Pyrenean Shepherds that are available for adoption on petfinder.
The Popularity of Afghan Hound versus Popularity of Pyrenean Shepherd
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 Pyrenean Shepherd over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Afghan Hound is more popular with dog owners than the Pyrenean Shepherd. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Afghan Hound is 105 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Pyrenean Shepherd is 178 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Afghan Hound
Popularity of Pyrenean Shepherd
| Year | Afghan Hound Popularity Rank | Pyrenean Shepherd Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 95 | 169 |
| 2014 | 98 | 178 |
| 2015 | 100 | 176 |
| 2016 | 113 | 176 |
| 2017 | 93 | 180 |
| 2018 | 113 | 181 |
| 2019 | 111 | 182 |
| 2020 | 122 | 182 |
Health Problems of Afghan Hound versus Health Problems of Pyrenean Shepherd
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 Pyrenean Shepherd 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 Pyrenean Shepherd is prone to more genetic health problems than the Afghan Hound.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Pyrenean Shepherd than for the Afghan Hound.
3 health tests are recommended for Afghan Hound while 5 tests are recommended for the Pyrenean Shepherd.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Afghan Hounds and in Pyrenean Shepherds.
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.
Pyrenean Shepherd Health Problems
Pyrenean Shepherds are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Pyrenean Shepherd 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 Pyrenean Shepherd puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Pyrenean Shepherd 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 Pyrenean Shepherds for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Pyrenean Shepherds here.
Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Pyrenean Shepherd
Afghan Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.
Pyrenean Shepherds do have a very low tendency to drool.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Pyrenean Shepherd?
Afghan Hounds require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Pyrenean Shepherds are moderately easy to groom.
Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Pyrenean Shepherd?
Afghan Hounds are not easy to train.
Pyrenean Shepherds are not easy to train.
Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Pyrenean Shepherd
Afghan Hounds do not like to be left alone.
Pyrenean Shepherds do not like to be left alone.
Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Pyrenean Shepherds?
Afghan Hounds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Pyrenean Shepherds are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Afghan Hound or the Pyrenean Shepherd?
Afghan Hounds are OK for new dog owners.
Pyrenean Shepherds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afghan Hound or the Pyrenean Shepherd?
Afghan Hounds get along very well with other dogs.
Pyrenean Shepherds do not get along well with other dogs.
Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Pyrenean Shepherds?
Afghan Hounds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Pyrenean Shepherds shed moderately.
Is the Afghan Hound Better for Apartment Owners than the Pyrenean Shepherd?
Afghan Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.
Pyrenean Shepherds adapt very well to apartment living.
Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Pyrenean Shepherds Tolerate Cold Weather?
Afghan Hounds can very well tolerate cold weather.
Pyrenean Shepherds can very well tolerate cold weather.
Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pyrenean Shepherds Tolerate Hot Weather?
Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather.
Pyrenean Shepherds can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Pyrenean Shepherds?
Afghan Hounds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Pyrenean Shepherds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Pyrenean Shepherds?
Afghan Hounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Pyrenean Shepherds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Pyrenean Shepherd?
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 Shepherds 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. Pyrenean Shepherd
Afghan Hounds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Pyrenean Shepherds 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 Shepherd 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 Shepherd:
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Pyrenean Shepherd
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 Pyrenean Shepherd compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Afghan Hound and of the Pyrenean Shepherd to other breeds:
Afghan Hound Versus Other Dog Breeds
Afghan Hound versus Weimaraner Afghan Hound versus Alaskan Klee Kai Afghan Hound versus Finnish Lapphund Afghan Hound versus Pekingese Afghan Hound versus Kuvasz Afghan Hound versus Carolina Dog Afghan Hound versus Manchester Terrier Afghan Hound versus German Shorthaired Pointer Afghan Hound versus King Shepherd Afghan Hound versus Labrador Retriever
Pyrenean Shepherd Versus Other Dog Breeds
Pyrenean Shepherd versus Briard Pyrenean Shepherd versus Weimaraner Pyrenean Shepherd versus Affenpinscher Pyrenean Shepherd versus Great Pyrenees Pyrenean Shepherd versus Beagle Pyrenean Shepherd versus Australian Shepherd Pyrenean Shepherd versus Labradoodle Pyrenean Shepherd versus Biewer Terrier Pyrenean Shepherd versus American Eskimo Dog Pyrenean Shepherd versus Portuguese Pointer
Conclusion: Afghan Hound versus Pyrenean Shepherd. 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 Shepherd better suits you and your family.