Breed Comparison: Afghan Hound Versus Schipperke

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Afghan Hound Versus Schipperke: Introduction

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

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

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 Schipperke

Afghan Hound versus Schipperke: Overview

A very important difference between the Afghan Hound and the Schipperke is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Afghan Hound is a large-sized dog while the Schipperke is a tiny-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 Schipperke belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

Afghan Hound versus Schipperke: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Afghan Hound to the Schipperke 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 Schipperke
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 5/5 1/5
Easy To Train 1/5 2/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 13 to 15 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 3/5
Height 24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder 10 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
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 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 4/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 5/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Weight 50 to 60 pounds 11 to 18 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 14.0 years
Average Price $2390 $1200
Price Range $2250 – $2500 $900 – $1500
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hips
  • Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB (MPS IIIB)
  • Patellar Luxation
  • PennGen
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 105 109
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 79 15

    *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 Schipperke. 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 Schipperke is 73 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Afghan Hound is a better pet than the Schipperke. 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 Schipperke 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 Schipperke

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

  • Afghan Hounds require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Schipperkes are very easy to groom.
  • Afghan Hounds are not prone to gaining weight easily. However, Schipperkes gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather. However, Schipperkes cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Afghan Hounds have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Schipperkes have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Schipperke

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

  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Schipperke do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Schipperke are not easy to train.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Schipperke do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Schipperke are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Schipperke do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Schipperke shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Schipperke are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Schipperke require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Schipperke are very playful.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Schipperke adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Schipperke 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 Schipperke are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Schipperke get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Schipperke have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Schipperke 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 Schipperke

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

    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, Schipperkes weigh 11 to 18 pounds when fully grown. Schipperkes are 10 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Price of Afghan Hound versus Price of Schipperke

    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 Schipperke puppy is $1200. The price of the Schipperke typically ranges from $900 – $1500. However, the price of a Schipperke can be as low as $500 and as high as $2000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 48 Schipperke puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Afghan Hound is more expensive than the Schipperke.

    Afghan Hound Schipperke
    Average Price $2390 $1200
    Price Range $2250 to $2500 $900 to $1500

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Afghan Hound and Schipperke. For different price points, the charts show how many Afghan Hound puppies or how many Schipperke 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 Schipperkes

    A breakdown of the prices of Schipperkes

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

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Afghan Hounds and many Schipperkes 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, Schipperkes are also available for adoption. For example, Jake is a Male Schipperke that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Schipperkes like Jake that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Afghan Hound and the Schipperke can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Also Gus, an adorable Male Schipperke on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    You can find more Afghan Hounds and Schipperkes that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Afghan Hound versus the Intelligence of the Schipperke

    Afghan Hound Schipperke
    Intelligence Rank 79 out of 130 dog breeds 15 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More! Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Afghan Hound has an obedience intelligence rank of 79 out of 130 dog breeds. The Afghan Hound belongs to the `Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Afghan Hounds tend to learn new commands after 80 to 100 repetitions or more!.

    The Schipperke has an obedience intelligence rank of 15 out of 130 dog breeds. The Schipperke belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Schipperkes tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Schipperke is more intelligent than the Afghan Hound.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Afghan Hound versus Popularity of Schipperke

    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 Schipperke over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Afghan Hound is more popular with dog owners than the Schipperke. 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 Schipperke is 109 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Afghan Hound

    Popularity of Afghan Hound

    Popularity of Schipperke

    Popularity of Schipperke

    Year Afghan Hound Popularity Rank Schipperke Popularity Rank
    2013 95 109
    2014 98 109
    2015 100 109
    2016 113 112
    2017 93 110
    2018 113 105
    2019 111 106
    2020 122 114

    Health Problems of Afghan Hound versus Health Problems of Schipperke

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

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

    3 health tests are recommended for Afghan Hound while 7 tests are recommended for the Schipperke.

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

    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.

    Schipperke Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hips
  • Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB (MPS IIIB)
  • Patellar Luxation
  • PennGen
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Schipperkes here.

    Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Schipperke

    Afghan Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Schipperkes do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Schipperke?

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

    Schipperkes are very easy to groom.

    Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Schipperke?

    Afghan Hounds are not easy to train.

    Schipperkes are not easy to train.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Schipperke

    Afghan Hounds do not like to be left alone.

    Schipperkes can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Schipperkes?

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

    Schipperkes are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

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

    Afghan Hounds are OK for new dog owners.

    Schipperkes are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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

    Afghan Hounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Schipperkes do not get along well with other dogs.

    Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Schipperkes?

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

    Schipperkes shed moderately.

    Is the Afghan Hound Better for Apartment Owners than the Schipperke?

    Afghan Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Schipperkes adapt very well to apartment living.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Schipperkes Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Schipperkes can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Schipperkes Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather.

    Schipperkes cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Schipperkes?

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

    Schipperkes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Schipperkes?

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

    Schipperkes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Schipperke?

    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.

    Schipperkes 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. Schipperke

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

    Schipperkes 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 Schipperke 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 Schipperke:

  • Bluetick Coonhound (75 percent match with Schipperke). Here is our comparison of the Afghan Hound vs Bluetick Coonhound.
  • Miniature Pinscher (75 percent match with Schipperke). Here is our comparison of the Afghan Hound vs Miniature Pinscher.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Schipperke

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

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

    Afghan Hound Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Afghan Hound versus Silky Terrier     Afghan Hound versus Goldador     Afghan Hound versus Yorkipoo     Afghan Hound versus Azawakh     Afghan Hound versus Shichon     Afghan Hound versus Sealyham Terrier     Afghan Hound versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Afghan Hound versus Affenhuahua     Afghan Hound versus Golden Retriever     Afghan Hound versus Shiloh Shepherd     

    Schipperke Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Schipperke versus Portuguese Water Dog     Schipperke versus Chi-Poo     Schipperke versus Hovawart     Schipperke versus Komondor     Schipperke versus Border Collie     Schipperke versus Bernedoodle     Schipperke versus Pomchi     Schipperke versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Schipperke versus Black Russian Terrier     Schipperke versus Norwegian Buhund     

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