Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Afghan Hound Versus Shih Tzu: Introduction
- Afghan Hound versus Shih Tzu: Overview
- Afghan Hound versus Shih Tzu: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Afghan Hound and the Shih Tzu
- The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Shih Tzu
- Size (Weight and Height) of Afghan Hound versus Shih Tzu
- Price of Afghan Hound versus Price of Shih Tzu
- Adopting the Afghan Hound versus Adopting the Shih Tzu
- The Intelligence of the Afghan Hound versus the Intelligence of the Shih Tzu
- The Popularity of Afghan Hound versus Popularity of Shih Tzu
- Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Shih Tzu
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Shih Tzu?
- Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Shih Tzu?
- Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Shih Tzu
- Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Shih Tzus?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afghan Hound or the Shih Tzu?
- Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Shih Tzus?
- Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Shih Tzus Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Shih Tzus Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Shih Tzus?
- How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Shih Tzus?
- Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Shih Tzu?
- Wanderlust Potential: Afghan Hound vs. Shih Tzu
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Afghan Hound
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Shih Tzu
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Afghan Hound versus Shih Tzu. Which One is a Better Pet?
Afghan Hound Versus Shih Tzu: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Afghan Hound and the Shih Tzu? 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 Shih Tzu 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 Shih Tzu.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Afghan Hound and the Shih Tzu 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 Shih Tzu. 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 Shih Tzu.
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 Shih Tzu
Afghan Hound versus Shih Tzu: Overview
A very important difference between the Afghan Hound and the Shih Tzu is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Afghan Hound is a large-sized dog while the Shih Tzu 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 Shih Tzu 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 Shih Tzu: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Afghan Hound to the Shih Tzu 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 | Shih Tzu |
|---|---|---|
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Easy To Train | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Life Span | 10 to 12 years | 10 to 16 years |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Height | 24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder | 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Good For Novice Owners | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| General Health | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| 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 | 4/5 |
| Weight | 50 to 60 pounds | 9 to 16 pounds |
| Average Lifespan | 11.0 years | 13.0 years |
| Average Price | $2390 | $1820 |
| Price Range | $2250 – $2500 | $1200 – $2300 |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
No Data |
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 105 | 18 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 79 | 70 |
*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 Shih Tzu. 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 Shih Tzu is 86 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Shih Tzu is a better pet than the Afghan Hound. So, you should get the Shih Tzu!
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 Shih Tzu 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 Shih Tzu
Below is a list of where the Afghan Hound and the Shih Tzu are most different:
The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Shih Tzu
The Afghan Hound and the Shih Tzu are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Afghan Hound and the Shih Tzu are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Afghan Hound versus Shih Tzu
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Afghan Hound and the Shih Tzu.
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, Shih Tzus weigh 9 to 16 pounds when fully grown. Shih Tzus are 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Price of Afghan Hound versus Price of Shih Tzu
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 Shih Tzu puppy is $1820. The price of the Shih Tzu typically ranges from $1200 – $2300. However, the price of a Shih Tzu can be as low as $200 and as high as $5850. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 806 Shih Tzu puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Afghan Hound is more expensive than the Shih Tzu.
| Afghan Hound | Shih Tzu | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $2390 | $1820 |
| Price Range | $2250 to $2500 | $1200 to $2300 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Afghan Hound and Shih Tzu. For different price points, the charts show how many Afghan Hound puppies or how many Shih Tzu 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 Shih Tzus
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Afghan Hound puppy or the Shih Tzu 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 Shih Tzu
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Afghan Hounds and many Shih Tzus 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, Shih Tzus are also available for adoption. For example, Morgan is a Male Shih Tzu that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Shih Tzus like Morgan that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
Also Tex, an adorable Male Shih Tzu on petfinder.com that you can adopt.
You can find more Afghan Hounds and Shih Tzus that are available for adoption on petfinder.
The Intelligence of the Afghan Hound versus the Intelligence of the Shih Tzu
| Afghan Hound | Shih Tzu | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 79 out of 130 dog breeds | 70 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More! | Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More! |
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:
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 Shih Tzu has an obedience intelligence rank of 70 out of 130 dog breeds. The Shih Tzu belongs to the `Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Shih Tzus tend to learn new commands after 80 to 100 repetitions or more!.
The Shih Tzu 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 Shih Tzu
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 Shih Tzu over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Shih Tzu is more popular with dog owners than the Afghan Hound. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Shih Tzu is 18 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 Shih Tzu
| Year | Afghan Hound Popularity Rank | Shih Tzu Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 95 | 15 |
| 2014 | 98 | 17 |
| 2015 | 100 | 19 |
| 2016 | 113 | 20 |
| 2017 | 93 | 20 |
| 2018 | 113 | 20 |
| 2019 | 111 | 20 |
| 2020 | 122 | 20 |
Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Shih Tzu
Afghan Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.
Shih Tzus do have a very low tendency to drool.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Shih Tzu?
Afghan Hounds require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Shih Tzus require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Shih Tzu?
Afghan Hounds are not easy to train.
Shih Tzus are fairly easy to train.
Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Shih Tzu
Afghan Hounds do not like to be left alone.
Shih Tzus can be left alone only for a short time.
Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Shih Tzus?
Afghan Hounds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Shih Tzus are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Afghan Hound or the Shih Tzu?
Afghan Hounds are OK for new dog owners.
Shih Tzus are very good for new dog owners.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afghan Hound or the Shih Tzu?
Afghan Hounds get along very well with other dogs.
Shih Tzus get along very well with other dogs.
Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Shih Tzus?
Afghan Hounds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Shih Tzus shed moderately.
Is the Afghan Hound Better for Apartment Owners than the Shih Tzu?
Afghan Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.
Shih Tzus adapt very well to apartment living.
Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Shih Tzus Tolerate Cold Weather?
Afghan Hounds can very well tolerate cold weather.
Shih Tzus can moderately tolerate cold weather.
Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Shih Tzus Tolerate Hot Weather?
Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather.
Shih Tzus cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Shih Tzus?
Afghan Hounds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Shih Tzus are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Shih Tzus?
Afghan Hounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Shih Tzus get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Shih Tzu?
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.
Shih Tzus 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. Shih Tzu
Afghan Hounds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Shih Tzus 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 Shih Tzu 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 Shih Tzu:
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Shih Tzu
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 Shih Tzu compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Afghan Hound and of the Shih Tzu to other breeds:
Afghan Hound Versus Other Dog Breeds
Afghan Hound versus Chi-Poo Afghan Hound versus Swedish Vallhund Afghan Hound versus Pekingese Afghan Hound versus Bernedoodle Afghan Hound versus Vizsla Afghan Hound versus Finnish Spitz Afghan Hound versus Doberman Pinscher Afghan Hound versus German Longhaired Pointer Afghan Hound versus Bluetick Coonhound Afghan Hound versus Beaglier
Shih Tzu Versus Other Dog Breeds
Shih Tzu versus Ibizan Hound Shih Tzu versus Shiba Inu Shih Tzu versus Saluki Shih Tzu versus Papillon Shih Tzu versus Mal Shi Shih Tzu versus Chorkie Shih Tzu versus Valley Bulldog Shih Tzu versus Mal Shi Shih Tzu versus Keeshond Shih Tzu versus Swedish Vallhund
Conclusion: Afghan Hound versus Shih Tzu. 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 Shih Tzu better suits you and your family.