Which is Better between the Afghan Hound and the Shihpoo? A Very Detailed Review.

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Afghan Hound Versus Shihpoo: Introduction

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

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

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 Shihpoo

Afghan Hound versus Shihpoo: Overview

A very important difference between the Afghan Hound and the Shihpoo is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Afghan Hound is a large-sized dog while the Shihpoo 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 Shihpoo belongs to the Mixed Breed Dogs group. Mixed Breed Dogs are not purebred dogs.

Afghan Hound versus Shihpoo: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Afghan Hound to the Shihpoo 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 Shihpoo
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 5/5 2/5
Easy To Train 1/5 2/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 13 to 17 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 5/5
Height 24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder 8 to 18 inches
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
General Health 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 5/5
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 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 5/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Weight 50 to 60 pounds 8 to 18 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 15.0 years
Average Price $2390 $1590
Price Range $2250 – $2500 $1200 – $2000
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 Shihpoo. 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 Shihpoo is 84 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Shihpoo is a better pet than the Afghan Hound. So, you should get the Shihpoo!

    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 Shihpoo 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 Shihpoo

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

  • Afghan Hounds are not prone to gaining weight easily. However, Shihpoos gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Afghan Hounds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies. However, Shihpoos do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather. However, Shihpoos 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, Shihpoos 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, Shihpoos 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 Shihpoo

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

  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Shihpoo do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Shihpoo require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Shihpoo are not easy to train.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Shihpoo do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Shihpoo are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Shihpoo do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Shihpoo are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Shihpoo are very playful.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Shihpoo adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Shihpoo 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 Shihpoo are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Afghan Hound versus Shihpoo

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

    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, Shihpoos weigh 8 to 18 pounds when fully grown. Shihpoos are 8 to 18 inches when fully grown.

    Price of Afghan Hound versus Price of Shihpoo

    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 Shihpoo puppy is $1590. The price of the Shihpoo typically ranges from $1200 – $2000. However, the price of a Shihpoo can be as low as $300 and as high as $4325. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 283 Shihpoo puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Afghan Hound is more expensive than the Shihpoo.

    Afghan Hound Shihpoo
    Average Price $2390 $1590
    Price Range $2250 to $2500 $1200 to $2000

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Shihpoos

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

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

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

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

    Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Shihpoo

    Afghan Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Shihpoos do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

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

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

    Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Shihpoo?

    Afghan Hounds are not easy to train.

    Shihpoos are not easy to train.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Shihpoo

    Afghan Hounds do not like to be left alone.

    Shihpoos do not like to be left alone.

    Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Shihpoos?

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

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

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

    Afghan Hounds are OK for new dog owners.

    Shihpoos are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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

    Afghan Hounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Shihpoos do not get along well with other dogs.

    Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Shihpoos?

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

    Shihpoos do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

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

    Afghan Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Shihpoos adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Afghan Hounds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Shihpoos can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Shihpoos Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Shihpoos?

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Shihpoos?

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

    Shihpoos get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

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

    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.

    Shihpoos 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. Shihpoo

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

    Shihpoos 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 Shihpoo 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 Shihpoo:

  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier (75 percent match with Shihpoo). Here is our comparison of the Afghan Hound vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Japanese Chin (75 percent match with Shihpoo). Here is our comparison of the Afghan Hound vs Japanese Chin.
  • Shiranian (76 percent match with Shihpoo). Here is our comparison of the Afghan Hound vs Shiranian.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Shihpoo

    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 Shihpoo vs Bedlington Terrier.
  • Standard Schnauzer (72 percent match with Afghan Hound). Here is our comparison of the Shihpoo vs Standard Schnauzer.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Afghan Hound Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Afghan Hound versus Carolina Dog     Afghan Hound versus Westiepoo     Afghan Hound versus Shiloh Shepherd     Afghan Hound versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     Afghan Hound versus King Shepherd     Afghan Hound versus Lakeland Terrier     Afghan Hound versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Afghan Hound versus French Bulldog     Afghan Hound versus Finnish Lapphund     Afghan Hound versus American Foxhound     

    Shihpoo Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Shihpoo versus Bernedoodle     Shihpoo versus Xoloitzcuintli     Shihpoo versus Norwich Terrier     Shihpoo versus King Shepherd     Shihpoo versus English Setter     Shihpoo versus Skye Terrier     Shihpoo versus Chihuahua     Shihpoo versus Doberman Pinscher     Shihpoo versus Finnish Lapphund     Shihpoo versus Harrier     

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