Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Afghan Hound Versus Siberian Husky: Introduction
- Afghan Hound versus Siberian Husky: Overview
- Afghan Hound versus Siberian Husky: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Afghan Hound and the Siberian Husky
- The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Siberian Husky
- Size (Weight and Height) of Afghan Hound versus Siberian Husky
- Price of Afghan Hound versus Price of Siberian Husky
- Adopting the Afghan Hound versus Adopting the Siberian Husky
- The Intelligence of the Afghan Hound versus the Intelligence of the Siberian Husky
- The Popularity of Afghan Hound versus Popularity of Siberian Husky
- Health Problems of Afghan Hound versus Health Problems of Siberian Husky
- Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Siberian Husky
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Siberian Husky?
- Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Siberian Husky?
- Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Siberian Husky
- Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Siberian Huskys?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afghan Hound or the Siberian Husky?
- Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Siberian Huskys?
- Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Siberian Huskys Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Siberian Huskys Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Siberian Huskys?
- How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Siberian Huskys?
- Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Siberian Husky?
- Wanderlust Potential: Afghan Hound vs. Siberian Husky
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Afghan Hound
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Siberian Husky
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Afghan Hound versus Siberian Husky. Which One is a Better Pet?
Afghan Hound Versus Siberian Husky: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Afghan Hound and the Siberian Husky? 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 Siberian Husky 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 Siberian Husky.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Afghan Hound and the Siberian Husky 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 Siberian Husky. 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 Siberian Husky.
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 Siberian Husky
Afghan Hound versus Siberian Husky: Overview
A very important difference between the Afghan Hound and the Siberian Husky is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Afghan Hound is a large-sized dog while the Siberian Husky is a medium-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 Siberian Husky 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 Siberian Husky: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Afghan Hound to the Siberian Husky 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 | Siberian Husky |
|---|---|---|
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Easy To Train | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Life Span | 10 to 12 years | 12 to 15 years |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Height | 24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder | 20 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Good For Novice Owners | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| General Health | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| 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 | 3/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Weight | 50 to 60 pounds | 35 to 60 pounds |
| Average Lifespan | 11.0 years | 13.5 years |
| Average Price | $2390 | $1080 |
| Price Range | $2250 – $2500 | $700 – $1250 |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
|
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 105 | 13 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 79 | 45 |
*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 Siberian Husky. 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 Siberian Husky is 71 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Afghan Hound is a better pet than the Siberian Husky. 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 Siberian Husky 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 Siberian Husky
Below is a list of where the Afghan Hound and the Siberian Husky are most different:
The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Siberian Husky
The Afghan Hound and the Siberian Husky are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Afghan Hound and the Siberian Husky are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Afghan Hound versus Siberian Husky
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Afghan Hound and the Siberian Husky.
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, Siberian Huskys weigh 35 to 60 pounds when fully grown. Siberian Huskys are 20 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Price of Afghan Hound versus Price of Siberian Husky
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 Siberian Husky puppy is $1080. The price of the Siberian Husky typically ranges from $700 – $1250. However, the price of a Siberian Husky can be as low as $100 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1036 Siberian Husky puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Afghan Hound is more expensive than the Siberian Husky.
| Afghan Hound | Siberian Husky | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $2390 | $1080 |
| Price Range | $2250 to $2500 | $700 to $1250 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Afghan Hound and Siberian Husky. For different price points, the charts show how many Afghan Hound puppies or how many Siberian Husky 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 Siberian Huskys
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Afghan Hound puppy or the Siberian Husky 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 Siberian Husky
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Afghan Hounds and many Siberian Huskys 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, Siberian Huskys are also available for adoption. For example, A540487 is a Male Siberian Husky that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Siberian Huskys like A540487 that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
Also Smokey, an adorable Male Siberian Husky on petfinder.com that you can adopt.
You can find more Afghan Hounds and Siberian Huskys that are available for adoption on petfinder.
The Intelligence of the Afghan Hound versus the Intelligence of the Siberian Husky
| Afghan Hound | Siberian Husky | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 79 out of 130 dog breeds | 45 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More! | Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 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:
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 Siberian Husky has an obedience intelligence rank of 45 out of 130 dog breeds. The Siberian Husky belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Siberian Huskys tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
The Siberian Husky 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 Siberian Husky
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 Siberian Husky over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Siberian Husky is more popular with dog owners than the Afghan Hound. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Siberian Husky is 13 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 Siberian Husky
| Year | Afghan Hound Popularity Rank | Siberian Husky Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 95 | 14 |
| 2014 | 98 | 13 |
| 2015 | 100 | 12 |
| 2016 | 113 | 12 |
| 2017 | 93 | 12 |
| 2018 | 113 | 14 |
| 2019 | 111 | 15 |
| 2020 | 122 | 16 |
Health Problems of Afghan Hound versus Health Problems of Siberian Husky
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 Siberian Husky 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 Afghan Hound is prone to more genetic health problems than the Siberian Husky.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Afghan Hound than for the Siberian Husky.
3 health tests are recommended for Afghan Hound while 2 tests are recommended for the Siberian Husky.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Afghan Hounds and in Siberian Huskys.
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.
Siberian Husky Health Problems
Siberian Huskys are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Siberian Husky 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 Siberian Husky puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Siberian Husky 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 Siberian Huskys for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Siberian Huskys here.
Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Siberian Husky
Afghan Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.
Siberian Huskys drool moderately.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Siberian Husky?
Afghan Hounds require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Siberian Huskys require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Siberian Husky?
Afghan Hounds are not easy to train.
Siberian Huskys are not easy to train.
Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Siberian Husky
Afghan Hounds do not like to be left alone.
Siberian Huskys do not like to be left alone.
Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Siberian Huskys?
Afghan Hounds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Siberian Huskys are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Afghan Hound or the Siberian Husky?
Afghan Hounds are OK for new dog owners.
Siberian Huskys are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Afghan Hound or the Siberian Husky?
Afghan Hounds get along very well with other dogs.
Siberian Huskys get along very well with other dogs.
Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Siberian Huskys?
Afghan Hounds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Siberian Huskys shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Is the Afghan Hound Better for Apartment Owners than the Siberian Husky?
Afghan Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.
Siberian Huskys do not adapt well to apartment living.
Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Siberian Huskys Tolerate Cold Weather?
Afghan Hounds can very well tolerate cold weather.
Siberian Huskys can very well tolerate cold weather.
Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Siberian Huskys Tolerate Hot Weather?
Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather.
Siberian Huskys can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Siberian Huskys?
Afghan Hounds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Siberian Huskys are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Siberian Huskys?
Afghan Hounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Siberian Huskys get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Siberian Husky?
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.
Siberian Huskys have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.
Wanderlust Potential: Afghan Hound vs. Siberian Husky
Afghan Hounds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Siberian Huskys 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 Siberian Husky 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 Siberian Husky:
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Siberian Husky
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 Siberian Husky compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Afghan Hound and of the Siberian Husky to other breeds:
Afghan Hound Versus Other Dog Breeds
Afghan Hound versus Japanese Spitz Afghan Hound versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne Afghan Hound versus Kishu Ken Afghan Hound versus Flat-Coated Retriever Afghan Hound versus Norwich Terrier Afghan Hound versus Rhodesian Ridgeback Afghan Hound versus American Staffordshire Terrier Afghan Hound versus Weimaraner Afghan Hound versus Pomsky Afghan Hound versus Bracco Italiano
Siberian Husky Versus Other Dog Breeds
Siberian Husky versus Finnish Spitz Siberian Husky versus Standard Poodle Siberian Husky versus Pharaoh Hound Siberian Husky versus Beagle Siberian Husky versus Westiepoo Siberian Husky versus Spinone Italiano Siberian Husky versus Biewer Terrier Siberian Husky versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog Siberian Husky versus Standard Poodle Siberian Husky versus Maremma Sheepdog
Conclusion: Afghan Hound versus Siberian Husky. 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 Siberian Husky better suits you and your family.