Is the Afghan Hound Better than the Skye Terrier as a Pet? Answer…

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Afghan Hound Versus Skye Terrier: Introduction

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

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

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 Skye Terrier

Afghan Hound versus Skye Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Afghan Hound and the Skye Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Afghan Hound is a large-sized dog while the Skye Terrier 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 Skye Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

Afghan Hound versus Skye Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Afghan Hound to the Skye Terrier 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 Skye Terrier
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 12 to 14 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 2/5
Height 24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 4/5
General Health 3/5 5/5
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 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 4/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 5/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Weight 50 to 60 pounds 25 to 40 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.0 years
Average Price $2390 $2000
Price Range $2250 – $2500 $2000 – $2000
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•  No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 105 176
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 79 55

    *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 Skye Terrier. 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 Skye Terrier is 82 out of 125.

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

    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 Skye Terrier 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 Skye Terrier

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

  • Afghan Hounds are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Skye Terriers are very friendly towards strangers.

    • The Similarities Between the Afghan Hound and the Skye Terrier

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

  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Skye Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Skye Terrier are not easy to train.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Skye Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Skye Terrier shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Skye Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Skye Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Skye Terrier are very playful.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Skye Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Skye Terrier can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Skye Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Skye Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Skye Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Skye Terrier have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Afghan Hound and the Skye Terrier have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Afghan Hound versus Skye Terrier

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

    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, Skye Terriers weigh 25 to 40 pounds when fully grown. Skye Terriers are 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Price of Afghan Hound versus Price of Skye Terrier

    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 Skye Terrier puppy is $2000. The price of the Skye Terrier typically ranges from $2000 – $2000. However, the price of a Skye Terrier can be as low as $2000 and as high as $2000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1 Skye Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Afghan Hound is more expensive than the Skye Terrier.

    Afghan Hound Skye Terrier
    Average Price $2390 $2000
    Price Range $2250 to $2500 $2000 to $2000

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Skye Terriers

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

    The Intelligence of the Afghan Hound versus the Intelligence of the Skye Terrier

    Afghan Hound Skye Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 79 out of 130 dog breeds 55 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More! Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 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 Skye Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 55 out of 130 dog breeds. The Skye Terrier belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Skye Terriers tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Skye Terrier 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 Skye Terrier

    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 Skye Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Afghan Hound is more popular with dog owners than the Skye Terrier. 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 Skye Terrier is 176 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Afghan Hound

    Popularity of Afghan Hound

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Year Afghan Hound Popularity Rank Skye Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 95 161
    2014 98 177
    2015 100 175
    2016 113 178
    2017 93 172
    2018 113 178
    2019 111 187
    2020 122 183

    Which one drools more, the Afghan Hound or the Skye Terrier

    Afghan Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Skye Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Afghan Hound or the Skye Terrier?

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

    Skye Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

    Is the Afghan Hound Easier to Train than the Skye Terrier?

    Afghan Hounds are not easy to train.

    Skye Terriers are not easy to train.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Afghan Hound versus Skye Terrier

    Afghan Hounds do not like to be left alone.

    Skye Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Afghan Hounds Bark and Howl? What about Skye Terriers?

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

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

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

    Afghan Hounds are OK for new dog owners.

    Skye Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

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

    Afghan Hounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Skye Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Do Afghan Hounds shed more than Skye Terriers?

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

    Skye Terriers shed moderately.

    Is the Afghan Hound Better for Apartment Owners than the Skye Terrier?

    Afghan Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Skye Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Skye Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Skye Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Afghan Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Skye Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Afghan Hounds can tolerate hot weather.

    Skye Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Are Afghan Hounds good family dogs? What about Skye Terriers?

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

    Skye Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Afghan Hounds and Skye Terriers?

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

    Skye Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Afghan Hound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Skye Terrier?

    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.

    Skye Terriers 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. Skye Terrier

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

    Skye Terriers 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 Skye Terrier 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 Skye Terrier:

  • Lakeland Terrier (78 percent match with Skye Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Afghan Hound vs Lakeland Terrier.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Skye Terrier

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

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Afghan Hound Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Afghan Hound versus Bearded Collie     Afghan Hound versus Hovawart     Afghan Hound versus Azawakh     Afghan Hound versus Norfolk Terrier     Afghan Hound versus Irish Terrier     Afghan Hound versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Afghan Hound versus Cocker Spaniel     Afghan Hound versus Lhasa Apso     Afghan Hound versus Cavachon     Afghan Hound versus Leonberger     

    Skye Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Skye Terrier versus Carolina Dog     Skye Terrier versus Puli     Skye Terrier versus Irish Water Spaniel     Skye Terrier versus Bulldog     Skye Terrier versus Valley Bulldog     Skye Terrier versus Great Dane     Skye Terrier versus Papipoo     Skye Terrier versus Morkie     Skye Terrier versus Irish Setter     Skye Terrier versus Japanese Spitz     

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