Is the American Foxhound Better than the Boerboel as a Pet? Our Answer.

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American Foxhound Versus Boerboel: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the American Foxhound and the Boerboel? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the American Foxhound and the Boerboel 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 American Foxhound and the Boerboel.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the American Foxhound and the Boerboel 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 American Foxhound and for the Boerboel. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the American Foxhound and the Boerboel.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the American Foxhound or the Boerboel.

American Foxhound versus Boerboel: Overview

A very important difference between the American Foxhound and the Boerboel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The American Foxhound is a medium-sized dog while the Boerboel is a giant-sized dog.

Furthermore, the American Foxhound 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 Boerboel 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.

American Foxhound versus Boerboel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the American Foxhound to the Boerboel 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.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the American Foxhound and the Boerboel

Factor American Foxhound Boerboel
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 2/5
Life Span 12 to 13 years 10 to 12 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 1/5
Easygoing 4/5 3/5
Easy To Train 2/5 2/5
Height 21 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder 22 to 28 inches
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
Intelligence 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 2/5
Weight 40 to 60 pounds 110 to 200 pounds
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 4/5
General Health 5/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 1/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Average Lifespan 12.5 years 11.0 years
Average Price $460 $2660
Price Range $400 – $500 $2225 – $3000
Temperament Score 100.0 percent 94.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • DNA Repository
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • HYPERURICOSURIA
  • Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the American Foxhound 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 Boerboel. 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 the American Foxhound is 74 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Boerboel is 70 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the American Foxhound is a better pet than the Boerboel. So, you should get the American Foxhound!

    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 American Foxhound and the Boerboel so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the American Foxhound and the Boerboel

    Below is a list of where the American Foxhound and the Boerboel are most different:

    • American Foxhounds do not have the tendency to drool. However, Boerboels have a very high tendency to drool.
    • American Foxhounds get along well with other dogs. However, Boerboels do not get along well with other dogs.

    The Similarities Between the American Foxhound and the Boerboel

    The American Foxhound and the Boerboel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the American Foxhound and the Boerboel are most similar:

    • Both the American Foxhound and the Boerboel do not adapt well to apartment living.
    • Both the American Foxhound and the Boerboel do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the American Foxhound and the Boerboel are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
    • Both the American Foxhound and the Boerboel are not very sensitive to their enviroment. They can tolerate noisy environments. They are also not very sensitive to the tone of your voice, firm or gentle.
    • Both the American Foxhound and the Boerboel are not easy to train.
    • Both the American Foxhound and the Boerboel can tolerate cold weather.
    • Both the American Foxhound and the Boerboel can tolerate hot weather.
    • Both the American Foxhound and the Boerboel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the American Foxhound and the Boerboel have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
    • Both the American Foxhound and the Boerboel do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
    • Both the American Foxhound and the Boerboel get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the American Foxhound and the Boerboel are very easy to groom.
    • Both the American Foxhound and the Boerboel are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
    • Both the American Foxhound and the Boerboel have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
    • Both the American Foxhound and the Boerboel require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
    • Both the American Foxhound and the Boerboel are very playful.

    Size Comparison of American Foxhound versus Boerboel

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the American Foxhound and the Boerboel.

    American Foxhounds weigh 40 to 60 pounds when fully grown. American Foxhounds are 21 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Boerboels weigh 110 to 200 pounds when fully grown. Boerboels are 22 to 28 inches when fully grown.

    Lifespan of American Foxhound versus Boerboel

    The lifespan of American Foxhounds is between 12 to 13 years. The average lifespan of American Foxhounds is 12.5 years.

    The lifespan of Boerboels is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Boerboels is 11.0 years.

    American Foxhounds live longer than Boerboels.

    Temperament of the Boerboel Versus the American Foxhound

    The American Foxhound has a better temperament than the Boerboel.

    This is because the temperament score for the American Foxhound is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Boerboel is 94.7 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 100.0 percent, the American Foxhound has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 94.7 percent, the Boerboel has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the American Foxhound and the Boerboel by measuring the temperaments of 2 American Foxhounds and 57 Boerboels.

    Price of American Foxhound versus Price of Boerboel

    The average price of the American Foxhound puppy is $460. The price of the American Foxhound typically ranges from $400 – $500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 11 American Foxhound puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Boerboel puppy is $2660. The price of the Boerboel typically ranges from $2225 – $3000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 58 Boerboel puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Boerboel is more expensive than the American Foxhound.

    The charts below show the price distribution for the American Foxhound and Boerboel. For different price points, the charts show how many American Foxhound puppies or how many Boerboel puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of American Foxhounds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of American Foxhounds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Boerboels

    A breakdown of the prices of Boerboels

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the American Foxhound puppy or the Boerboel 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 to buy 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 a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Tolerates Being Alone: American Foxhound versus Boerboel

    American Foxhounds do not like to be left alone.

    Boerboels do not like to be left alone.

    Do American Foxhounds shed more than Boerboels?

    American Foxhounds shed moderately.

    Boerboels shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the American Foxhound or the Boerboel

    American Foxhounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Boerboels have a very high tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the American Foxhound or the Boerboel?

    American Foxhounds are very easy to groom.

    Boerboels are very easy to groom.

    Does the American Foxhound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Boerboel?

    American Foxhounds 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.

    Boerboels have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do American Foxhounds Bark and Howl? What about Boerboels?

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

    Boerboels bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can American Foxhounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Boerboels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    American Foxhounds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Boerboels can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: American Foxhound vs. Boerboel

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

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

    Can American Foxhounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Boerboels Tolerate Hot Weather?

    American Foxhounds can tolerate hot weather.

    Boerboels can tolerate hot weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the American Foxhound or the Boerboel?

    American Foxhounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Boerboels do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are American Foxhounds good family dogs? What about Boerboels?

    American Foxhounds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    How Kid-friendly are American Foxhounds and Boerboels?

    American Foxhounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the American Foxhound Easier to Train than the Boerboel?

    American Foxhounds are not easy to train.

    Boerboels are not easy to train.

    Is the American Foxhound Better for Apartment Owners than the Boerboel?

    American Foxhounds do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Boerboels do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the American Foxhound or the Boerboel?

    American Foxhounds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Boerboels are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: American Foxhound versus Boerboel. 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 American Foxhound and the Boerboel better suits you and your family.