Is the Azawakh Better than the Mastiff as a Pet? Our Answer.

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Azawakh Versus Mastiff: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Azawakh and the Mastiff 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 Azawakh and for the Mastiff. 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 Azawakh and the Mastiff.

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

Azawakh versus Mastiff: Overview

A very important difference between the Azawakh and the Mastiff is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Azawakh is a large-sized dog while the Mastiff is a giant-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Azawakh 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 Mastiff 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.

Azawakh versus Mastiff: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Azawakh to the Mastiff 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 Azawakh and the Mastiff

Factor Azawakh Mastiff
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 4/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 6 to 10 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 1/5
Kid-Friendly 2/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 5/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 3/5
Height 23 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder 27 to 32 inches tall at the shoulder
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
General Health 3/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Easy To Train 3/5 3/5
Intelligence 3/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 4/5
Weight 33 to 55 pounds 130 to 220 pounds
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 5/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 3/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 8.0 years
Price Range No Data $1100 – $2200
Average Price No Data $1740
Temperament Score 100.0 percent 100.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cystinuria
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Minimum age 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • PennGen
    		•

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Azawakh 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 Mastiff. 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 Azawakh is 81 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Mastiff is 72 out of 125.

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

    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 Azawakh and the Mastiff so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Azawakh and the Mastiff

    Below is a list of where the Azawakh and the Mastiff are most different:

    • Azawakhs cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Mastiffs can tolerate cold weather.
    • Azawakhs do not have the tendency to drool. However, Mastiffs have a very high tendency to drool.
    • Azawakhs do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Mastiffs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Azawakhs adapt well to apartment living. However, Mastiffs do not adapt well to apartment living.
    • Azawakhs can tolerate hot weather. However, Mastiffs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    The Similarities Between the Azawakh and the Mastiff

    The Azawakh and the Mastiff are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Azawakh and the Mastiff are most similar:

    • Both the Azawakh and the Mastiff are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
    • Both the Azawakh and the Mastiff are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
    • Both the Azawakh and the Mastiff are not very friendly towards strangers.
    • Both the Azawakh and the Mastiff do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
    • Both the Azawakh and the Mastiff do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
    • Both the Azawakh and the Mastiff are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Azawakh and the Mastiff require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.

    Size Comparison of Azawakh versus Mastiff

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Azawakh and the Mastiff.

    Azawakhs weigh 33 to 55 pounds when fully grown. Azawakhs are 23 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Mastiffs weigh 130 to 220 pounds when fully grown. Mastiffs are 27 to 32 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Azawakh versus Mastiff

    The lifespan of Azawakhs is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Azawakhs is 13.5 years.

    The lifespan of Mastiffs is between 6 to 10 years. The average lifespan of Mastiffs is 8.0 years.

    Azawakhs live longer than Mastiffs.

    Temperament of the Mastiff Versus the Azawakh

    The Azawakh has the same temperament score as the Mastiff.

    This is because the temperament score for the Azawakh is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Mastiff is 100.0 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 Azawakh has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

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

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Azawakh and the Mastiff by measuring the temperaments of 1 Azawakhs and 8 Mastiffs.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Azawakh versus Mastiff

    Azawakhs can be left alone only for a short time.

    Mastiffs can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Azawakhs shed more than Mastiffs?

    Azawakhs shed moderately.

    Mastiffs shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Azawakh or the Mastiff

    Azawakhs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Mastiffs have a very high tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Azawakh or the Mastiff?

    Azawakhs are very easy to groom.

    Mastiffs are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Azawakh Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Mastiff?

    Azawakhs 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.

    Mastiffs 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.

    Do Azawakhs Bark and Howl? What about Mastiffs?

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

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

    Can Azawakhs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Mastiffs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Azawakhs cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Mastiffs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Azawakh vs. Mastiff

    Azawakhs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Mastiffs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Can Azawakhs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Mastiffs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Azawakhs can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Azawakh or the Mastiff?

    Azawakhs get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Mastiffs do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Azawakhs good family dogs? What about Mastiffs?

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are Azawakhs and Mastiffs?

    Azawakhs do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Azawakh Easier to Train than the Mastiff?

    Azawakhs are fairly easy to train.

    Mastiffs are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Azawakh Better for Apartment Owners than the Mastiff?

    Azawakhs adapt very well to apartment living.

    Mastiffs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Azawakh or the Mastiff?

    Azawakhs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Mastiffs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Azawakh versus Mastiff. 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 Azawakh and the Mastiff better suits you and your family.