Are Afghan Hounds Good Dogs? What Science Says

Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022

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Introduction to the Temperament of the Afghan Hound

The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Afghan Hound out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.

In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Afghan Hound based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Afghan Hound breed.

We obtained our description of the temperament of Afghan Hound by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.

The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.

Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Afghan Hound.

The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.

The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.

The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:

  1. Aggression towards stranger
  2. Aggression towards its owner
  3. Aggression towards other dogs
  4. How well they get along with other dogs
  5. Fear of strangers
  6. Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
  7. Fear of other dogs
  8. Separation anxiety
  9. Clinginess
  10. Trainability/ Stubbornness
  11. Prey drive
  12. Excitability
  13. Touch sensitivity
  14. Energy level

In this article, we will discuss the score of the Afghan Hound for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Afghan Hound.

The summary table below shows the score of the Afghan Hound for the different behavioral characteristics.

High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.

Behavior Score
Prey Drive 75.1 percent
Stubbornness 69.3 percent
Energy Level 54.4 percent
Touch Sensitivity 50.2 percent
Dog Directed Aggression 47.6 percent
Dog Directed Fear 46.1 percent
Dog Rivalry 45.4 percent
Stranger Directed Fear 43.1 percent
Separation Related Behavior 37.8 percent
Stranger Directed Aggression 36.5 percent
Nonsocial Fear 30.9 percent
Owner Directed Aggression 24.1 percent
Excitability 22.4 percent
Attachment Attention Seeking 18.4 percent

Note that with proper training, you can better your Afghan Hound`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Afghan Hound, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Afghan Hound.

See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.

Are Afghan Hounds Aggressive Towards Strangers?

Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.

Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.

Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.

Afghan Hounds are somewhat aggressive towards strangers.

This is because the Afghan Hound ranks average for aggression towards strangers.

The Afghan Hound ranks number 49 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.

This information is based on what 19 Afghan Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Afghan Hound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Afghan Hound has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 36.5 %.

Other dog breeds that are somewhat aggressive towards strangers just like the Afghan Hound are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score
46 Cairn Terrier 39.6 %
47 Redbone Coonhound 38.8 %
48 Rottweiler 36.8 %
49 Afghan Hound 36.5 %
50 Bull Terrier 36.5 %
51 American Bulldog 36.3 %
52 Great Pyrenees 36.0 %

The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Dachshund
  3. Miniature Pinscher
  4. Dachshund (Miniature)
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. Siberian Husky
  2. Greyhound
  3. Irish Wolfhound
  4. Samoyed
  5. Black and Tan Coonhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most stranger-aggressive breed to the least stranger-aggressive breed.

Temperament of the Afghan Hound

Are Afghan Hounds Aggressive Towards their Owners?

Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.

Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.

A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.

Afghan Hounds are quite a bit aggressive towards their owners.

This is because the Afghan Hound ranks high for aggression towards its owner.

The Afghan Hound ranks number 38 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.

This information is based on what 19 Afghan Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Afghan Hound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Afghan Hound has an owner-directed-aggression score of 24.1 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit owner-aggressive just like the Afghan Hound are listed in the table below

Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Owner-Directed-Aggression Score
35 Cocker Spaniel (English) 26.4 %
36 Cardigan Welsh Corgi 25.7 %
37 Chow Chow 24.3 %
38 Afghan Hound 24.1 %
39 Bulldog 23.1 %
40 Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) 22.8 %
41 Saint Bernard 22.6 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:

  1. Pekingese
  2. Basenji
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Lhasa Apso
  5. Alaskan Husky

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Pointer
  3. Irish Water Spaniel
  4. Rhodesian Ridgeback
  5. Italian Greyhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to their owners to the ones that are least aggressive to their owners.

Are Afghan Hounds Aggressive Towards other Dogs?

Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.

A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs

A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.

Afghan Hounds are somewhat aggressive towards other dogs.

This is because the Afghan Hound ranks average for aggression towards other dogs.

The Afghan Hound ranks number 58 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.

This information is based on what 19 Afghan Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Afghan Hound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Afghan Hound has a dog-directed aggression score of 47.6 %.

Other dog breeds that are somewhat dog-aggressive just like the Afghan Hound are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Aggression Score
55 Doberman Pinscher 49.5 %
56 Belgian Sheepdog 48.4 %
57 Border Collie 47.6 %
58 Afghan Hound 47.6 %
59 Bouvier des Flandres 47.1 %
60 Beagle 45.9 %
61 Giant Schnauzer 45.8 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Pit Bull mix
  5. Dachshund

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:

  1. Pointer
  2. Black and Tan Coonhound
  3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  4. Irish Wolfhound
  5. Keeshond

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to other dogs to the ones that are least aggressive to other dogs.

Personality of the Afghan Hound

Are Afghan Hounds Afraid of Strangers?

Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.

Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.

Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.

Afghan Hounds are very much fearful of strangers.

This is because the Afghan Hound ranks very high for fear of strangers.

The Afghan Hound ranks number 23 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.

This information is based on what 19 Afghan Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Afghan Hound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Afghan Hound has a stranger-directed-fear score of 43.1 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much stranger-fearful just like the Afghan Hound are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Fear Score
20 Ibizan Hound 46.7 %
21 Saint Bernard 44.7 %
22 Shetland Sheepdog 44.0 %
23 Afghan Hound 43.1 %
24 Pekingese 42.7 %
25 Alaskan Husky 42.6 %
26 Mastiff (English) 42.1 %

The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Chinese Crested
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:

  1. Old English Sheepdog
  2. Irish Wolfhound
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Siberian Husky
  5. Giant Schnauzer

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of strangers to the ones that are least fearful to strangers.

Are Afghan Hounds Afraid of Other Dogs?

Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.

A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.

Afghan Hounds are quite a bit fearful of other dogs.

This is because the Afghan Hound ranks high for fear of other dogs.

The Afghan Hound ranks number 41 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.

This information is based on what 19 Afghan Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Afghan Hound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Afghan Hound has a dog-directed-fear score of 46.1 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit other-dog-fearful just like the Afghan Hound are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Fear Score
38 Cocker Spaniel (American) 48.7 %
39 Australian Cattle Dog 48.3 %
40 Border Collie 46.8 %
41 Afghan Hound 46.1 %
42 Bull Terrier 43.8 %
43 Weimaraner 43.6 %
44 Staffordshire Bull Terrier 43.4 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Chihuahua
  5. Lhasa Apso

The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Ibizan Hound
  3. Eurasier
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of other dogs to the ones that are least fearful of other dogs.

Is the Afghan Hound a good pet

Do Afghan Hounds Have Non-Social Fears?

Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.

Afghan Hounds are somewhat fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.

This is because the Afghan Hound ranks average for non-social fear.

The Afghan Hound ranks number 65 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.

This information is based on what 19 Afghan Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Afghan Hound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Afghan Hound has a nonsocial-fear score of 30.9 %.

Other dog breeds that are somewhat nonsocial-fearful just like the Afghan Hound are listed in the table below

Nonsocial-Fear Rank Breed Nonsocial-Fear Score
62 American Staffordshire Terrier 31.7 %
63 Chow Chow 31.4 %
64 Dalmatian 31.3 %
65 Afghan Hound 30.9 %
66 Cocker Spaniel (American) 30.6 %
67 Great Pyrenees 29.7 %
68 Whippet 29.6 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Dingo
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. English Bulldog
  5. Italian Greyhound

The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Siberian Husky
  3. Irish Setter
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations to the ones least fearful of unfamiliar situations.

Do Afghan Hounds Get Along Well With Other Dogs?

Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.

These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.

Afghan Hounds are quite a bit competitive when dealing with other dogs.

This is because the Afghan Hound ranks high on dog rivalry.

The Afghan Hound ranks number 47 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.

This information is based on what 19 Afghan Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Afghan Hound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Afghan Hound has a dog-rivalry score of 45.4 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit competition-driven just like the Afghan Hound are listed in the table below

Dog-Rivalry Rank Breed Dog-Rivalry Score
44 Giant Schnauzer 47.2 %
45 Poodle (Miniature) 46.9 %
46 Boston Terrier 46.6 %
47 Afghan Hound 45.4 %
48 Rat Terrier 45.0 %
49 Bearded Collie 45.0 %
50 Border Collie 44.9 %

The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Miniature Pinscher
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. French Bulldog
  5. Treeing Walker Coonhound

The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Saint Bernard
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Scottish Terrier

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.

The Afghan Hound. Is it aggressive?

Are Afghan Hounds Easy to Train?

Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.

Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.

Afghan Hounds are not easy to train.

This is because the Afghan Hound ranks very low for trainability.

The Afghan Hound ranks number 121 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.

This information is based on what 19 Afghan Hound owners reported on the trainability of their Afghan Hound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Afghan Hound has a trainability score of 30.7 %.

Other dog breeds that are not easy to train just like the Afghan Hound are listed in the table below

Trainability Rank Breed Trainability Score
118 Australian Silky Terrier 34.1 %
119 Dachshund (Miniature) 32.8 %
120 Pekingese 32.5 %
121 Afghan Hound 30.7 %
122 Basenji 17.1 %
123 Treeing Walker Coonhound 14.9 %
124 Dingo 0.0 %

The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:

  1. Belgian Tervuren
  2. Belgian Malinois
  3. Border Collie
  4. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
  5. Irish Water Spaniel

The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:

  1. Dingo
  2. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  3. Basenji
  4. Afghan Hound
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are easiest to train to the ones that are most difficult to train.

Learn more about how intelligent the Afghan Hound is and how the intelligence of the Afghan Hound affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Afghan Hound is.

Do Afghan Hounds Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?

Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.

Afghan Hounds are very much into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.

This is because the Afghan Hound ranks very high for small-pet-chasing.

The Afghan Hound ranks number 13 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.

This information is based on what 19 Afghan Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Afghan Hound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Afghan Hound has a chasing score of 75.1 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much into chasing after smaller pets just like the Afghan Hound are listed in the table below

Chasing Rank Breed Chasing Score
10 German Shorthaired Pointer 76.3 %
11 Cairn Terrier 76.2 %
12 Pit Bull mix 75.8 %
13 Afghan Hound 75.1 %
14 Shiba Inu 75.0 %
15 Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) 74.4 %
16 Airedale Terrier 74.2 %

The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Basenji
  2. Dingo
  3. Ibizan Hound
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Borzoi

The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Pug
  2. Bulldog
  3. Shih Tzu
  4. Bernese Mountain Dog
  5. Great Pyrenees

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.

Things to know before getting the Afghan Hound

Do Afghan Hounds Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?

Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.

These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.

Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.

Afghan Hounds are not attachment/attention-seeking.

This is because the Afghan Hound ranks very low for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

The Afghan Hound ranks number 116 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

This information is based on what 19 Afghan Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Afghan Hound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Afghan Hound has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 18.4 %.

Other dog breeds that are not attachment/attention-seeking just like the Afghan Hound are listed in the table below

Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank Breed Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score
113 Irish Wolfhound 21.1 %
114 Cairn Terrier 21.0 %
115 Greyhound 19.8 %
116 Afghan Hound 18.4 %
117 Siberian Husky 17.9 %
118 Shiba Inu 16.6 %
119 Scottish Terrier 15.5 %

The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:

  1. Poodle (Toy)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Australian Cattle Dog
  5. American Eskimo Dog

The dog breeds that are aloof are the:

  1. Norwegian Elkhound
  2. Borzoi
  3. Kuvasz
  4. English Setter
  5. Chow Chow

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.

Do Afghan Hounds have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?

Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.

These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.

They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.

Afghan Hounds are somewhat prone to developing separation anxiety.

This is because the Afghan Hound ranks average for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.

The Afghan Hound ranks number 63 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.

This information is based on what 19 Afghan Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Afghan Hound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Afghan Hound has a separation anxiety score of 37.8 %.

Other dog breeds that are somewhat prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Afghan Hound are listed in the table below

Separation-Related-Behavior Rank Breed Separation-Related-Behavior Score
60 Staffordshire Bull Terrier 40.4 %
61 Boxer 40.3 %
62 Dingo 38.6 %
63 Afghan Hound 37.8 %
64 Boston Terrier 37.1 %
65 Tibetan Terrier 35.7 %
66 Black and Tan Coonhound 34.7 %

The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:

  1. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Miniature Pinscher
  5. Australian Silky Terrier

The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Giant Schnauzer
  4. Eurasier
  5. Bernese Mountain Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.

Temperament Profile of the Afghan Hound

Are Afghan Hounds Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?

Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.

These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.

Afghan Hounds are very much touch-sensitive.

This is because the Afghan Hound ranks very high for touch sensitivity.

The Afghan Hound ranks number 11 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.

This information is based on what 19 Afghan Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Afghan Hound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Afghan Hound has a touch-sensitivity score of 50.2 %.

Other dog breeds that are very much touch-sensitive just like the Afghan Hound are listed in the table below

Touch-Sensitivity Rank Breed Touch-Sensitivity Score
8 Shiba Inu 56.1 %
9 Pit Bull mix 53.3 %
10 Maltese 50.2 %
11 Afghan Hound 50.2 %
12 Cairn Terrier 49.3 %
13 Pug 48.7 %
14 Schipperke 48.6 %

The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  2. Miniature Pinscher
  3. Pekingese
  4. Australian Silky Terrier
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Pointer
  4. Gordon Setter
  5. Portuguese Water Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.

Are Afghan Hounds Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?

Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:

  • going for walks
  • car trips
  • sound of the doorbell
  • arrival of visitors, and
  • the owner arriving home

Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.

Afghan Hounds are not hyper (excitable).

This is because the Afghan Hound ranks very low for excitability.

The Afghan Hound ranks number 112 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.

This information is based on what 19 Afghan Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Afghan Hound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Afghan Hound has an excitability score of 22.4 %.

Other dog breeds that are not excitable just like the Afghan Hound are listed in the table below

Excitability Rank Breed Excitability Score
109 Norwegian Elkhound 25.3 %
110 Lagotto Romagnolo 24.5 %
111 Bullmastiff 24.2 %
112 Afghan Hound 22.4 %
113 Black and Tan Coonhound 20.5 %
114 Dingo 20.4 %
115 English Setter 20.3 %

The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Borzoi
  2. Samoyed
  3. Great Pyrenees
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Anatolian Shepherd

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.

The Afghan Hound

Are Afghan Hounds Playful? What is the Energy Level of Afghan Hounds

Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.

Afghan Hounds are somewhat energetic.

This is because the Afghan Hound ranks average for energy level.

The Afghan Hound ranks number 69 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.

This information is based on what 19 Afghan Hound owners reported on the temperament of their Afghan Hound in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Afghan Hound has an energy-level score of 54.4 %.

Other dog breeds that are somewhat energetic just like the Afghan Hound are listed in the table below

Energy-Level Rank Breed Energy-Level Score
66 Siberian Husky 55.7 %
67 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 55.1 %
68 Rottweiler 55.0 %
69 Afghan Hound 54.4 %
70 Cairn Terrier 54.1 %
71 Pointer 54.0 %
72 Cocker Spaniel (English) 53.6 %

The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:

  1. Belgian Malinois
  2. Belgian Tervuren
  3. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  4. German Shorthaired Pointer
  5. Ibizan Hound

The dog breeds that are laziest are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Anatolian Shepherd
  3. Greyhound
  4. Great Pyrenees
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.

Conclusion on Afghan Hound Temperament

The temperament of your Afghan Hound comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Afghan Hound is exposed to.

You cannot change your Afghan Hound`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Afghan Hound to.

Exposing your Afghan Hound to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Afghan Hound to what you desire.

Again, with proper training, you can better your Afghan Hound`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Afghan Hound.

If you think the Afghan Hound is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Afghan Hounds cost and Afghan Hound puppy buying guide.

Also, see our list of reputable Afghan Hound breeders in the United States and the prices of their Afghan Hound puppies.