Afghan Hound vs Cocker Spaniel

Compare the Afghan Hound to the Cocker Spaniel. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Afghan Hounds and Cocker Spaniels.

Quick Summary

Below are a few quick comparisons between the two breeds.

Owner Experience - Both the Afghan Hound and Cocker Spaniel are good choices for new or inexperienced owners.
Children - Both breeds are child friendly, but the Afghan Hound is the most friendly between the breeds.
Grooming - Both the Afghan Hound or Cocker Spaniel have high grooming requirements.
Barking - The Cocker Spaniel has an above-average tendency to bark, while the Afghan Hound is an average barker.

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Afghan Hound vs Cocker Spaniel

Breed Name	Afghan Hound	Cocker Spaniel
General Details
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred
Is Hypoallergenic	Yes	No
Lifespan	10-12 yrs.	12-15 yrs.
Height	24-29 in.	14-15 in.
Weight	45-60 lb	24-28 lb
Intelligence	Average	Average
History
Origin Country	Afghanistan	Suriname
Origin Year	200 BC	1800 AD
Temperament
Overall Friendliness	Very Good	Very Good
Family Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Kid Friendly	Very Good	Good
Pet Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Stranger Friendly	Poor	Good
Personality
	Loving Does Not Like Being Alone Likes To Snuggle Stubborn	Affectionate Enjoys Attention Loving Does Not Like Being Alone Likes To Snuggle Willing To Please
Living Environment
Apartment	Yes	Yes
Indoor	Yes	Yes
Small Yard	Yes	Yes
Medium Yard	Yes	Yes
Large Yard	Yes	No
Temperature Tolerance ¹	30°F to 80°F	55°F to 80°F
Barks/Howls	Below Average	Often
Exercise Needs
Energy Level	High	Medium
Exercise Required	Medium	Low-Medium
Top Running Speed	40 mph	20 mph
Strength	High	Medium
Grooming Needs
Coat Maintenance	Medium	High
Shedding	Low	Medium
Dander	Low	Medium
Drool Amount	None	None-Low

¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.

Instincts & Behavior Comparison
Breed Name	Afghan Hound	Cocker Spaniel
Breed Mentality
Dominant/Alpha	No	No
Family/Pack	No	Yes
Independent	Yes	No
Breed Focus
Distracted Easily	Yes	No
Average	No	No
Focused & Patient	No	Yes
Breed Instincts
Aggression	Below Average	Below Average
Burrow/Digging	Below Average	Very Low
Chasing	Average	High
Follow Commands	Below Average	Below Average
Fighting	Below Average	Very Low
Guarding	Very Low	Very Low
Herding	Average	Below Average
Hunting	Below Average	Average
Protection	Below Average	Very Low
Remove Vermin	Average	Below Average
Sledding	Below Average	Below Average
Watch	Below Average	Average

Health Comparison
Breed Name	Afghan Hound	Cocker Spaniel
Lifespan
Lifespan	10-12 yrs.	12-15 yrs.
Common Health Issues
Allergies	Yes	Yes
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia	No	Yes
Cancer	Yes	No
Cataracts	Yes	Yes
Glaucoma	No	Yes
Hip Dysplasia	No	Yes
Hypothyroidism	Yes	Yes
Idiopathic Epilepsy	No	Yes
Patellar Luxation	No	Yes
Primary Seborrhea	No	Yes
Progressive Retinal Atrophy	No	Yes

Appearance Comparison
Breed Name	Afghan Hound	Cocker Spaniel
Coat
Hair	Yes	No
Fur	No	Yes
Coat Type
Single Coat	Yes	No
Double Coat	No	Yes
Coat Texture
Silky	Yes	No
Straight	Yes	No
Wavy	No	Yes
Coat Length(s)
Long	Yes	No
Medium	No	Yes
Coat Color(s)
Black	Yes	Yes
Black & Silver	Yes	No
Black & Tan	Yes	Yes
Blue	Yes	No
Blue & Cream	Yes	No
Cream	Yes	Yes
Red	Yes	Yes
Silver	Yes	Yes
White	Yes	No
Black & White	No	Yes
Black, White, & Tan	No	Yes
Blue Roan	No	Yes
Blue Roan & Tan	No	Yes
Brown	No	Yes
Brown & Tan	No	Yes
Brown & White	No	Yes
Brown, White, & Tan	No	Yes
Buff	No	Yes
Buff & White	No	Yes
Golden	No	Yes
Red & White	No	Yes
Red Roan	No	Yes
Sable	No	Yes
Sable & White	No	Yes