Learn some of the differences between dyson DC14 and DC17 animal below, compare them and choose the one that fits your needs better.
Dyson DC14 Animal versus DC17 Animal
images from manufacturer

Noise Level
DC17 is quieter than DC14.

Weight
DC14 is lighter.
DC14 weighs 18.6 lbs while DC17 weighs 20.79 lbs.

Cord Length
Both of these two vacuum cleaners have long cord.
However, the cord length of DC14 is a bit longer, it is 35.4 feet while DC17 has a cord length of 35 feet.

Bin Capacity
DC14 has a bigger bin, but just a little.
The bin capacity of DC14 is 0.71 gallons while it is 0.625 gallon on DC17.

Maneuverability
The DC17 is easier to push on carpets than the DC14.

Suction Power
DC14 has a suction power of 250 air watts while DC17 has 220 air watts.

Turbine Attachment
The turbine attachment of DC17 works better than the DC14.

There are many users said that the DC17 picked up stuff better than the DC14. But some also complained that DC17 pulled the fibers from their carpets. So be careful to use the DC17 on delicate carpets.