Breed Comparison: Australian Kelpie Versus Saluki

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Australian Kelpie Versus Saluki: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki 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 Australian Kelpie and for the Saluki. 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 Australian Kelpie and the Saluki.

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

Australian Kelpie versus Saluki: Overview

A very important difference between the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Australian Kelpie is a medium-sized dog while the Saluki is a large-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Australian Kelpie belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

On the other hand, the Saluki 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.

Australian Kelpie versus Saluki: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Australian Kelpie to the Saluki 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 Australian Kelpie and the Saluki

Factor Australian Kelpie Saluki
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 10 to 15 years 12 to 14 years
Height 15 to 20 inches 23 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 2/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 1/5
Kid-Friendly 2/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 1/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 5/5
Weight 25 to 46 pounds 35 to 70 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 4/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 5/5 3/5
Easy To Train 5/5 4/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Average Lifespan 12.5 years 13.0 years
Average Price $500 No Data
Price Range $500 – $500 No Data
Temperament Score 83.3 percent 68.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data No Data

Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Australian Kelpie 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 Saluki. 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 Australian Kelpie is 72 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Saluki is 74 out of 125.

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

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 Australian Kelpie and the Saluki so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki

Below is a list of where the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki are most different:

  • Australian Kelpies are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Salukis are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.

The Similarities Between the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki

The Australian Kelpie and the Saluki are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki are most similar:

  • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki are very playful.
  • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki are very easy to train.
  • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.

Size Comparison of Australian Kelpie versus Saluki

Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki.

Australian Kelpies weigh 25 to 46 pounds when fully grown. Australian Kelpies are 15 to 20 inches when fully grown.

On the other hand, Salukis weigh 35 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Salukis are 23 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

Lifespan of Australian Kelpie versus Saluki

The lifespan of Australian Kelpies is between 10 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Australian Kelpies is 12.5 years.

The lifespan of Salukis is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Salukis is 13.0 years.

Salukis live longer than Australian Kelpies.

Temperament of the Saluki Versus the Australian Kelpie

The Australian Kelpie has a better temperament than the Saluki.

This is because the temperament score for the Australian Kelpie is 83.3 percent while the temperament score for the Saluki is 68.7 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 83.3 percent, the Australian Kelpie has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

With its temperament score of 68.7 percent, the Saluki has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Australian Kelpie and the Saluki by measuring the temperaments of 6 Australian Kelpies and 67 Salukis.

Tolerates Being Alone: Australian Kelpie versus Saluki

Australian Kelpies do not like to be left alone.

Salukis do not like to be left alone.

Do Australian Kelpies shed more than Salukis?

Australian Kelpies shed moderately.

Salukis do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

Which one drools more, the Australian Kelpie or the Saluki

Australian Kelpies do have a very low tendency to drool.

Salukis do have a very low tendency to drool.

Which is Easier to Groom, the Australian Kelpie or the Saluki?

Australian Kelpies are very easy to groom.

Salukis are very easy to groom.

Does the Australian Kelpie Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Saluki?

Australian Kelpies 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.

Salukis 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.

Do Australian Kelpies Bark and Howl? What about Salukis?

Australian Kelpies are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

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

Can Australian Kelpies Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Salukis Tolerate Cold Weather?

Australian Kelpies can moderately tolerate cold weather.

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

Wanderlust Potential: Australian Kelpie vs. Saluki

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

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

Can Australian Kelpies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Salukis Tolerate Hot Weather?

Australian Kelpies can tolerate hot weather.

Salukis can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Australian Kelpie or the Saluki?

Australian Kelpies get along fairly well with other dogs.

Salukis get along very well with other dogs.

Are Australian Kelpies good family dogs? What about Salukis?

Australian Kelpies are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

How Kid-friendly are Australian Kelpies and Salukis?

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

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

Is the Australian Kelpie Easier to Train than the Saluki?

Australian Kelpies are very easy to train.

Salukis are very easy to train.

Is the Australian Kelpie Better for Apartment Owners than the Saluki?

Australian Kelpies do not adapt well to apartment living.

Salukis do not adapt well to apartment living.

Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Australian Kelpie or the Saluki?

Australian Kelpies are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

Salukis are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

Conclusion: Australian Kelpie versus Saluki. 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 Australian Kelpie and the Saluki better suits you and your family.