Is the Australian Kelpie Better than the Scottish Deerhound as a Pet? Our Answer.

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Australian Kelpie Versus Scottish Deerhound: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Australian Kelpie and the Scottish Deerhound 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 Scottish Deerhound. 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 Scottish Deerhound.

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 Scottish Deerhound.

Australian Kelpie versus Scottish Deerhound: Overview

A very important difference between the Australian Kelpie and the Scottish Deerhound is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Australian Kelpie is a medium-sized dog while the Scottish Deerhound is a giant-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 Scottish Deerhound 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 Scottish Deerhound: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Australian Kelpie to the Scottish Deerhound 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 Scottish Deerhound

Factor Australian Kelpie Scottish Deerhound
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 10 to 15 years 8 to 11 years
Height 15 to 20 inches 28 to 32 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 2/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 2/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 2/5
Weight 25 to 46 pounds 75 to 110 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 1/5
General Health 3/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 1/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 5/5 4/5
Easy To Train 5/5 2/5
Intelligence 5/5 3/5
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 9.5 years
Average Price $500 No Data
Price Range $500 – $500 No Data
Temperament Score 83.3 percent 85.3 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • FACTOR VII Deficiency DNA test
  • Serum Bile Acid Test
    		•

    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 Scottish Deerhound. 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 Scottish Deerhound is 67 out of 125.

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

    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 Scottish Deerhound 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 Scottish Deerhound

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

    • Australian Kelpies are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Scottish Deerhounds are very friendly towards strangers.
    • Australian Kelpies are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Scottish Deerhounds are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
    • Australian Kelpies are very easy to train. However, Scottish Deerhounds are not easy to train.

    The Similarities Between the Australian Kelpie and the Scottish Deerhound

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

    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Scottish Deerhound do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Scottish Deerhound do not adapt well to apartment living.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Scottish Deerhound are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Scottish Deerhound do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Scottish Deerhound 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 Scottish Deerhound are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Scottish Deerhound have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Scottish Deerhound have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Scottish Deerhound are very playful.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Scottish Deerhound can tolerate hot weather.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Scottish Deerhound are prone to nip and chew at things.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Scottish Deerhound have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Scottish Deerhound require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.

    Size Comparison of Australian Kelpie versus Scottish Deerhound

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

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

    On the other hand, Scottish Deerhounds weigh 75 to 110 pounds when fully grown. Scottish Deerhounds are 28 to 32 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Australian Kelpie versus Scottish Deerhound

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

    The lifespan of Scottish Deerhounds is between 8 to 11 years. The average lifespan of Scottish Deerhounds is 9.5 years.

    Australian Kelpies live longer than Scottish Deerhounds.

    Temperament of the Scottish Deerhound Versus the Australian Kelpie

    The Scottish Deerhound has a better temperament than the Australian Kelpie.

    This is because the temperament score for the Scottish Deerhound is 85.3 percent while the temperament score for the Australian Kelpie is 83.3 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 85.3 percent, the Scottish Deerhound has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Australian Kelpie and the Scottish Deerhound by measuring the temperaments of 6 Australian Kelpies and 34 Scottish Deerhounds.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Australian Kelpie versus Scottish Deerhound

    Australian Kelpies do not like to be left alone.

    Scottish Deerhounds do not like to be left alone.

    Do Australian Kelpies shed more than Scottish Deerhounds?

    Australian Kelpies shed moderately.

    Scottish Deerhounds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Australian Kelpie or the Scottish Deerhound

    Australian Kelpies do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Scottish Deerhounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Australian Kelpie or the Scottish Deerhound?

    Australian Kelpies are very easy to groom.

    Scottish Deerhounds require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Does the Australian Kelpie Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Scottish Deerhound?

    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.

    Scottish Deerhounds 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 Scottish Deerhounds?

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

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

    Can Australian Kelpies Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Scottish Deerhounds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Australian Kelpies can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Scottish Deerhounds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Australian Kelpie vs. Scottish Deerhound

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

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

    Can Australian Kelpies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Scottish Deerhounds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Australian Kelpies can tolerate hot weather.

    Scottish Deerhounds can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Australian Kelpies get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Scottish Deerhounds do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Australian Kelpies good family dogs? What about Scottish Deerhounds?

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

    Scottish Deerhounds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Australian Kelpies and Scottish Deerhounds?

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

    Scottish Deerhounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Australian Kelpie Easier to Train than the Scottish Deerhound?

    Australian Kelpies are very easy to train.

    Scottish Deerhounds are not easy to train.

    Is the Australian Kelpie Better for Apartment Owners than the Scottish Deerhound?

    Australian Kelpies do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Scottish Deerhounds do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

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

    Scottish Deerhounds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Australian Kelpie versus Scottish Deerhound. 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 Scottish Deerhound better suits you and your family.