Basenji versus Sloughi. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

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Basenji Versus Sloughi: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Basenji and the Sloughi 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 Basenji and for the Sloughi. 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 Basenji and the Sloughi.

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

Basenji versus Sloughi: Overview

A very important difference between the Basenji and the Sloughi is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Basenji is a small-sized dog while the Sloughi is a large-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the Basenji and the Sloughi are Hound Dogs. This means both the Basenji and the Sloughi 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.

Basenji versus Sloughi: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Basenji to the Sloughi 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 Basenji and the Sloughi

Factor Basenji Sloughi
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 5/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Easy To Train 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 5/5 3/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 12 to 16 years
Height 16 to 17 inches tall at the shoulder 24 to 29 inches tall at the shoulder
General Health 2/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 2/5 3/5
Weight 22 to 24 pounds 40 to 63 pounds
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 4/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 14.0 years
Average Price $2320 No Data
Price Range $1450 – $1500 No Data
Temperament Score 68.9 percent 100.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Basenji Night Blindness / PRA DNA Test
  • Eye Examination each year until 6, thereafter every 2 years
  • Fanconi syndrome
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • OFA/U of Missouri
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Exam by a veterinarian with Board certification by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Specialty of Cardiology
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination by a board certified ACVO Ophthalmologist- minimum age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 86 189

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Basenji 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 Sloughi. 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 Basenji is 83 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Sloughi is 79 out of 125.

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

    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 Basenji and the Sloughi so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Similarities Between the Basenji and the Sloughi

    The Basenji and the Sloughi are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Basenji and the Sloughi are most similar:

  • Both the Basenji and the Sloughi cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the Basenji and the Sloughi do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Basenji and the Sloughi are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Basenji and the Sloughi have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Basenji and the Sloughi are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the Basenji and the Sloughi not very playful.
  • Both the Basenji and the Sloughi can be left alone for some time without problems.
  • Both the Basenji and the Sloughi can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Basenji and the Sloughi get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Basenji and the Sloughi are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Basenji and the Sloughi adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Basenji and the Sloughi are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Basenji and the Sloughi get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Basenji and the Sloughi are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Basenji and the Sloughi have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Basenji and the Sloughi have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Basenji and the Sloughi require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Basenji versus Sloughi

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Basenji and the Sloughi.

    Basenjis weigh 22 to 24 pounds when fully grown. Basenjis are 16 to 17 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Sloughis weigh 40 to 63 pounds when fully grown. Sloughis are 24 to 29 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Basenji versus Sloughi

    The lifespan of Basenjis is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Basenjis is 11.0 years.

    The lifespan of Sloughis is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of Sloughis is 14.0 years.

    Sloughis live longer than Basenjis.

    Temperament of the Sloughi Versus the Basenji

    The Sloughi has a better temperament than the Basenji.

    This is because the temperament score for the Sloughi is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Basenji is 68.9 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 68.9 percent, the Basenji has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 100.0 percent, the Sloughi has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Basenji and the Sloughi by measuring the temperaments of 177 Basenjis and 3 Sloughis.

    The Popularity of Basenji versus Popularity of Sloughi

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Basenji and the Sloughi over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Basenji is more popular with dog owners than the Sloughi. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Basenji is 86 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Sloughi is 189 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Basenji

    Popularity of Basenji

    Popularity of Sloughi

    Popularity of Sloughi

    Year Basenji Popularity Rank Sloughi Popularity Rank
    2013 85 no data
    2014 86 no data
    2015 87 no data
    2016 88 185.0
    2017 84 188.0
    2018 87 192.0
    2019 87 191.0
    2020 86 189.0

    Health Problems of Basenji versus Health Problems of Sloughi

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Basenji and the Sloughi are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Sloughi is prone to the same number of genetic health problems as the Basenji.

    6 health tests are recommended for Basenji while 6 tests are recommended for the Sloughi.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Basenjis and in Sloughis.

    Basenji Health Problems

    Basenjis are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Basenji puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Basenji puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Basenji breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Basenjis for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Basenji Night Blindness / PRA DNA Test
  • Eye Examination each year until 6, thereafter every 2 years
  • Fanconi syndrome
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • OFA/U of Missouri
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Basenjis here.

    Sloughi Health Problems

    Sloughis are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Sloughi puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Sloughi puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Sloughi breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Sloughis for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Exam by a veterinarian with Board certification by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Specialty of Cardiology
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination by a board certified ACVO Ophthalmologist- minimum age 12 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Sloughis here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Basenji versus Sloughi

    Basenjis can be left alone for some time without problems.

    Sloughis can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Basenjis shed more than Sloughis?

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

    Sloughis shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Basenji or the Sloughi

    Basenjis do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Sloughis do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Basenji or the Sloughi?

    Basenjis are very easy to groom.

    Sloughis are very easy to groom.

    Does the Basenji Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Sloughi?

    Basenjis 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.

    Sloughis 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 Basenjis Bark and Howl? What about Sloughis?

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

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

    Can Basenjis Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Sloughis Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Basenji vs. Sloughi

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

    Sloughis have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Basenjis Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Sloughis Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Basenjis can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Basenji or the Sloughi?

    Basenjis get along very well with other dogs.

    Sloughis get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Basenjis good family dogs? What about Sloughis?

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are Basenjis and Sloughis?

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

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

    Is the Basenji Easier to Train than the Sloughi?

    Basenjis are not easy to train.

    Sloughis are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Basenji Better for Apartment Owners than the Sloughi?

    Basenjis adapt very well to apartment living.

    Sloughis adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Basenji or the Sloughi?

    Basenjis are very good for new dog owners.

    Sloughis are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Basenji

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Basenji that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Basenji:

  • Italian Greyhound (69 percent match with Basenji). Here is our comparison of the Sloughi vs Italian Greyhound.
  • Whippet (69 percent match with Basenji). Here is our comparison of the Sloughi vs Whippet.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Sloughi

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Sloughi that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Sloughi:

  • Bracco Italiano (78 percent match with Sloughi). Here is our comparison of the Basenji vs Bracco Italiano.
  • Ibizan Hound (79 percent match with Sloughi). Here is our comparison of the Basenji vs Ibizan Hound.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Basenji and how the Sloughi compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Basenji and of the Sloughi to other breeds:

    Basenji Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Basenji versus Dalmatian     Basenji versus Bedlington Terrier     Basenji versus Japanese Chin     Basenji versus Maltese     Basenji versus Saint Bernard     Basenji versus Maremma Sheepdog     Basenji versus American Bulldog     Basenji versus Affenhuahua     Basenji versus Pomeranian     Basenji versus Pharaoh Hound     Basenji versus English Setter     Basenji versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Basenji versus Bloodhound     Basenji versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Basenji versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne     Basenji versus Great Pyrenees     Basenji versus Sloughi     Basenji versus Rottweiler     Basenji versus Pomsky     Basenji versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Basenji versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     Basenji versus Affenpinscher     Basenji versus Jack Russell Terrier     Basenji versus Bouvier des Flandres     Basenji versus Shiloh Shepherd     

    Sloughi Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Sloughi versus Peek A Poo     Sloughi versus Basenji     Sloughi versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Sloughi versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog     Sloughi versus Bull Terrier     Sloughi versus Hovawart     Sloughi versus Canaan Dog     Sloughi versus Bulldog     Sloughi versus Japanese Spitz     Sloughi versus Norwegian Lundehund     Sloughi versus American Water Spaniel     Sloughi versus Dalmatian     Sloughi versus Valley Bulldog     Sloughi versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Sloughi versus Patterdale Terrier     Sloughi versus Berger Picard     Sloughi versus Italian Greyhound     Sloughi versus Portuguese Water Dog          Sloughi versus Afghan Hound     Sloughi versus Cockapoo     Sloughi versus Norwegian Lundehund     Sloughi versus Bordoodle     Sloughi versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Sloughi versus Dachshund     

    Conclusion: Basenji versus Sloughi. 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 Basenji and the Sloughi better suits you and your family.