Breed Comparison: Doberman Pinscher Versus Saluki

Doberman Pinscher versus Saluki

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Doberman Pinscher Versus Saluki: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Doberman Pinscher 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 Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Doberman Pinscher 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 Doberman Pinscher 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 more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Doberman Pinscher 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 Doberman Pinscher or the Saluki

Doberman Pinscher versus Saluki

Doberman Pinscher versus Saluki: Overview

Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki are similar in size. The Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki are both large-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Doberman Pinscher belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

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.

Doberman Pinscher versus Saluki: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Doberman Pinscher 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.

Factor Doberman Pinscher Saluki
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 1/5 4/5
General Health 1/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 5/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 5/5
Life Span 10 to 13 years 12 to 14 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 1/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 1/5
Height 24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder 23 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 3/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 1/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 2/5 5/5
Easygoing 1/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 4/5
Easy To Train 5/5 4/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight 60 to 80 pounds 35 to 70 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.5 years 13.0 years
Average Price $1910 $2250
Price Range $1100 – $2500 $2250 – $2250
Temperament Score 79.5 percent 68.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • Working Aptitude
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 15 127
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 5 43

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Doberman Pinscher 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 a Doberman Pinscher is 81 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Saluki is 74 out of 125.

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

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

    Doberman Pinscher versus Saluki

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki

    Below is a list of where the Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki are most different:

  • Doberman Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs. However, Salukis get along well with other dogs.
  • Doberman Pinschers have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Salukis are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Doberman Pinschers have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, Salukis have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Doberman Pinschers do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them. However, Salukis have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool. However, Salukis do not have the tendency to drool.
  • The Similarities Between the Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki

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

  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher 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 Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki are very easy to train.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Doberman Pinscher versus Saluki

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki.

    Doberman Pinschers weigh 60 to 80 pounds when fully grown. Doberman Pinschers are 24 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder 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.

    Temperament of the Doberman Pinscher Versus the Saluki

    The Doberman Pinscher has a better temperament than the Saluki.

    This is because the temperament score for the Doberman Pinscher is 79.5 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 they 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 79.5 percent, the Doberman Pinscher 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 Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki by measuring the temperaments of 1780 Doberman Pinschers and 67 Salukis.

    Price of Doberman Pinscher versus Price of Saluki

    The average price of the Doberman Pinscher puppy is $1910. The price of the Doberman Pinscher typically ranges from $1100 – $2500. However, the price of a Doberman Pinscher can be as low as $300 and as high as $7500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 476 Doberman Pinscher puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Saluki puppy is $2250. The price of the Saluki typically ranges from $2250 – $2250. However, the price of a Saluki can be as low as $2250 and as high as $2250. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1 Saluki puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Saluki is more expensive than the Doberman Pinscher.

    Doberman Pinscher Saluki
    Average Price $1910 $2250
    Price Range $1100 to $2500 $2250 to $2250

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Doberman Pinscher and Saluki. For different price points, the charts show how many Doberman Pinscher puppies or how many Saluki puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Doberman Pinschers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Doberman Pinschers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Salukis

    A breakdown of the prices of Salukis

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Doberman Pinscher puppy or the Saluki puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking from a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Doberman Pinscher versus Saluki

    Adopting the Doberman Pinscher versus Adopting the Saluki

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Doberman Pinschers and many Salukis are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Doberman Pinscher named Whiskey that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Doberman Pinschers like Whiskey on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Doberman Pinschers, Salukis are also available for adoption. For example, Archie is a Male Saluki that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Salukis like Archie that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    48533683 is the name of another Doberman Pinscher (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also Dexter O, an adorable Male Saluki on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Doberman Pinschers and Salukis are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Doberman Pinschers and Salukis that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Doberman Pinscher versus the Intelligence of the Saluki

    Doberman Pinscher Saluki
    Intelligence Rank 5 out of 130 dog breeds 43 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Doberman Pinscher has an obedience intelligence rank of 5 out of 130 dog breeds. The Doberman Pinscher belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Doberman Pinschers tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Saluki has an obedience intelligence rank of 43 out of 130 dog breeds. The Saluki belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Salukis tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Doberman Pinscher is more intelligent than the Saluki.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    Doberman Pinscher versus Saluki

    The Popularity of Doberman Pinscher versus Popularity of Saluki

    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 Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Doberman Pinscher is more popular with dog owners than the Saluki. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Doberman Pinscher is 15 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Saluki is 127 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Doberman Pinscher

    Popularity of Doberman Pinscher

    Popularity of Saluki

    Popularity of Saluki

    Year Doberman Pinscher Popularity Rank Saluki Popularity Rank
    2013 12 115
    2014 14 134
    2015 14 132
    2016 15 125
    2017 16 123
    2018 17 120
    2019 19 125
    2020 18 144

    Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Salukis Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Doberman Pinschers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Doberman Pinscher or the Saluki?

    Doberman Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Salukis get along very well with other dogs.

    Does the Doberman Pinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Saluki?

    Doberman Pinschers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to 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 Doberman Pinschers Bark and Howl? What about Salukis?

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

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

    Tolerates Being Alone: Doberman Pinscher versus Saluki

    Doberman Pinschers do not like to be left alone.

    Salukis do not like to be left alone.

    Wanderlust Potential: Doberman Pinscher vs. Saluki

    Doberman Pinschers do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

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

    Is the Doberman Pinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Saluki?

    Doberman Pinschers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Salukis do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Doberman Pinscher or the Saluki?

    Doberman Pinschers are OK for new dog owners.

    Salukis are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    How Kid-friendly are Doberman Pinschers and Salukis?

    Doberman Pinschers get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

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

    Can Doberman Pinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Salukis Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Doberman Pinschers can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Do Doberman Pinschers shed more than Salukis?

    Doberman Pinschers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

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

    Which one drools more, the Doberman Pinscher or the Saluki

    Doberman Pinschers have a very high tendency to drool.

    Salukis do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Are Doberman Pinschers good family dogs? What about Salukis?

    Doberman Pinschers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Doberman Pinscher or the Saluki?

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to groom.

    Salukis are very easy to groom.

    Is the Doberman Pinscher Easier to Train than the Saluki?

    Doberman Pinschers are very easy to train.

    Salukis are very easy to train.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Doberman Pinscher

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Doberman Pinscher 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 Doberman Pinscher:

  • Rottweiler (68 percent match with Doberman Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Saluki vs Rottweiler.
  • Schnoodle (67 percent match with Doberman Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Saluki vs Schnoodle.
  • Neapolitan Mastiff (67 percent match with Doberman Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Saluki vs Neapolitan Mastiff.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Saluki

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Saluki 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 Saluki:

  • German Shorthaired Pointer (77 percent match with Saluki). Here is our comparison of the Doberman Pinscher vs German Shorthaired Pointer.
  • German Wirehaired Pointer (75 percent match with Saluki). Here is our comparison of the Doberman Pinscher vs German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback (75 percent match with Saluki). Here is our comparison of the Doberman Pinscher vs Rhodesian Ridgeback.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Doberman Pinscher Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Doberman Pinscher versus Whoodle     Doberman Pinscher versus Keeshond     Doberman Pinscher versus Korean Jindo Dog     Doberman Pinscher versus Norwegian Lundehund     Doberman Pinscher versus Labradoodle     Doberman Pinscher versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Doberman Pinscher versus Boston Terrier     Doberman Pinscher versus Irish Water Spaniel     Doberman Pinscher versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Doberman Pinscher versus Black and Tan Coonhound     

    Saluki Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Saluki versus Australian Cattle Dog     Saluki versus Mudi     Saluki versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Saluki versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     Saluki versus Labradoodle     Saluki versus American Eskimo Dog     Saluki versus Boerboel     Saluki versus Great Pyrenees     Saluki versus Miniature Schnauzer     Saluki versus Australian Terrier     

    Conclusion: Doberman Pinscher 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 Doberman Pinscher and the Saluki better suits you and your family.