Differences and Similarities between the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki.

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Finnish Lapphund versus Saluki

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Finnish Lapphund Versus Saluki: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund or the Saluki

Finnish Lapphund versus Saluki

Finnish Lapphund versus Saluki: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Finnish Lapphund 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.

Finnish Lapphund versus Saluki: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund Saluki
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 14 years
Height 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 23 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 5/5
Weight 33 to 53 pounds 35 to 70 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 2/5
Easygoing 2/5 1/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 4/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
Easy To Train 5/5 4/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.0 years
Price Range No Data $2250 – $2250
Average Price No Data $2250
Temperament Score 62.5 percent 68.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
    		•  No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 168 127

    *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 Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund is 84 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Saluki is 74 out of 125.

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

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

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki

    Below is a list of where the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki are most different:

  • Finnish Lapphunds adapt well to apartment living. However, Salukis do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Finnish Lapphunds are very friendly towards strangers. However, Salukis are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Finnish Lapphunds gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them. However, Salukis are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Finnish Lapphunds can tolerate cold weather. However, Salukis cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Finnish Lapphunds do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful. However, Salukis do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.

    • The Similarities Between the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki

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

  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki are very easy to train.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki are very playful.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Finnish Lapphund versus Saluki

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki.

    Finnish Lapphunds weigh 33 to 53 pounds when fully grown. Finnish Lapphunds are 17 to 20 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 Saluki Versus the Finnish Lapphund

    The Saluki has a better temperament than the Finnish Lapphund.

    This is because the temperament score for the Saluki is 68.7 percent while the temperament score for the Finnish Lapphund is 62.5 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 62.5 percent, the Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki by measuring the temperaments of 8 Finnish Lapphunds and 67 Salukis.

    The Popularity of Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Saluki is more popular with dog owners than the Finnish Lapphund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Saluki is 127 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Finnish Lapphund is 168 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Popularity of Saluki

    Popularity of Saluki

    Year Finnish Lapphund Popularity Rank Saluki Popularity Rank
    2013 171 115
    2014 173 134
    2015 169 132
    2016 173 125
    2017 173 123
    2018 161 120
    2019 165 125
    2020 165 144

    Which one drools more, the Finnish Lapphund or the Saluki

    Finnish Lapphunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Salukis do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Finnish Lapphund versus Saluki

    Finnish Lapphunds do not like to be left alone.

    Salukis do not like to be left alone.

    Can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Salukis Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Finnish Lapphunds cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

    Do Finnish Lapphunds shed more than Salukis?

    Finnish Lapphunds shed moderately.

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

    Do Finnish Lapphunds Bark and Howl? What about Salukis?

    Finnish Lapphunds bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Is the Finnish Lapphund Better for Apartment Owners than the Saluki?

    Finnish Lapphunds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Salukis do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Finnish Lapphund or the Saluki?

    Finnish Lapphunds are very good for new dog owners.

    Salukis are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Finnish Lapphund or the Saluki?

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to groom.

    Salukis are very easy to groom.

    Does the Finnish Lapphund Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Saluki?

    Finnish Lapphunds 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.

    Wanderlust Potential: Finnish Lapphund vs. Saluki

    Finnish Lapphunds 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 Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Salukis Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Finnish Lapphunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

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

    Are Finnish Lapphunds good family dogs? What about Salukis?

    Finnish Lapphunds 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 Finnish Lapphunds and Salukis?

    Finnish Lapphunds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Finnish Lapphund or the Saluki?

    Finnish Lapphunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Salukis get along very well with other dogs.

    Is the Finnish Lapphund Easier to Train than the Saluki?

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to train.

    Salukis are very easy to train.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Finnish Lapphund

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

  • American Eskimo Dog (79 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Saluki vs American Eskimo Dog.
  • Bearded Collie (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Saluki vs Bearded Collie.
  • English Cocker Spaniel (79 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Saluki vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Jack Russell Terrier (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Saluki vs Jack Russell Terrier.

    • 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 Finnish Lapphund vs German Shorthaired Pointer.
  • German Wirehaired Pointer (75 percent match with Saluki). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback (75 percent match with Saluki). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Finnish Lapphund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Lapphund versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Finnish Lapphund versus American Eskimo Dog     Finnish Lapphund versus Toy Fox Terrier     Finnish Lapphund versus Neapolitan Mastiff     Finnish Lapphund versus Irish Wolfhound     Finnish Lapphund versus Ibizan Hound     Finnish Lapphund versus English Setter     Finnish Lapphund versus Brussels Griffon     Finnish Lapphund versus Italian Greyhound     Finnish Lapphund versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog     

    Saluki Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Saluki versus Pyredoodle     Saluki versus Brussels Griffon     Saluki versus Cesky Terrier     Saluki versus Mountain Cur     Saluki versus Jack Russell Terrier     Saluki versus Yorkipoo     Saluki versus Lhasapoo     Saluki versus Cesky Terrier     Saluki versus Norwich Terrier     Saluki versus Havanese     

    Conclusion: Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Saluki better suits you and your family.