Is the Pekingese Better than the Saluki as a Pet? Answer…

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Pekingese Versus Saluki: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Pekingese 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 Pekingese 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 Pekingese 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 Pekingese or the Saluki.

Pekingese versus Saluki

Pekingese versus Saluki: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Pekingese belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

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.

Pekingese versus Saluki: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Pekingese 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 Pekingese and the Saluki

Factor Pekingese Saluki
Tolerates Hot Weather 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 5/5 4/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 14 years
Easygoing 4/5 1/5
Kid-Friendly 2/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 1/5
General Health 2/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 4/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 1/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 5/5
Easy To Train 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 5/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 1/5
Height 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder 23 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight 7 to 14 pounds 35 to 70 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.0 years
Average Price $1930 $2250
Price Range $1288 – $2500 $2250 – $2250
Temperament Score 93.3 percent 68.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data No Data
Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 86 127
Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 73 43

Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Pekingese 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 Pekingese is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Saluki is 74 out of 125.

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

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

Pekingese versus Saluki

The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Pekingese and the Saluki

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

  • Pekingeses require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Salukis are very easy to groom.
  • Pekingeses are not very sensitive to their enviroment. They can tolerate noisy environments. They are also not very sensitive to the tone of your voice, firm or gentle. However, Salukis 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.
  • Pekingeses have low energy levels. They do not require a lot exercise time. However, Salukis have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Pekingeses have low exercise needs. However, Salukis require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Pekingeses 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.
  • Pekingeses adapt well to apartment living. However, Salukis do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the Pekingese and the Saluki

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

  • Both the Pekingese and the Saluki do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Pekingese and the Saluki do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Pekingese and the Saluki are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Pekingese and the Saluki are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Pekingese and the Saluki are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Pekingese and the Saluki have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Pekingese versus Saluki

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

    Pekingeses weigh 7 to 14 pounds when fully grown. Pekingeses are 6 to 9 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.

    Lifespan of Pekingese versus Saluki

    The lifespan of Pekingeses is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Pekingeses is 13.5 years.

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

    Pekingeses live longer than Salukis.

    Pekingese versus Saluki

    Temperament of the Saluki Versus the Pekingese

    The Pekingese has a better temperament than the Saluki.

    This is because the temperament score for the Pekingese is 93.3 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 93.3 percent, the Pekingese has an above-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 Pekingese and the Saluki by measuring the temperaments of 15 Pekingeses and 67 Salukis.

    Price of Pekingese versus Price of Saluki

    The average price of the Pekingese puppy is $1930. The price of the Pekingese typically ranges from $1288 – $2500. However, the price of a Pekingese can be as low as $700 and as high as $7500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 138 Pekingese 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 the 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 Pekingese.

    Pekingese Saluki
    Average Price $1930 $2250
    Price Range $1288 to $2500 $2250 to $2250

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Pekingeses. 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 Pekingese 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 to buy 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 a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

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

    Pekingese versus Saluki

    Adopting the Pekingese versus Adopting the Saluki

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Pekingeses 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 Pekingese named Jack And Pinot that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Pekingeses like Jack And Pinot on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Pekingeses, 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 Pekingese and the Saluki can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Leo is the name of another Pekingese (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Ollie is an adorable Male Saluki on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

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

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

    The Intelligence of the Pekingese versus the Intelligence of the Saluki

    Pekingese Saluki
    Intelligence Rank 73 out of 130 dog breeds 43 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More! 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 Pekingese has an obedience intelligence rank of 73 out of 130 dog breeds. The Pekingese belongs to the `Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Pekingeses tend to learn new commands after 80 to 100 repetitions or more!.

    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 Saluki is more intelligent than the Pekingese.

    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.

    The Popularity of Pekingese 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 Pekingese and the Saluki over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Pekingese is more popular with dog owners than the Saluki. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Pekingese is 86 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Saluki is 127 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Popularity of Saluki

    Popularity of Saluki

    Year Pekingese Popularity Rank Saluki Popularity Rank
    2013 77 115
    2014 82 134
    2015 80 132
    2016 93 125
    2017 88 123
    2018 92 120
    2019 83 125
    2020 95 144

    Tolerates Being Alone: Pekingese versus Saluki

    Pekingeses can be left alone only for a short time.

    Salukis do not like to be left alone.

    Do Pekingeses shed more than Salukis?

    Pekingeses 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 Pekingese or the Saluki

    Pekingeses do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Salukis do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Pekingese or the Saluki?

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

    Salukis are very easy to groom.

    Does the Pekingese Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Saluki?

    Pekingeses 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 Pekingeses Bark and Howl? What about Salukis?

    Pekingeses 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 Pekingeses Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Salukis Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Pekingeses can very well tolerate cold weather.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Pekingese vs. Saluki

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

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

    Can Pekingeses Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Salukis Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Pekingeses 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.

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

    Pekingeses do not get along well with other dogs.

    Salukis get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Pekingeses good family dogs? What about Salukis?

    Pekingeses 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 Pekingeses and Salukis?

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

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

    Is the Pekingese Easier to Train than the Saluki?

    Pekingeses are fairly easy to train.

    Salukis are very easy to train.

    Is the Pekingese Better for Apartment Owners than the Saluki?

    Pekingeses adapt very well to apartment living.

    Salukis do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Pekingeses are very good for new dog owners.

    Salukis are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Pekingese

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

  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Saluki vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Mal Shi (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Saluki vs Mal Shi.
  • Pomeranian (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Saluki vs Pomeranian.
  • Pomsky (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the Saluki vs Pomsky.
  • 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 Pekingese vs German Shorthaired Pointer.
  • German Wirehaired Pointer (75 percent match with Saluki). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback (75 percent match with Saluki). Here is our comparison of the Pekingese vs Rhodesian Ridgeback.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Pekingese Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pekingese versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Pekingese versus Portuguese Pointer     Pekingese versus Maltese     Pekingese versus Black Mouth Cur     Pekingese versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Pekingese versus Collie     Pekingese versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Pekingese versus German Shepherd Dog     Pekingese versus Belgian Sheepdog     Pekingese versus Xoloitzcuintli     Pekingese versus Puggle     Pekingese versus Beagle     Pekingese versus Black Russian Terrier     Pekingese versus Miniature Pinscher     Pekingese versus Berger Picard     Pekingese versus Dogo Argentino     Pekingese versus Dalmatian     Pekingese versus Xoloitzcuintli     Pekingese versus Peek A Poo     Pekingese versus Dalmatian     Pekingese versus Tibetan Mastiff     Pekingese versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Pekingese versus Great Pyrenees     Pekingese versus Lakeland Terrier     Pekingese versus Black Mouth Cur     

    Saluki Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Saluki versus Bich Poo     Saluki versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Saluki versus Boxer     Saluki versus Bracco Italiano     Saluki versus Afghan Hound     Saluki versus Morkie     Saluki versus Peek A Poo     Saluki versus Plott     Saluki versus Norwegian Lundehund     Saluki versus Cockapoo     Saluki versus Great Dane     Saluki versus Irish Setter     Saluki versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Saluki versus Saint Berdoodle     Saluki versus Miniature Poodle     Saluki versus Puggle     Saluki versus Miniature Schnauzer     Saluki versus Tibetan Spaniel     Saluki versus Pug     Saluki versus Greyhound     Saluki versus Lhasapoo     Saluki versus Pharaoh Hound     Saluki versus Brittany     Saluki versus Dachshund     Saluki versus Bulldog     

    Conclusion: Pekingese 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 Pekingese and the Saluki better suits you and your family.