Differences and Similarities between the Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi.

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Portuguese Water Dog Versus Sloughi: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Portuguese Water Dog 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 Portuguese Water Dog 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 Portuguese Water Dog 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 Portuguese Water Dog or the Sloughi.

Portuguese Water Dog versus Sloughi: Overview

A very important difference between the Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Portuguese Water Dog is a medium-sized dog while the Sloughi is a large-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Portuguese Water Dog 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 Sloughi 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.

Portuguese Water Dog versus Sloughi: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Portuguese Water Dog 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 Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi

Factor Portuguese Water Dog Sloughi
Does NOT Shed 5/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Height 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 11 inches tall at the 24 to 29 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 10 to 14 years 12 to 16 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Weight 35 to 60 pounds 40 to 63 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 3/5
Average Lifespan 12.0 years 14.0 years
Average Price $2860 No Data
Price Range $2500 – $3300 No Data
Temperament Score 77.9 percent 100.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- recommend annual exams until age 10
  • GM1 GANGLIOSIDOSIS
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy – Univ of Pennsylvania –
  • NYU
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Sebaceous Adenitis
  • 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 50 189

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Portuguese Water Dog 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 Portuguese Water Dog is 84 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Sloughi is 79 out of 125.

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

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

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi

    Below is a list of where the Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi are most different:

  • Portuguese Water Dogs require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Sloughis are very easy to groom.
  • The Similarities Between the Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi

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

  • Both the Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi 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 Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi are very easy to train.
  • Both the Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Portuguese Water Dog versus Sloughi

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi.

    Portuguese Water Dogs weigh 35 to 60 pounds when fully grown. Portuguese Water Dogs are 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 11 inches tall at the 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 Portuguese Water Dog versus Sloughi

    The lifespan of Portuguese Water Dogs is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Portuguese Water Dogs is 12.0 years.

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

    Sloughis live longer than Portuguese Water Dogs.

    Temperament of the Sloughi Versus the Portuguese Water Dog

    The Sloughi has a better temperament than the Portuguese Water Dog.

    This is because the temperament score for the Sloughi is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Portuguese Water Dog is 77.9 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 77.9 percent, the Portuguese Water Dog 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 Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi by measuring the temperaments of 163 Portuguese Water Dogs and 3 Sloughis.

    The Popularity of Portuguese Water Dog 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 Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Portuguese Water Dog is more popular with dog owners than the Sloughi. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Portuguese Water Dog is 50 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Sloughi is 189 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Portuguese Water Dog

    Popularity of Portuguese Water Dog

    Popularity of Sloughi

    Popularity of Sloughi

    Year Portuguese Water Dog Popularity Rank Sloughi Popularity Rank
    2013 49 no data
    2014 52 no data
    2015 52 no data
    2016 51 185.0
    2017 54 188.0
    2018 50 192.0
    2019 49 191.0
    2020 49 189.0

    Health Problems of Portuguese Water Dog 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 Portuguese Water Dog 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 Portuguese Water Dog is prone to more genetic health problems than the Sloughi.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Portuguese Water Dog than for the Sloughi.

    11 health tests are recommended for Portuguese Water Dog while 6 tests are recommended for the Sloughi.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Portuguese Water Dogs and in Sloughis.

    Portuguese Water Dog Health Problems

    Portuguese Water Dogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Portuguese Water Dog 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 Portuguese Water Dog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Portuguese Water Dog 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 Portuguese Water Dogs for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- recommend annual exams until age 10
  • GM1 GANGLIOSIDOSIS
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy – Univ of Pennsylvania –
  • NYU
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Sebaceous Adenitis
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Portuguese Water Dogs 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: Portuguese Water Dog versus Sloughi

    Portuguese Water Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Sloughis can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Portuguese Water Dogs shed more than Sloughis?

    Portuguese Water Dogs do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Sloughis shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Portuguese Water Dog or the Sloughi

    Portuguese Water Dogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Sloughis do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Portuguese Water Dog or the Sloughi?

    Portuguese Water Dogs require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Sloughis are very easy to groom.

    Does the Portuguese Water Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Sloughi?

    Portuguese Water Dogs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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 Portuguese Water Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Sloughis?

    Portuguese Water Dogs bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Can Portuguese Water Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Sloughis Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Portuguese Water Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Portuguese Water Dog vs. Sloughi

    Portuguese Water Dogs have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get 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 Portuguese Water Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Sloughis Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Portuguese Water Dogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

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

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

    Portuguese Water Dogs get along very well with other dogs.

    Sloughis get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Portuguese Water Dogs good family dogs? What about Sloughis?

    Portuguese Water Dogs 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 Portuguese Water Dogs and Sloughis?

    Portuguese Water Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Portuguese Water Dog Easier to Train than the Sloughi?

    Portuguese Water Dogs are very easy to train.

    Sloughis are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Portuguese Water Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Sloughi?

    Portuguese Water Dogs adapt very well to apartment living.

    Sloughis adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Portuguese Water Dogs are OK for new dog owners.

    Sloughis are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Portuguese Water Dog

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Portuguese Water Dog 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 Portuguese Water Dog:

  • Bernedoodle (83 percent match with Portuguese Water Dog). Here is our comparison of the Sloughi vs Bernedoodle.
  • Polish Lowland Sheepdog (79 percent match with Portuguese Water Dog). Here is our comparison of the Sloughi vs Polish Lowland Sheepdog.
  • 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 Portuguese Water Dog vs Bracco Italiano.
  • Ibizan Hound (79 percent match with Sloughi). Here is our comparison of the Portuguese Water Dog vs Ibizan Hound.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Portuguese Water Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Portuguese Water Dog versus Goldendoodle     Portuguese Water Dog versus Chinese Crested     Portuguese Water Dog versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Portuguese Water Dog versus Border Collie     Portuguese Water Dog versus Border Collie     Portuguese Water Dog versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Portuguese Water Dog versus Azawakh     Portuguese Water Dog versus Miniature Pinscher     Portuguese Water Dog versus Keeshond     Portuguese Water Dog versus Papipoo     Portuguese Water Dog versus Australian Kelpie     Portuguese Water Dog versus Sussex Spaniel     Portuguese Water Dog versus Cavachon     Portuguese Water Dog versus Saint Bernard     Portuguese Water Dog versus Valley Bulldog     Portuguese Water Dog versus Berger Picard     Portuguese Water Dog versus Italian Greyhound     Portuguese Water Dog versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Portuguese Water Dog versus Toy Fox Terrier     Portuguese Water Dog versus Australian Terrier     Portuguese Water Dog versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Portuguese Water Dog versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Portuguese Water Dog versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Portuguese Water Dog versus Hovawart     Portuguese Water Dog versus Pointer     

    Sloughi Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Sloughi versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Sloughi versus Maltese     Sloughi versus Saint Bernard     Sloughi versus Aussiedoodle     Sloughi versus Kooikerhondje     Sloughi versus Tibetan Spaniel     Sloughi versus Airedale Terrier     Sloughi versus Bichon Frise     Sloughi versus Toy Poodle     Sloughi versus Frenchton     Sloughi versus Bich Poo     Sloughi versus Portuguese Water Dog     Sloughi versus Saint Bernard     Sloughi versus Cavachon     Sloughi versus Norwich Terrier     Sloughi versus Portuguese Water Dog     Sloughi versus Kishu Ken     Sloughi versus Giant Schnauzer     Sloughi versus Irish Wolfhound     Sloughi versus Kuvasz     Sloughi versus Schipperke     Sloughi versus Lhasa Apso     Sloughi versus Harrier     Sloughi versus Greyhound     Sloughi versus Schipperke     

    Conclusion: Portuguese Water Dog 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 Portuguese Water Dog and the Sloughi better suits you and your family.