Breed Comparison: Pug Versus Saluki

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Pug Versus Saluki: Introduction

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

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

Pug versus Saluki

Pug versus Saluki: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Pug 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.

Pug versus Saluki: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Pug 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 Pug and the Saluki

Factor Pug Saluki
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
General Health 1/5 4/5
Height 10 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder 23 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 14 years
Weight 14 to 18 pounds 35 to 70 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 2/5
Intelligence 2/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 1/5
Easygoing 3/5 1/5
Easy To Train 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 1/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 5/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 5/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.0 years
Average Price $1620 $2250
Price Range $1200 – $1875 $2250 – $2250
Temperament Score 91.7 percent 68.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Pug Dog Club of America recommends ANNUAL screening.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Pug Dog Encephalitis
  • Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD)
  • Serum Bile Acid Test
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 31 127
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 57 43

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Pug 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 Pug is 80 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Saluki is 74 out of 125.

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

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

    Pug versus Saluki

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Pug and the Saluki

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

  • Pugs 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
  • Pugs 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.
  • Pugs are very friendly towards strangers. However, Salukis are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Pugs adapt well to apartment living. However, Salukis do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Pugs are good for new dog owners. However, Salukis are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Pugs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies. However, Salukis do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Pugs gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them. However, Salukis are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • The Similarities Between the Pug and the Saluki

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

  • Both the Pug and the Saluki do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Pug and the Saluki do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Pug and the Saluki cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the Pug and the Saluki are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Pug and the Saluki get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Pug and the Saluki get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Pug and the Saluki are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Pug and the Saluki are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Pug and the Saluki are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Pug versus Saluki

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

    Pugs weigh 14 to 18 pounds when fully grown. Pugs are 10 to 14 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 Pug versus Saluki

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

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

    Pugs live longer than Salukis.

    Pug versus Saluki

    Temperament of the Saluki Versus the Pug

    The Pug has a better temperament than the Saluki.

    This is because the temperament score for the Pug is 91.7 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 91.7 percent, the Pug 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 Pug and the Saluki by measuring the temperaments of 48 Pugs and 67 Salukis.

    Price of Pug versus Price of Saluki

    The average price of the Pug puppy is $1620. The price of the Pug typically ranges from $1200 – $1875. However, the price of a Pug can be as low as $300 and as high as $6525. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 654 Pug 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 Pug.

    Pug Saluki
    Average Price $1620 $2250
    Price Range $1200 to $1875 $2250 to $2250

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Pugs. 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 Pug 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.

    Pug versus Saluki

    Adopting the Pug versus Adopting the Saluki

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Pugs 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 Pug named A559272 that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Pugs like A559272 on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Pugs, 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 Pug and the Saluki can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

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

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

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

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

    The Intelligence of the Pug versus the Intelligence of the Saluki

    Pug Saluki
    Intelligence Rank 57 out of 130 dog breeds 43 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 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 Pug has an obedience intelligence rank of 57 out of 130 dog breeds. The Pug belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Pugs tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 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 Saluki is more intelligent than the Pug.

    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 Pug 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 Pug and the Saluki over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Pug is more popular with dog owners than the Saluki. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Pug is 31 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Saluki is 127 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Pug

    Popularity of Pug

    Popularity of Saluki

    Popularity of Saluki

    Year Pug Popularity Rank Saluki Popularity Rank
    2013 31 115
    2014 33 134
    2015 33 132
    2016 32 125
    2017 31 123
    2018 28 120
    2019 31 125
    2020 29 144

    Tolerates Being Alone: Pug versus Saluki

    Pugs do not like to be left alone.

    Salukis do not like to be left alone.

    Do Pugs shed more than Salukis?

    Pugs 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 Pug or the Saluki

    Pugs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Salukis do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    Pugs are very easy to groom.

    Salukis are very easy to groom.

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

    Pugs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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 Pugs Bark and Howl? What about Salukis?

    Pugs 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.

    Can Pugs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Salukis Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Pug vs. Saluki

    Pugs 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.

    Can Pugs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Salukis Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Pugs 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 Pug or the Saluki?

    Pugs get along very well with other dogs.

    Salukis get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Pugs good family dogs? What about Salukis?

    Pugs 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 Pugs and Salukis?

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

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

    Is the Pug Easier to Train than the Saluki?

    Pugs are fairly easy to train.

    Salukis are very easy to train.

    Is the Pug Better for Apartment Owners than the Saluki?

    Pugs adapt very well to apartment living.

    Salukis do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Pugs 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 Pug

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

  • Boxer (74 percent match with Pug). Here is our comparison of the Saluki vs Boxer.
  • English Toy Spaniel (73 percent match with Pug). Here is our comparison of the Saluki vs English Toy Spaniel.
  • French Bulldog (83 percent match with Pug). Here is our comparison of the Saluki vs French Bulldog.
  • 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 Pug vs German Shorthaired Pointer.
  • German Wirehaired Pointer (75 percent match with Saluki). Here is our comparison of the Pug vs German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback (75 percent match with Saluki). Here is our comparison of the Pug vs Rhodesian Ridgeback.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Pug Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pug versus Shiranian     Pug versus Bluetick Coonhound     Pug versus Brittany     Pug versus Schipperke     Pug versus West Highland White Terrier     Pug versus Affenhuahua     Pug versus German Pinscher     Pug versus Yorkshire Terrier     Pug versus American Eskimo Dog     Pug versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Pug versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Pug versus Havanese     Pug versus Brussels Griffon     Pug versus Chinese Crested     Pug versus German Wirehaired Pointer     Pug versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Pug versus Great Pyrenees     Pug versus Bichon Frise     Pug versus Mountain Cur     Pug versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Pug versus Leonberger     Pug versus Harrier     Pug versus Whoodle     Pug versus Bloodhound     Pug versus Norwegian Lundehund     

    Saluki Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Saluki versus Lowchen     Saluki versus Pharaoh Hound     Saluki versus Belgian Malinois     Saluki versus Mountain Cur     Saluki versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     Saluki versus Rottweiler     Saluki versus Spinone Italiano     Saluki versus Plott     Saluki versus Afador     Saluki versus Dalmatian     Saluki versus Puli     Saluki versus Puggle     Saluki versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Saluki versus Plott     Saluki versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Saluki versus Siberian Husky     Saluki versus Irish Wolfhound     Saluki versus Cairn Terrier     Saluki versus German Longhaired Pointer     Saluki versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     Saluki versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Saluki versus Saint Berdoodle     Saluki versus Boerboel     Saluki versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Saluki versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     

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