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

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Saluki Versus Samoyed: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Saluki and the Samoyed 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 Saluki and for the Samoyed. 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 Saluki and the Samoyed.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Saluki or the Samoyed.

Saluki versus Samoyed

Saluki versus Samoyed: Overview

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

Furthermore, 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.

On the other hand, the Samoyed 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.

Saluki versus Samoyed: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Saluki to the Samoyed 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 Saluki and the Samoyed

Factor Saluki Samoyed
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 1/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 3/5
Life Span 12 to 14 years 12 to 14 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 4/5
Height 23 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder 1 foot, 7 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 1/5
Weight 35 to 70 pounds 50 to 60 pounds
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 1/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 13.0 years
Average Price $2250 $2460
Price Range $2250 – $2250 $1500 – $3000
Temperament Score 68.7 percent 80.3 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination, minimum age 1 year
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (X-L PRA) DNA Test
  • RD/OSD
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 127 61
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 43 33

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Saluki 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 Samoyed. 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 Saluki is 74 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Samoyed is 71 out of 125.

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

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

    Saluki versus Samoyed

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Saluki and the Samoyed

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

  • Salukis are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Samoyeds are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Salukis are not prone to gaining weight easily. However, Samoyeds gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Salukis cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Samoyeds can tolerate cold weather.
  • Salukis do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies. However, Samoyeds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Salukis are very easy to groom. However, Samoyeds require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • The Similarities Between the Saluki and the Samoyed

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

  • Both the Saluki and the Samoyed do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Saluki and the Samoyed do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Saluki and the Samoyed do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Saluki and the Samoyed are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Saluki and the Samoyed do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Saluki and the Samoyed get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Saluki and the Samoyed get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Saluki and the Samoyed are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Saluki and the Samoyed are very easy to train.
  • Both the Saluki and the Samoyed are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Saluki and the Samoyed are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Saluki and the Samoyed 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 Saluki and the Samoyed are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Saluki and the Samoyed have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Saluki and the Samoyed have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Saluki and the Samoyed have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Saluki and the Samoyed require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Saluki and the Samoyed are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Saluki versus Samoyed

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

    Salukis weigh 35 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Salukis are 23 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Samoyeds weigh 50 to 60 pounds when fully grown. Samoyeds are 1 foot, 7 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Saluki versus Samoyed

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

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

    Saluki versus Samoyed

    Temperament of the Samoyed Versus the Saluki

    The Samoyed has a better temperament than the Saluki.

    This is because the temperament score for the Samoyed is 80.3 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 68.7 percent, the Saluki has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 80.3 percent, the Samoyed has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Saluki and the Samoyed by measuring the temperaments of 67 Salukis and 294 Samoyeds.

    Price of Saluki versus Price of Samoyed

    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 reviewing the prices of 1 Saluki puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Samoyed puppy is $2460. The price of the Samoyed typically ranges from $1500 – $3000. However, the price of the Samoyed can be as low as $800 and as high as $5500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 114 Samoyed puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Samoyed is more expensive than the Saluki.

    Saluki Samoyed
    Average Price $2250 $2460
    Price Range $2250 to $2250 $1500 to $3000

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

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Samoyeds

    A breakdown of the prices of Samoyeds

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Saluki puppy or the Samoyed 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.

    Saluki versus Samoyed

    Adopting the Saluki versus Adopting the Samoyed

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Salukis and many Samoyeds 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 Saluki named Archie that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Salukis like Archie on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Salukis, Samoyeds are also available for adoption. For example, We Have No Dogs Available At This Time. is a Male Samoyed that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Samoyeds like We Have No Dogs Available At This Time. that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

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

    Dexter O is the name of another Saluki (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

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

    The Intelligence of the Saluki versus the Intelligence of the Samoyed

    Saluki Samoyed
    Intelligence Rank 43 out of 130 dog breeds 33 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 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 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 Samoyed has an obedience intelligence rank of 33 out of 130 dog breeds. The Samoyed belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Samoyeds tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The Samoyed 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.

    The Popularity of Saluki versus Popularity of Samoyed

    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 Saluki and the Samoyed over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Samoyed is more popular with dog owners than the Saluki. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Samoyed is 61 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Saluki is 127 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Saluki

    Popularity of Saluki

    Popularity of Samoyed

    Popularity of Samoyed

    Year Saluki Popularity Rank Samoyed Popularity Rank
    2013 115 67
    2014 134 68
    2015 132 61
    2016 125 65
    2017 123 57
    2018 120 59
    2019 125 58
    2020 144 56

    Tolerates Being Alone: Saluki versus Samoyed

    Salukis do not like to be left alone.

    Samoyeds do not like to be left alone.

    Do Salukis shed more than Samoyeds?

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

    Samoyeds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Saluki or the Samoyed

    Salukis do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Samoyeds do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    Salukis are very easy to groom.

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

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

    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.

    Samoyeds 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 Salukis Bark and Howl? What about Samoyeds?

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

    Samoyeds bark and howl, but not very much.

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

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

    Samoyeds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Saluki vs. Samoyed

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

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

    Can Salukis Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Samoyeds Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Samoyeds cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

    Salukis get along very well with other dogs.

    Samoyeds get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Salukis good family dogs? What about Samoyeds?

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are Salukis and Samoyeds?

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

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

    Is the Saluki Easier to Train than the Samoyed?

    Salukis are very easy to train.

    Samoyeds are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Saluki Better for Apartment Owners than the Samoyed?

    Salukis do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Samoyeds do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Salukis are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Samoyeds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    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 Samoyed vs German Shorthaired Pointer.
  • German Wirehaired Pointer (75 percent match with Saluki). Here is our comparison of the Samoyed vs German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback (75 percent match with Saluki). Here is our comparison of the Samoyed vs Rhodesian Ridgeback.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Samoyed

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

  • English Setter (75 percent match with Samoyed). Here is our comparison of the Saluki vs English Setter.
  • Siberian Husky (75 percent match with Samoyed). Here is our comparison of the Saluki vs Siberian Husky.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Saluki Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Saluki versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Saluki versus Havanese     Saluki versus Morkie     Saluki versus Japanese Spitz     Saluki versus Catahoula Bulldog     Saluki versus Bulldog     Saluki versus Toy Poodle     Saluki versus Affenhuahua     Saluki versus Bichon Frise     Saluki versus Standard Poodle     Saluki versus English Setter     Saluki versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Saluki versus Japanese Chin     Saluki versus Cavapoo     Saluki versus American Bulldog     Saluki versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Saluki versus Dalmatian     Saluki versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Saluki versus Norwegian Lundehund     Saluki versus Gordon Setter     Saluki versus Australian Cattle Dog     Saluki versus Samoyed     Saluki versus Karelian Bear Dog     Saluki versus Manchester Terrier     

    Samoyed Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Samoyed versus Sloughi     Samoyed versus Briard     Samoyed versus Pomapoo     Samoyed versus Shiloh Shepherd     Samoyed versus English Springer Spaniel     Samoyed versus Whoodle     Samoyed versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Samoyed versus Cane Corso     Samoyed versus Flat-Coated Retriever     Samoyed versus Rottweiler     Samoyed versus Miniature Schnauzer     Samoyed versus Lhasa Apso     Samoyed versus French Spaniel     Samoyed versus Bernedoodle     Samoyed versus Rottweiler     Samoyed versus Toy Fox Terrier     Samoyed versus Hovawart     Samoyed versus Bedlington Terrier     Samoyed versus Mountain Cur     Samoyed versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Samoyed versus Aussiedoodle     Samoyed versus Clumber Spaniel     Samoyed versus Tibetan Terrier     Samoyed versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Samoyed versus Mountain Cur     

    Conclusion: Saluki versus Samoyed. 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 Saluki and the Samoyed better suits you and your family.