Which is Better between the Saluki and the Welsh Springer Spaniel? A Very Detailed Review.

by

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Saluki Versus Welsh Springer Spaniel: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Saluki and the Welsh Springer Spaniel 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 Welsh Springer Spaniel. 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 Welsh Springer Spaniel.

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 Welsh Springer Spaniel.

Saluki versus Welsh Springer Spaniel

Saluki versus Welsh Springer Spaniel: Overview

A very important difference between the Saluki and the Welsh Springer Spaniel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Saluki is a large-sized dog while the Welsh Springer Spaniel 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 Welsh Springer Spaniel belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

Saluki versus Welsh Springer Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Saluki to the Welsh Springer Spaniel 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 Welsh Springer Spaniel

Factor Saluki Welsh Springer Spaniel
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 1/5
Life Span 12 to 14 years 10 to 15 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 2/5
Height 23 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder 17 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Weight 35 to 70 pounds 35 to 55 pounds
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 4/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 5/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
Easygoing 1/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 12.5 years
Average Price $2250 No Data
Price Range $2250 – $2250 No Data
Temperament Score 68.7 percent 100.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination by the age of 2, then at ages 5 and 7
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 127 128
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 43 31

    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 Welsh Springer Spaniel. 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 Welsh Springer Spaniel is 79 out of 125.

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

    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 Welsh Springer Spaniel so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Saluki and the Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Below is a list of where the Saluki and the Welsh Springer Spaniel are most different:

  • Salukis do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Welsh Springer Spaniels adapt well to apartment living.
  • Salukis are not prone to gaining weight easily. However, Welsh Springer Spaniels gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Salukis are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl. However, Welsh Springer Spaniels are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    • The Similarities Between the Saluki and the Welsh Springer Spaniel

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

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

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Saluki versus Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Saluki and the Welsh Springer Spaniel.

    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, Welsh Springer Spaniels weigh 35 to 55 pounds when fully grown. Welsh Springer Spaniels are 17 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Saluki versus Welsh Springer Spaniel

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

    The lifespan of Welsh Springer Spaniels is between 10 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Welsh Springer Spaniels is 12.5 years.

    Salukis live longer than Welsh Springer Spaniels.

    Temperament of the Welsh Springer Spaniel Versus the Saluki

    The Welsh Springer Spaniel has a better temperament than the Saluki.

    This is because the temperament score for the Welsh Springer Spaniel is 100.0 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 100.0 percent, the Welsh Springer Spaniel has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Saluki and the Welsh Springer Spaniel by measuring the temperaments of 67 Salukis and 6 Welsh Springer Spaniels.

    Adopting the Saluki versus Adopting the Welsh Springer Spaniel

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Salukis and many Welsh Springer Spaniels 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, Welsh Springer Spaniels are also available for adoption. For example, Romeo is a Male Welsh Springer Spaniel that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Welsh Springer Spaniels like Romeo that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Saluki and the Welsh Springer Spaniel 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.

    Also, Sage is an adorable Male Welsh Springer Spaniel on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Salukis and Welsh Springer Spaniels are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Salukis and Welsh Springer Spaniels that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Saluki versus the Intelligence of the Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Saluki Welsh Springer Spaniel
    Intelligence Rank 43 out of 130 dog breeds 31 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 Welsh Springer Spaniel has an obedience intelligence rank of 31 out of 130 dog breeds. The Welsh Springer Spaniel belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Welsh Springer Spaniels tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The Welsh Springer Spaniel 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 Welsh Springer Spaniel

    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 Welsh Springer Spaniel over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Saluki is more popular with dog owners than the Welsh Springer Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Saluki is 127 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Welsh Springer Spaniel is 128 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Saluki

    Popularity of Saluki

    Popularity of Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Popularity of Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Year Saluki Popularity Rank Welsh Springer Spaniel Popularity Rank
    2013 115 124
    2014 134 133
    2015 132 128
    2016 125 123
    2017 123 133
    2018 120 128
    2019 125 130
    2020 144 128

    Tolerates Being Alone: Saluki versus Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Salukis do not like to be left alone.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Do Salukis shed more than Welsh Springer Spaniels?

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

    Welsh Springer Spaniels shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Saluki or the Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Salukis do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Saluki or the Welsh Springer Spaniel?

    Salukis are very easy to groom.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels are very easy to groom.

    Does the Saluki Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Welsh Springer Spaniel?

    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.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do Salukis Bark and Howl? What about Welsh Springer Spaniels?

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

    Welsh Springer Spaniels are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Salukis Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Welsh Springer Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

    Welsh Springer Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Saluki vs. Welsh Springer Spaniel

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

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

    Can Salukis Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Welsh Springer Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Welsh Springer Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Saluki or the Welsh Springer Spaniel?

    Salukis get along very well with other dogs.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Salukis good family dogs? What about Welsh Springer Spaniels?

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

    Welsh Springer Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Salukis and Welsh Springer Spaniels?

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

    Welsh Springer Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Saluki Easier to Train than the Welsh Springer Spaniel?

    Salukis are very easy to train.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Is the Saluki Better for Apartment Owners than the Welsh Springer Spaniel?

    Salukis do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Saluki or the Welsh Springer Spaniel?

    Salukis are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels are very good 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 Welsh Springer Spaniel vs German Shorthaired Pointer.
  • German Wirehaired Pointer (75 percent match with Saluki). Here is our comparison of the Welsh Springer Spaniel vs German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback (75 percent match with Saluki). Here is our comparison of the Welsh Springer Spaniel vs Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Welsh Springer Spaniel 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 Welsh Springer Spaniel:

  • English Cocker Spaniel (78 percent match with Welsh Springer Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Saluki vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Finnish Lapphund (78 percent match with Welsh Springer Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Saluki vs Finnish Lapphund.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Saluki Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Saluki versus Swedish Vallhund     Saluki versus Bernedoodle     Saluki versus Toy Fox Terrier     Saluki versus English Springer Spaniel     Saluki versus Silky Terrier     Saluki versus Lancashire Heeler     Saluki versus Kooikerhondje     Saluki versus Chinook     Saluki versus Miniature Schnauzer     Saluki versus Yorkipoo     Saluki versus Bich Poo     Saluki versus Patterdale Terrier     Saluki versus Swedish Vallhund     Saluki versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Saluki versus Tibetan Terrier     Saluki versus Finnish Lapphund     Saluki versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Saluki versus Boxer     Saluki versus Canaan Dog     Saluki versus Akita Chow     Saluki versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Saluki versus Bernese Mountain Dog     Saluki versus Goldador     Saluki versus Collie     Saluki versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     

    Welsh Springer Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Welsh Springer Spaniel versus American Eskimo Dog     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus German Wirehaired Pointer     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus German Wirehaired Pointer     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Bull Terrier     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Neapolitan Mastiff     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Irish Wolfhound     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Shiranian     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Lowchen     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Manchester Terrier     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Bearded Collie     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Shih Tzu     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Cavachon     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Kai Ken     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Lowchen     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Cavapoo     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Dalmatian     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Cocker Spaniel     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Redbone Coonhound     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Sloughi     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Basenji     

    Conclusion: Saluki versus Welsh Springer Spaniel. 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 Welsh Springer Spaniel better suits you and your family.