Why you Should Get the Border Collie Instead of the Saluki.

Last Updated: Mar 09, 2022

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Border Collie Versus Saluki: Introduction

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

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

Note that the border collie breed comes in two varieties based on coat texture. There is the smooth-coat border collie and the rough-coat border collie. Read our article on rough-coat border collie versus smooth-coat border collie.

Furthermore, the border collie dog breed is very different from the collie dog breed. Learn about the differences between these two dog breeds in our border collie versus collie article.

Finally, just like the border collie, the collie also comes in two varieties. There is the rough collie and the smooth collie. To learn about the differences and similarities between them, check out our article on rough collie versus smooth collie.

Border Collie versus Saluki

Border Collie versus Saluki: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Border Collie belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

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.

Border Collie versus Saluki: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Border Collie 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 Border Collie and the Saluki

FactorBorder CollieSaluki
Tolerates Being Alone1/51/5
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Life Span12 to 15 years12 to 14 years
Height18 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder23 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living2/51/5
Good For Novice Owners2/52/5
General Health2/54/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl4/55/5
Dog Friendly3/54/5
Does NOT Shed3/54/5
Easy To Groom3/54/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/55/5
Does NOT chew on things3/52/5
Low Prey Drive3/51/5
Tendency NOT to Wander3/51/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor3/54/5
Weight30 to 45 pounds35 to 70 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather4/52/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/53/5
Kid-Friendly4/54/5
Easygoing1/51/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers5/51/5
Easy To Train5/54/5
Intelligence5/54/5
NOT Rambunctious1/51/5
Minimal Exercise Needs1/51/5
Potential For Playfulness5/55/5
Average Lifespan13.5 years13.0 years
Average Price$1000$2250
Price Range$600 – $1250$2250 – $2250
Temperament Score82.4 percent68.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Collie Eye Anomaly
  • Congenital Deafness
  • DNA Repository
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination, recommended annually until age 7
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis
  • Shoulders
  • TNS Info
  • Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds37127
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)143

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Border Collie 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 Border Collie 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 Border Collie is a better pet than the Saluki. So, you should get a Border Collie!

    Border Collie versus Saluki

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Border Collie and the Saluki

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

  • Border Collies are very friendly towards strangers. However, Salukis are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • The Similarities Between the Border Collie and the Saluki

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

  • Both the Border Collie and the Saluki do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Saluki do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Saluki do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Saluki are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Saluki are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Saluki can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Saluki get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Saluki 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 Border Collie and the Saluki are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Saluki are very easy to train.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Saluki are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Saluki have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Saluki require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Saluki are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Border Collie versus Saluki

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

    Border Collies weigh 30 to 45 pounds when fully grown. Border Collies are 18 to 22 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.

    Here is our article on Border Collie size, Border Collie growth, and Border Collie weight.

    Lifespan of Border Collie versus Saluki

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

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

    Border Collies live longer than Salukis.

    Go to this article to learn more about Border Collie lifespan and how long Border Collie live.

    Border Collie versus Saluki

    Temperament of the Border Collie Versus the Saluki

    The Border Collie has a better temperament than the Saluki.

    This is because the temperament score for the Border Collie is 82.4 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 82.4 percent, the Border Collie has a below-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 Border Collie and the Saluki by measuring the temperaments of 312 Border Collies and 67 Salukis.

    Price of Border Collie versus Price of Saluki

    The average price of the Border Collie puppy is $1000. The price of the Border Collie typically ranges from $600 – $1250. However, the price of a Border Collie can be as low as $100 and as high as $5500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1009 Border Collie 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 Border Collie.

    `
    Border Collie Saluki
    Average Price $1000 $2250
    Price Range $600 to $1250 $2250 to $2250

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Border Collies. 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 Border Collie 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.

    Go to this article to learn more about Border Collie cost and price.

    Check out our list of best Border Collie breeders here

    Border Collie versus Saluki

    Adopting the Border Collie versus Adopting the Saluki

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

    Also, like Border Collies, Salukis are also available for adoption. For example, Dexter O is a Male Saluki that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Salukis like Dexter O that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

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

    Tip is the name of another Border Collie (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

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

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

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

    The Intelligence of the Border Collie versus the Intelligence of the Saluki

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    Border Collie Saluki
    Intelligence Rank 1 out of 130 dog breeds 43 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 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 Border Collie has an obedience intelligence rank of 1 out of 130 dog breeds. The Border Collie belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Border Collies tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 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 Border Collie 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 Border Collie 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 Border Collie and the Saluki over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Border Collie is more popular with dog owners than the Saluki. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Border Collie is 37 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Saluki is 127 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Border Collie

    Popularity of Border Collie

    Popularity of Saluki

    Popularity of Saluki

    `
    Year Border Collie Popularity Rank Saluki Popularity Rank
    2013 44 115
    2014 40 134
    2015 38 132
    2016 38 125
    2017 38 123
    2018 35 120
    2019 33 125
    2020 32 144

    Tolerates Being Alone: Border Collie versus Saluki

    Border Collies do not like to be left alone.

    Salukis do not like to be left alone.

    Do Border Collies shed more than Salukis?

    Border Collies shed moderately.

    Check out our articles to learn more on how to minimize shedding in Border Collies, and on how to groom a Border Collie

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Border Collie or the Saluki?

    Border Collies are moderately easy to groom.

    To learn more about how to properly groom a Border Collie, check out our article on how to groom a Border Collie.

    Learn more on how to take care of a Border Collie here.

    Salukis are very easy to groom.

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

    Border Collies get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Salukis get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Border Collies good family dogs? What about Salukis?

    Border Collies are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Border Collie make a good addition to a family. They love kids and kids love them.

    Learn about Border Collie temperament here.

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

    Is the Border Collie Easier to Train than the Saluki?

    Border Collies are very easy to train.

    Salukis are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Border Collie or the Saluki

    Border Collies do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Salukis do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Border Collies and Salukis?

    Border Collies get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Does the Border Collie Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Saluki?

    Border Collies 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 Border Collies Bark and Howl? What about Salukis?

    Border Collies 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 Border Collies Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Salukis Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Border Collies can very well tolerate cold weather.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Border Collie vs. Saluki

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

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

    Can Border Collies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Salukis Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Border Collies can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Is the Border Collie Better for Apartment Owners than the Saluki?

    Border Collies do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Salukis do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Border Collies are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Salukis are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Border Collie Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Border Collie compares to other breeds aside from the Saluki. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Border Collie to other breeds:

    Border Collie versus Kai Ken     Border Collie versus Portuguese Water Dog     Border Collie versus Saint Berdoodle     Border Collie versus Border Collie     Border Collie versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Border Collie versus Standard Poodle     Border Collie versus Skye Terrier     Border Collie versus Redbone Coonhound     Border Collie versus Spinone Italiano     Border Collie versus Pug     Border Collie versus Irish Water Spaniel     Border Collie versus Goldador     Border Collie versus Bolognese     Border Collie versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Border Collie versus Kishu Ken     Border Collie versus Lhasa Apso     Border Collie versus Dachshund     Border Collie versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     

    Conclusion: Border Collie 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 Border Collie and the Saluki better suits you and your family.