Greyhound vs Saluki

A Greyhound
Photo: Neurodoc
A Saluki
Photo: r.

Side by side

Greyhound
Saluki
Adult weight
Males 26.2–38.5 kg (58–85 lb); females 22.3–32.2 kg (49–71 lb) (measured in UK vet records, n = 5,419, mean ±1.5 SD)1
18–29 kg (40–65 lb) (breed club figure)2
Lifespan
Median 11.5 years3
Median 13.3 years3
Fully grown
12 months, both sexes4
11 months, both sexes4
Group
Sighthounds5
Sighthounds6
Coat
No sourced figure
Coat with feathering or short coat6
Shedding
No sourced figure
Sheds through the year
Exercise
A modest amount
A moderate amount
Health
Bone cancer (far more likely); Blood-vessel cancer of the skin (more likely)7,8
No sourced figure
Class
Companion
Companion

Which suits you

Size
The Greyhound is a little larger on average: about 30 kg (66 lb) as an adult, against 24 kg (52 lb) for the Saluki.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Saluki lives longer: a median of 13.3 years, against 11.5 for the Greyhound.
Exercise
Plan for a moderate amount of exercise with the Saluki, and a modest amount with the Greyhound.
Temperament
They differ most on independence (Greyhound: cooperative, with its own ideas; Saluki: decides for itself) and on loyalty (Greyhound: bonded to its family; Saluki: sticks close to its people).
Alike
Both are rated the same on voice: quiet.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Greyhound
Sighthounds · Large

In temperament the breed is quiet and gentle, content to sleep for long stretches, affectionate with its own people and sometimes reserved with strangers.

Saluki
Sighthounds · Medium

With its family the breed is gentle and affectionate. It tends to be reserved with strangers, sensitive to harsh handling and quick to chase anything that runs.

The Greyhound page →The Saluki page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Greyhound
Saluki
Activity
Differs
Happy with modest walks
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Differs
Easy-going, simple routines
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Differs
Suits a first-time owner
Needs steady training
With people
Greyhound
Saluki
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Differs
Bonded to its family
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Decides for itself
Around the home
Greyhound
Saluki
Sensitivity
Differs
Average
Needs a calm, predictable home
Voice
Quiet
Quiet
Prey drive
Likely to chase small pets
Likely to chase small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour9. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home10,11.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Greyhound grows to the heavier adult, about 30 kg against the Saluki's 24 kg.
Greyhound
Saluki
0102030402m4m6m9m12m18m
0102030402m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Greyhound with
Greyhound vs WhippetGreyhound vs Italian GreyhoundAfghan Hound vs SalukiBorzoi vs GreyhoundBorzoi vs SalukiAzawakh vs GreyhoundAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·