Last Updated: Mar 09, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Border Collie Versus Hovawart: Introduction
- Border Collie versus Hovawart: Overview
- Border Collie versus Hovawart: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Border Collie and the Hovawart
- The Similarities Between the Border Collie and the Hovawart
- Size (Weight and Height) of Border Collie versus Hovawart
- Lifespan of Border Collie versus Hovawart
- Temperament of the Hovawart Versus the Border Collie
- Tolerates Being Alone: Border Collie versus Hovawart
- Do Border Collies shed more than Hovawarts?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Border Collie or the Hovawart?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Border Collie or the Hovawart?
- Are Border Collies good family dogs? What about Hovawarts?
- Is the Border Collie Easier to Train than the Hovawart?
- Which one drools more, the Border Collie or the Hovawart
- How Kid-friendly are Border Collies and Hovawarts?
- Does the Border Collie Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Hovawart?
- Do Border Collies Bark and Howl? What about Hovawarts?
- Can Border Collies Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Hovawarts Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Border Collie vs. Hovawart
- Can Border Collies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Hovawarts Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Border Collie Versus Other Dog Breeds
- Conclusion: Border Collie versus Hovawart. Which One is a Better Pet?
Border Collie Versus Hovawart: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Border Collie and the Hovawart? 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 Hovawart 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 Hovawart.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Border Collie and the Hovawart 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 Hovawart. 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 Hovawart.
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 Hovawart.
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 Hovawart: Overview
A very important difference between the Border Collie and the Hovawart is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Border Collie is a medium-sized dog while the Hovawart 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 Hovawart 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.
Border Collie versus Hovawart: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Border Collie to the Hovawart 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 Hovawart
| Factor | Border Collie | Hovawart |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Life Span | 12 to 15 years | 10 to 14 years |
| Height | 18 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder | 23 to 29 inches |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| General Health | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Weight | 30 to 45 pounds | 55 to 110 pounds |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Easy To Train | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Intelligence | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Average Lifespan | 13.5 years | 12.0 years |
| Average Price | $1000 | No Data |
| Price Range | $600 – $1250 | No Data |
| Temperament Score | 82.4 percent | 91.7 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
No Data |
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 Hovawart. 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 Hovawart is 78 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Border Collie is a better pet than the Hovawart. So, you should get a Border Collie!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Border Collie and the Hovawart
Below is a list of where the Border Collie and the Hovawart are most different:
The Similarities Between the Border Collie and the Hovawart
The Border Collie and the Hovawart are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Border Collie and the Hovawart are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Border Collie versus Hovawart
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Border Collie and the Hovawart.
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, Hovawarts weigh 55 to 110 pounds when fully grown. Hovawarts are 23 to 29 inches when fully grown.
Here is our article on Border Collie size, Border Collie growth, and Border Collie weight.
Lifespan of Border Collie versus Hovawart
The lifespan of Border Collies is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Border Collies is 13.5 years.
The lifespan of Hovawarts is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Hovawarts is 12.0 years.
Border Collies live longer than Hovawarts.
Go to this article to learn more about Border Collie lifespan and how long Border Collie live.
Temperament of the Hovawart Versus the Border Collie
The Hovawart has a better temperament than the Border Collie.
This is because the temperament score for the Hovawart is 91.7 percent while the temperament score for the Border Collie is 82.4 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 91.7 percent, the Hovawart has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Border Collie and the Hovawart by measuring the temperaments of 312 Border Collies and 24 Hovawarts.
Tolerates Being Alone: Border Collie versus Hovawart
Border Collies do not like to be left alone.
Hovawarts do not like to be left alone.
Do Border Collies shed more than Hovawarts?
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
Hovawarts shed moderately.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Border Collie or the Hovawart?
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.
Hovawarts are very easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Border Collie or the Hovawart?
Border Collies get along fairly well with other dogs.
Hovawarts do not get along well with other dogs.
Are Border Collies good family dogs? What about Hovawarts?
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.
Hovawarts are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Border Collie Easier to Train than the Hovawart?
Border Collies are very easy to train.
Hovawarts are not easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Border Collie or the Hovawart
Border Collies do have a very low tendency to drool.
Hovawarts do have a very low tendency to drool.
How Kid-friendly are Border Collies and Hovawarts?
Border Collies get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Hovawarts get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Border Collie Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Hovawart?
Border Collies have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.
Hovawarts have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.
Do Border Collies Bark and Howl? What about Hovawarts?
Border Collies are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Hovawarts are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Can Border Collies Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Hovawarts Tolerate Cold Weather?
Border Collies can very well tolerate cold weather.
Hovawarts can very well tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Border Collie vs. Hovawart
Border Collies have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
Hovawarts do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
Can Border Collies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Hovawarts Tolerate Hot Weather?
Border Collies can tolerate hot weather.
Hovawarts can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Is the Border Collie Better for Apartment Owners than the Hovawart?
Border Collies do not adapt well to apartment living.
Hovawarts do not adapt well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Border Collie or the Hovawart?
Border Collies are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Hovawarts 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 Hovawart. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Border Collie to other breeds:
Border Collie versus Bernedoodle Border Collie versus Saluki Border Collie versus Portuguese Water Dog Border Collie versus Chinese Crested Border Collie versus Standard Poodle Border Collie versus Akita Chow Border Collie versus Pekingese Border Collie versus Kerry Blue Terrier Border Collie versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle Border Collie versus Catahoula Bulldog Border Collie versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog Border Collie versus Mountain Cur Border Collie versus Maltipoo Border Collie versus Sealyham Terrier Border Collie versus Afador Border Collie versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Border Collie versus German Wirehaired Pointer Border Collie versus Bichon Frise Border Collie versus Tibetan Mastiff
Conclusion: Border Collie versus Hovawart. 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 Hovawart better suits you and your family.
