Which is Better Between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart?

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Bernese Mountain Dog Versus Hovawart: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog or the Hovawart.

Bernese Mountain Dog versus Hovawart: Overview

A very important difference between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Bernese Mountain Dog is a giant-sized dog while the Hovawart is a large-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart are Working Dogs. This means both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart 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.

Bernese Mountain Dog versus Hovawart: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart

Factor Bernese Mountain Dog Hovawart
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 1/5 3/5
General Health 1/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 2/5
Height 23 to 28 inches 23 to 29 inches
Dog Friendly 3/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 2/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 2/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 4/5
Life Span 6 to 10 years 10 to 14 years
Weight 70 to 115 pounds 55 to 110 pounds
Average Lifespan 8.0 years 12.0 years
Average Price $2870 No Data
Price Range $1800 – $3438 No Data
Temperament Score 86.6 percent 91.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • AKC DNA Profile
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degeneratative Mylopathy (DM) DNA results for both SOD1-A and SOD1-B, or an at-risk result for either SOD1-A or SOD1-B registered with the OFA.
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•  No Data

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog is 66 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Hovawart is 78 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Hovawart is a better pet than the Bernese Mountain Dog. So, you should get the Hovawart!

    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 Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart

    Below is a list of where the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart are most different:

    • Bernese Mountain Dogs have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Hovawarts are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
    • Bernese Mountain Dogs have a very high tendency to drool. However, Hovawarts do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Bernese Mountain Dogs are very friendly towards strangers. However, Hovawarts are not very friendly towards strangers.
    • Bernese Mountain Dogs are prone to nip and chew at things. However, Hovawarts are not prone to nip and chew at things.
    • Bernese Mountain Dogs have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Hovawarts have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.

    The Similarities Between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart

    The Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart are most similar:

    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart do not adapt well to apartment living.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart 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 Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart are very playful.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart can tolerate cold weather.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Size Comparison of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Hovawart

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart.

    Bernese Mountain Dogs weigh 70 to 115 pounds when fully grown. Bernese Mountain Dogs are 23 to 28 inches 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.

    Lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dog versus Hovawart

    The lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dogs is between 6 to 10 years. The average lifespan of Bernese Mountain Dogs is 8.0 years.

    The lifespan of Hovawarts is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Hovawarts is 12.0 years.

    Hovawarts live longer than Bernese Mountain Dogs.

    Temperament of the Hovawart Versus the Bernese Mountain Dog

    The Hovawart has a better temperament than the Bernese Mountain Dog.

    This is because the temperament score for the Hovawart is 91.7 percent while the temperament score for the Bernese Mountain Dog is 86.6 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 86.6 percent, the Bernese Mountain Dog has an above-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 Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart by measuring the temperaments of 194 Bernese Mountain Dogs and 24 Hovawarts.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Bernese Mountain Dog versus Hovawart

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Hovawarts do not like to be left alone.

    Do Bernese Mountain Dogs shed more than Hovawarts?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Hovawarts shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Hovawart

    Bernese Mountain Dogs have a very high tendency to drool.

    Hovawarts do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Hovawart?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are moderately easy to groom.

    Hovawarts are very easy to groom.

    Does the Bernese Mountain Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Hovawart?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs 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.

    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 Bernese Mountain Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Hovawarts?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

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

    Can Bernese Mountain Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Hovawarts Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Hovawarts can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Bernese Mountain Dog vs. Hovawart

    Bernese Mountain Dogs 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 Bernese Mountain Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Hovawarts Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Hovawart?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Hovawarts do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Bernese Mountain Dogs good family dogs? What about Hovawarts?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    How Kid-friendly are Bernese Mountain Dogs and Hovawarts?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Easier to Train than the Hovawart?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are very easy to train.

    Hovawarts are not easy to train.

    Is the Bernese Mountain Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Hovawart?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Hovawarts do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Bernese Mountain Dog or the Hovawart?

    Bernese Mountain Dogs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Hovawarts are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Bernese Mountain Dog 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 Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hovawart better suits you and your family.