Is the Bouvier des Flandres Better than the Hovawart as a Pet? Our Answer.

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Bouvier des Flandres Versus Hovawart: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Bouvier des Flandres 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 Bouvier des Flandres 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 Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Bouvier des Flandres 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 Bouvier des Flandres 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 Bouvier des Flandres 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 Bouvier des Flandres or the Hovawart.

Bouvier des Flandres versus Hovawart: Overview

Both the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart are similar in size. The Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart are both large-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Bouvier des Flandres 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.

Bouvier des Flandres versus Hovawart: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Bouvier des Flandres 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 Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart

Factor Bouvier des Flandres Hovawart
Does NOT Shed 5/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 10 to 14 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 4/5
Height 23 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder 23 to 29 inches
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 1/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Easy To Train 5/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 2/5
Weight 70 to 100 pounds 55 to 110 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 12.0 years
Average Price $1990 No Data
Price Range $1600 – $2500 No Data
Temperament Score 85.4 percent 91.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination. Minimum age 18 months. The ABdFC recommends testing be repeated every two years until at least 8 years of age.
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•  No Data

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Bouvier des Flandres 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 Bouvier des Flandres is 78 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 not better or worse than the Bouvier des Flandres. So, you can get the Hovawart or the Bouvier des Flandres!

    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 Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart

    Below is a list of where the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart are most different:

    • Bouvier des Flandress are very easy to train. However, Hovawarts are not easy to train.

    The Similarities Between the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart

    The Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart are most similar:

    • Both the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
    • Both the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
    • Both the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart do not get along well with other dogs.
    • Both the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart are not very friendly towards strangers.
    • Both the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart are not prone to nip and chew at things.
    • Both the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
    • Both the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
    • Both the Bouvier des Flandres 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 Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart can tolerate cold weather.
    • Both the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
    • Both the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
    • Both the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart are very playful.
    • Both the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.

    Size Comparison of Bouvier des Flandres versus Hovawart

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart.

    Bouvier des Flandress weigh 70 to 100 pounds when fully grown. Bouvier des Flandress are 23 to 26 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.

    Lifespan of Bouvier des Flandres versus Hovawart

    The lifespan of Bouvier des Flandress is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Bouvier des Flandress is 11.0 years.

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

    Hovawarts live longer than Bouvier des Flandress.

    Temperament of the Hovawart Versus the Bouvier des Flandres

    The Hovawart has a better temperament than the Bouvier des Flandres.

    This is because the temperament score for the Hovawart is 91.7 percent while the temperament score for the Bouvier des Flandres is 85.4 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 85.4 percent, the Bouvier des Flandres 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 Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart by measuring the temperaments of 925 Bouvier des Flandress and 24 Hovawarts.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Bouvier des Flandres versus Hovawart

    Bouvier des Flandress do not like to be left alone.

    Hovawarts do not like to be left alone.

    Do Bouvier des Flandress shed more than Hovawarts?

    Bouvier des Flandress do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Hovawarts shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Bouvier des Flandres or the Hovawart

    Bouvier des Flandress do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Hovawarts do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Bouvier des Flandres or the Hovawart?

    Bouvier des Flandress require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Hovawarts are very easy to groom.

    Does the Bouvier des Flandres Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Hovawart?

    Bouvier des Flandress 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.

    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 Bouvier des Flandress Bark and Howl? What about Hovawarts?

    Bouvier des Flandress 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 Bouvier des Flandress Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Hovawarts Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Bouvier des Flandress can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Hovawarts can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Bouvier des Flandres vs. Hovawart

    Bouvier des Flandress do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Hovawarts do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Can Bouvier des Flandress Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Hovawarts Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Bouvier des Flandress 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 Bouvier des Flandres or the Hovawart?

    Bouvier des Flandress do not get along well with other dogs.

    Hovawarts do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Bouvier des Flandress good family dogs? What about Hovawarts?

    Bouvier des Flandress 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 Bouvier des Flandress and Hovawarts?

    Bouvier des Flandress get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Bouvier des Flandres Easier to Train than the Hovawart?

    Bouvier des Flandress are very easy to train.

    Hovawarts are not easy to train.

    Is the Bouvier des Flandres Better for Apartment Owners than the Hovawart?

    Bouvier des Flandress adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Hovawarts do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Bouvier des Flandres or the Hovawart?

    Bouvier des Flandress are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Hovawarts are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Bouvier des Flandres 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 Bouvier des Flandres and the Hovawart better suits you and your family.