Briard versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

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Briard Versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever? 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 Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 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 Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 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 Briard and for the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. 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 Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Briard or the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

Briard versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: Overview

A very important difference between the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Briard is a large-sized dog while the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Briard 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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

Briard versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Briard to the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 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 Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Factor Briard Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Does NOT Shed 5/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 5/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 10 to 14 years
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 2/5
Height 22 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 9 inches tall at the s
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 1/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 3/5
Weight 70 to 100 pounds 35 to 50 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 12.0 years
Average Price $2500 No Data
Price Range $2500 – $2500 No Data
Temperament Score 81.7 percent 78.9 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination at least once between six (6) months and eight (8) years
  • Hip Dysplasia (min age 24 months for all tests)
  • Stationary Night Blindness
    		•
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
    		•

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Briard 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 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. 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 Briard is 79 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is 85 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a better pet than the Briard. So, you should get the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever!

    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 Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

    Below is a list of where the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever are most different:

    • Briards require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are very easy to groom.

    The Similarities Between the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

    The Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever are most similar:

    • Both the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 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 Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever can tolerate cold weather.
    • Both the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever are very easy to train.
    • Both the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
    • Both the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
    • Both the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
    • Both the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever are very playful.
    • Both the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever get along well with other dogs.

    Size Comparison of Briard versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

    Briards weigh 70 to 100 pounds when fully grown. Briards are 22 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers weigh 35 to 50 pounds when fully grown. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 9 inches tall at the s when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Briard versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

    The lifespan of Briards is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Briards is 11.0 years.

    The lifespan of Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers is 12.0 years.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers live longer than Briards.

    Temperament of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Versus the Briard

    The Briard has a better temperament than the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

    This is because the temperament score for the Briard is 81.7 percent while the temperament score for the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is 78.9 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 81.7 percent, the Briard has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 78.9 percent, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever by measuring the temperaments of 382 Briards and 38 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers.

    Health Problems of Briard versus Health Problems of Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Briard is prone to more genetic health problems than the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Briard than for the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

    5 health tests are recommended for Briard while 3 tests are recommended for the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Briards and in Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers.

    Briard Health Problems

    Briards are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Briard puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Briard puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Briard breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Briards for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination at least once between six (6) months and eight (8) years
  • Hip Dysplasia (min age 24 months for all tests)
  • Stationary Night Blindness

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Briards here.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Health Problems

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers for:

  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Briard versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

    Briards can be left alone only for a short time.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Briards shed more than Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers?

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

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Briard or the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

    Briards do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Briard or the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?

    Briards require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are very easy to groom.

    Does the Briard Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?

    Briards have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers 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 Briards Bark and Howl? What about Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers?

    Briards are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Briards Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Briards can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Briard vs. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

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

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Briards Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Briard or the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?

    Briards get along very well with other dogs.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Briards good family dogs? What about Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers?

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

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Briards and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers?

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

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Briard Easier to Train than the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?

    Briards are very easy to train.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Is the Briard Better for Apartment Owners than the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?

    Briards adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Briard or the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?

    Briards are OK for new dog owners.

    Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Briard versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. 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 Briard and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever better suits you and your family.