A Detailed Comparison of the Collie and the Hovawart.

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Collie Versus Hovawart: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the 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 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 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 Collie or the Hovawart.

Collie versus Hovawart

Collie versus Hovawart: Overview

A very important difference between the Collie and the Hovawart is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Collie is a medium-sized dog while the Hovawart is a large-sized dog.

Furthermore, the 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.

Collie versus Hovawart: Comparison Table

The table below compares the 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 Collie and the Hovawart

Factor Collie Hovawart
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 4/5
Life Span 10 to 14 years 10 to 14 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 2/5
Height 22 to 26 inches all at the shoulder 23 to 29 inches
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 2/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 3/5
Weight 50 to 70 pounds 55 to 110 pounds
Average Lifespan 12.0 years 12.0 years
Average Price $1480 No Data
Price Range $1000 – $1800 No Data
Temperament Score 80.8 percent 91.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • No Data

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the 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 Collie is 83 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Hovawart is 78 out of 125.

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

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

    Collie versus Hovawart

    The Similarities Between the Collie and the Hovawart

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

  • Both the Collie and the Hovawart do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Collie 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 Collie and the Hovawart do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Collie and the Hovawart can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Collie and the Hovawart are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Collie and the Hovawart are very playful.
  • Both the Collie and the Hovawart are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Collie and the Hovawart get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Collie versus Hovawart

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Collie and the Hovawart.

    Collies weigh 50 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Collies are 22 to 26 inches all 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 Collie versus Hovawart

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

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

    Collie versus Hovawart

    Temperament of the Collie Versus the Hovawart

    The Hovawart has a better temperament than the Collie.

    This is because the temperament score for the Hovawart is 91.7 percent while the temperament score for the Collie is 80.8 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 80.8 percent, the 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 Collie and the Hovawart by measuring the temperaments of 896 Collies and 24 Hovawarts.

    Collie versus Hovawart

    Tolerates Being Alone: Collie versus Hovawart

    Collies do not like to be left alone.

    Hovawarts do not like to be left alone.

    Do Collies shed more than Hovawarts?

    Collies shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Hovawarts shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Collie or the Hovawart

    Collies do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Hovawarts do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Collie or the Hovawart?

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

    Hovawarts are very easy to groom.

    Does the Collie Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Hovawart?

    Collies 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 Collies Bark and Howl? What about Hovawarts?

    Collies 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 Collies Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Hovawarts Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Collies can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Hovawarts can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Collie vs. Hovawart

    Collies 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 Collies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Hovawarts Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

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

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

    Collies get along very well with other dogs.

    Hovawarts do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Collies good family dogs? What about Hovawarts?

    Collies 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 Collies and Hovawarts?

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

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

    Is the Collie Easier to Train than the Hovawart?

    Collies are very easy to train.

    Hovawarts are not easy to train.

    Is the Collie Better for Apartment Owners than the Hovawart?

    Collies adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Hovawarts do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Collies are very good for new dog owners.

    Hovawarts are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Collie

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Collie that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Collie:

  • Keeshond (84 percent match with Collie). Here is our comparison of the Hovawart vs Keeshond.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Hovawart

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Hovawart that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Hovawart:

  • Catahoula Leopard Dog (78 percent match with Hovawart). Here is our comparison of the Collie vs Catahoula Leopard Dog.
  • Spanish Mastiff (81 percent match with Hovawart). Here is our comparison of the Collie vs Spanish Mastiff.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Collie and how the Hovawart compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Collie and of the Hovawart to other breeds:

    Collie Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Collie versus Standard Schnauzer     Collie versus Plott     Collie versus Dutch Shepherd     Collie versus Toy Fox Terrier     Collie versus Skye Terrier     Collie versus Finnish Spitz     Collie versus Shih Tzu     Collie versus Shihpoo     Collie versus Miniature Pinscher     Collie versus Shiranian     Collie versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Collie versus Kai Ken     Collie versus Karelian Bear Dog     Collie versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Collie versus Bullmastiff     Collie versus American Bulldog     Collie versus Cockalier     Collie versus Mal Shi     Collie versus Irish Wolfhound     Collie versus Afador     Collie versus Afador     Collie versus Norfolk Terrier     Collie versus Sloughi     Collie versus Bichon Frise     Collie versus Bearded Collie     

    Hovawart Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Hovawart versus Cockapoo     Hovawart versus English Toy Spaniel     Hovawart versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Hovawart versus English Setter     Hovawart versus Basset Hound     Hovawart versus Maltipoo     Hovawart versus Irish Terrier     Hovawart versus Cairn Terrier     Hovawart versus Azawakh     Hovawart versus Afghan Hound     Hovawart versus Spanish Mastiff     Hovawart versus Beaglier     Hovawart versus Swedish Vallhund     Hovawart versus Aussiedoodle     Hovawart versus Yorkshire Terrier     Hovawart versus Lancashire Heeler     Hovawart versus German Pinscher     Hovawart versus Bull Terrier     Hovawart versus Whippet     Hovawart versus Jack Russell Terrier     Hovawart versus Boxer     Hovawart versus Kooikerhondje     Hovawart versus Shiba Inu     Hovawart versus Frenchton     Hovawart versus Pointer     

    Conclusion: 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 Collie and the Hovawart better suits you and your family.