Hovawart vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Hovawart vs Australian Kelpie - Breed ComparisonAustralian Kelpie is originated from Australia but Hovawart is originated from Germany. Australian Kelpie may grow 19 cm / 7 inches shorter than Hovawart. Australian Kelpie may weigh 31 kg / 68 pounds lesser than Hovawart. Both Australian Kelpie and Hovawart has almost same life span. Both Australian Kelpie and Hovawart has almost same litter size. Australian Kelpie requires Moderate Maintenance. But Hovawart requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
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Australia
Germany
Height Male:
46 - 51 cm
18 - 21 inches
58 - 70 cm
22 - 28 inches
Height Female:
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
51 - 68 cm
20 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
14 - 20 kg
30 - 45 pounds
25 - 51 kg
55 - 113 pounds
Weight Female:
12 - 20 kg
26 - 45 pounds
22 - 49 kg
48 - 109 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 7
6 - 8
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Kelpie, Barb
Hovie
Colors Available:
Many Colours, from solids to bi-colours - tan, fawn, blue, red, black, chocolate
gold and black, gold, blonde
Coat:
short and dense
long dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

History

australian kelpieThe energetic Kelpie came into being around 1870, with this working dog breed having a role to play with the herding of sheep in the harsh Australian outback.The sheep and wool industry in Australia has always been big business, and Australian ranchers were looking for a tough dog that could cope with sheep but also cope with the harsh environment.

These are adaptable dogs too and their ancestors include the Coley or Collie, a British herding-type dog, the English- and the Australian Shepherd and the Dingo. In fact it is believed that up to 4% of their genes comes from the Dingo. These adaptable dogs were also brought to North America where they quickly adapted to the different climate and different livestock.

The Australian Kelpie isn’t your regular pet as they are essentially an outdoor, working dog. They are recognized today by the United Kennel Club and registered by the North American Australian Kelpie Registry.

hovawartThe Hovawart, is a German Black Forest breed developed as a guard dog for large estates in the medieval era. They first appeared in history in the early 13th century as heroes who saved the German son of a castle lord, despite being injured themselves. The boy they saved grew up to be a German legend. He wrote the oldest German code of law that remained from medieval times. In it he names the Hovawarts as a dog that if you are responsible for hurting, stealing or killing it, you must pay for it or replace it. No other dog had this protection.

In the late fifteenth century Hovawarts were featured in Heinrich Mynsinger’s “The Five Noble Breeds”. This guard dog breed was esteemed on a level with the hunting dogs – their health a question of life or death for their owner. In the 1500’s the popularity of the breed began to fade. The GSD or German Shepard Dog began to replace the Hovawarts as the preferred guard dog.

By the early 20th century the breed had almost disappeared but were saved by breed enthusiasts in the early 1900’s. Zoologist Kurt Konig was prominent in this effort and went looking in the Black Forest area for dogs working on farms. Using the dogs, he found on these farms, Konig began a breeding program crossing the them with Newfoundland’s, Kuvazoks, Leonbergers, GSD, an African hunting dogs and Bernese Mountain Dogs.

By 1922 the first litter of these pups was entered officially into the German Breeding Registry. In 1937 the Hovawart was recognized by the German Kennel Club. However, many members of the breed died in World War II as they were used widely by the military and not many were left by 1945. Once again breed enthusiasts came to the rescue forming a Coburg Hovawart club. This club still exists and in 1964, for the second time, the breed was recognized by the German Kennel Club. Other countries also began to take notice of this working breed.

The Hovawart has many skills in addition hunting and guarding. The Hovawart does not work for people, he works with them as he is a very independent thinker. He is also good at search and rescue and tracking. An owner of this breed must be stronger, smarter, more alert, intentional and consistent than his Hovawart. These are not dogs for the faint of heart or first-timers.

Description

The Coat

australian kelpie puppy - descriptionThe Kelpie is a medium-sized dog with a coat that comes in a number of colours – black, chocolate, fawn, red, blue, tan, white and gold. . The nose colour blends in with the dog’s coat colour and can be black, brownish and even pinkish.

A Sharp, Intelligent Look

The Kelpie has a medium-length tail which is low-set. The ears are pricked, giving the dog an intelligent, alert appearance. The dog’s head is also narrow and long, and his eyes are bright and inquisitive.

Lithe and Athletic

The Australian Kelpie has an athletic appearance, with a body which is longer than their height, similar to that of a German Shepherd. Because the Australian Kelpie is such an energetic, active breed, he’ll need plenty of ‘jobs to do’, lots of ball games and other exercise to keep him free from boredom and to ensure he maintains his lithe, lean, muscular limbs.

hovawart puppy - descriptionThe Hovawart is a proud and majestic dog and his looks match his character. He looks a bit like the Golden Retriever with a powerful and broad forehead. His skull and muzzle are the same length and his nose is black. His oval eyes are a medium to dark brown and his ears are high set and triangular.

Their chests are strong, broad and deep. The breed has strong legs straight in front with round, strong and compact feet. They are heavy boned with dense, long coats that lie flat and have a slight wave to them. The coat can be black and gold, blond or black.

Characteristics

Friend of Children

australian kelpie dog - characteristicsThe Australian Kelpie is an active, busy, intelligent, loving breed who is highly protective of his human family. He gets on well with children and other pets in the home but you’ll want him trained if you want him to be gentle around children and smaller pets. He does tend to gravitate towards one particular family member as his ‘favourite’ though.

He Must be Busy

Your Kelpie won't do well in an apartment as he is a working dog who wants plenty of place to run and play. If he is bored, it manifests itself with constant barking. Make sure to provide a stimulating, active lifestyle for your Australian Kelpie, provide him with everything a dog needs and you’ll be rewarded with a devoted and loyal companion.

1.Children friendliness yes, they are good with children.

Special talents

hovawart dog - characteristicsThey have a great sense of smell and a well-balanced personality.

Adaptability

They are not indoor dogs and should have a yard to run in. They do not tolerate hot weather well. They do great out in the country.

Learning ability

They are intelligent independent thinkers. They lengths well with positive reinforcement.

Health Problems

A Healthy Breed

australian kelpie puppies - health problemsYour Australian Kelpie is a hardy breed and you won’t find many health problems with him. Yes, every dog is susceptible to illnesses which are common with all dog breeds, and these are illnesses such as hip dysplasia and cryptorchidism.

You will need to check your Kelpie out for eye disease such as PRA or Progressive Retinal Atrophy, a group of genetic diseases which are found in some breeds of dogs. This can lead to cataracts and blindness.

Lifestyle and Environment Impact Health

Health problems in your Australian Kelpie can certainly be partially prevented by the way you feed your dog and by the environment you provide him with. Every dog has the potential to develop genetic health problems, but as we’ve said, the Kelpie is a generally healthy breed.

Always find a reputable breeder whose focus is on breeding healthy dogs and who can provide certification that the parents of the dog are clear of defects and are in tip-top condition for breeding.

Puppy Vaccinations

Along with quality food and fresh water, getting your puppy vaccinated is hugely important. Australian Kelpie puppy shots will protect your new 4-legged family member from the likes of distemper, parvovirus and hepatitis. Your puppy will also need additional booster vaccinations after his first shots which start at around 8 weeks of age.

hovawart puppies - health problemsThough their isolation protected them from genetic health issues for centuries, once they were being rejuvenated and mixed with other breeds some common issues began to show up. These include:

  • Underactive thyroid
  • Hip Dysplasia – can cause arthritis or lameness
  • Osteochondritis – causes joint pain in shoulders mostly
  • Liver Shunts

Caring The Pet

Grooming

australian kelpie dogs - caringAustralian Kelpies are low maintenance and their coat is easy to groom and maintain. You want to give him a good brush twice a week to get rid of loose hair. Australian Kelpies are moderate shedders.

Feeding your Kelpie

It is important to get your puppy off on the right foot to avoid health problems later on. Homemade dog food which includes chicken, rice and vegetables is always the best food for your dog. If you can't prepared your own meals for your Kelpie, top grade commercial dog food brands are recommended.

When looking at dog foods, remember that your Kelpie is a working dog – a naturally active breed and you’ll need to look at dog food which has been specially formulated for active dogs. Every dog will need raw meat in their diet if you want to avoid a dog with an itchy, flaky skin, a dog with poor energy levels and a dog that has no resistance to infection.

Training

Every owner who cares for their dog will provide him with socialization and training. The Australian Kelpie is an intelligent breed who responds well to training.

Feeding the puppy

hovawart dogs - caringFeed breed specific high quality dry food for puppies. Feed 1-2 cups in 3-4 meals per day

Feeding the adult

Again Feed breed specific high quality dry food for adults. Feed 2-3 cups per day in 1-2 meals per day.

Points for Good Health

Points for Good Health – Stamina

Games and Exercises

The Hovawart needs plenty of exercise. Remember this is a mountain farm dog used to working all the time. Walk or jog with them daily. They can excel at field trials, obedience, search and rescue, agility, flyball, therapy dog, and service dog.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Hovawart vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  4. Hovawart vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Hovawart vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Hovawart vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Hovawart vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Hovawart vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Hovawart vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Hovawart vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Hovawart vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Hovawart vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
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  26. Australian Kelpie vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Australian Kelpie vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Australian Kelpie vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Australian Kelpie vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Australian Kelpie vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Australian Kelpie vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Australian Kelpie vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Australian Kelpie vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Australian Kelpie vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Australian Kelpie vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Australian Kelpie vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Australian Kelpie vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Australian Kelpie vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Australian Kelpie vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Australian Kelpie vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Australian Kelpie vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Australian Kelpie vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Australian Kelpie vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Australian Kelpie vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Australian Kelpie vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Australian Kelpie vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Australian Kelpie vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Australian Kelpie vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Australian Kelpie vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Australian Kelpie vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison