Hovawart vs Golden Retriever vs Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Hovawart vs Golden Retriever vs Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever" Compare Hovawart and Golden Retriever. Which is better: Hovawart or Golden Retriever or Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?

General Appearance Hair & Care Characteristics Good With Health Factors Reproducibility Show differences only

Name	Hovawart	Golden Retriever	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Origins	Germany	Scotland	Canada
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Guard Dogs	Gun Dog	Gun Dog
Popularity Rank	375	3	89
Reviews	1	4	2
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Other Names	Hovie	Yellow Retriever, Golden Flat Coat	Toller, Scotty, Novie, Little River Duck Dog
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Not recognized by the American Kennel Club.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1925 as a Sporting breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2003 as a Sporting breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs group, in the Molossian type section.	Recognized by FCI in the Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs group, in the Retrievers section.	Recognized by FCI in the Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs group, in the Retrievers section.
Breed Recognition	American Canine Registry America's Pet Registry Continental Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Foundation Stock Service Kennel Club of Great Britain National Kennel Club North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc.	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club	No set
Price	$1000-$1200	$1000-$2000	$1800-$2000

General Appearance - Hovawart vs Golden Retriever vs Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Size	Large Giant	Large	Medium
Weight	55 - 90 pounds (25 - 51 kg)	Male: 60-80 pounds (27-36 kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg)	37-51 pounds (17-23 kg)
Avg. Weight	55 - 90 pounds (25 - 51 kg)	Male: 70 pounds (31.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg)	44 pounds (20 kg)
Height	23 - 28 inches (58 - 70 cm)	Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 20-22 inches (51-56 cm)	17-21 inches (43-53 cm)
Avg. Height	23 - 28 inches (58 - 70 cm)	Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 21 inches (53.5 cm)	19 inches (48 cm)

Hair & Care - Hovawart vs Golden Retriever vs Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Coat	Silky	Silky Wavy Shiny Straight	Waterproof
Colors	Golden Blonde Black	Golden Light	Red Gold
Grooming	Easy to groom: The Hovawart doesn't require a lot of grooming.	Average: The Golden Retriever requires average grooming effort.	Easy to groom: The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever doesn't require a lot of grooming.
Shedding Level	Hovawarts shed moderately.	Golden Retrievers shed moderately.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers shed moderately.

Characteristics - Hovawart vs Golden Retriever vs Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Temperament	Watchful Reserved Devoted Outright Tempered Active	Confident Intelligent Reliable Friendly Kind Trustworthy	Affectionate Courageous Gentle Responsive Alert Energetic Playful
Intelligent Rank	Average: Hovawart's has average obedience intelligence.	Outstanding: Golden Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Low to average: This canine intelligence is not the brightest one.
Trainability	Hovawarts are easy to train.	Golden Retrievers are easy to train.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are easy to train.
Playfulness	Hovawarts, like any other dog breed, like playing.	The Golden Retriever is a highly playful breed.	The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a highly playful breed.
Sensitivity Level	Hovawarts have an average emotional level and are not the most sensitive dog breed.	Golden Retrievers have an average emotional level and are not the most sensitive dog breed.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers have an average emotional level and are not the most sensitive dog breed.
Affection Level	Hovawarts are highly affectionate dogs.	Golden Retrievers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.
Social Needs	Hovawarts are a social breed.	Golden Retrievers need a lot of social interaction.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are a social breed.
Barking	Low to Average: The Hovawart rarely barks.	Low to Average: The Golden Retriever rarely barks.	Average: The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever barks occasionally.
Watchdog Ability	Hovawarts are one of the best watchdogs.	Golden Retrievers are average watchdogs.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are average watchdogs.
Territorial	Hovawarts are extremely protective guard dogs.	Golden Retrievers are average defenders.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are average defenders.
Biting Potential	Low The Hovawart has a low chance of biting somebody.	Moderate The Golden Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody.	Low The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Hovawarts have a low tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Golden Retrievers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Hovawarts tend to escape less than other breeds.	Golden Retrievers tend to escape less than other breeds.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers have average wanderlust potential.
Prey Drive	Hovawarts have an average prey drive, which means that they don't have a high impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals, but it might happen.	Golden Retrievers have an average prey drive, which means that they don't have a high impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals, but it might happen.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers have a high impulse to chase and catch something.
Apartment Friendly	Hovawarts are not apartment-friendly dogs.	Golden Retrievers are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.
Adaptability	Hovawarts adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Golden Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Hovawarts do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.	Golden Retrievers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.
Fighting Dog	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Good With - Hovawart vs Golden Retriever vs Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Stranger Friendly	Hovawarts are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Golden Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are not the most stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Hovawarts are kid-friendly dogs.	Golden Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Hovawarts are average friendly towards cats.	Golden Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are average friendly towards cats.
Dog Friendly	Hovawarts are dog-friendly dogs.	Golden Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs.
Office Friendly	No Hovawart is not the best dog breed for office environment.	Yes Golden Retriever is one of the best dog breeds for office environment	No Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Hovawarts are usually recommended for elderly people.	Golden Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Hovawarts are generally with other pets.	Golden Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are generally with other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	Yes Hovawarts are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.	Yes Golden Retrievers are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.	Yes Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.
Service Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Yes A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Yes A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Yes The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.
Boat Dog	Not really Hovawart breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Yes Golden Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat.	Yes Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog	Yes A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.

Health Factors - Hovawart vs Golden Retriever vs Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Health Issues	The Hovawart is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	Golden Retrievers are commonly healthy dogs.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are commonly healthy dogs.
Health Problems	Hip Dysplasia Underactive Thyroid	Allergies Bloat Cataracts Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hemangiosarcoma Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Osteochondrosis Dissecans Osteosarcoma Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis Von Willebrand's Disease	No set
Life Expectancy	10-14 years	10-12 years	12-14 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Hovawarts have an average energy level, so if you live a semi-active life, this breed can be a good choice for you.	Golden Retrievers are high energy dogs.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are high energy dogs.
Exercise Need	Hovawarts have an average exercise need.	Golden Retrievers need a lot of exercises.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers need quite a lot of exercise.
Sleeping Need	Hovawarts sleep 12-14 hours a day as an average dog and they're not considered as a lazy breed.	Golden Retrievers don't need too much sleep.	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers don't need too much sleep.
Avg. daily food consumption	3 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	3 to 4 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	2.5 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Average.	High: The Golden Retriever breed has a strong tendency to overweight.	Average to High.
Weather & Climate	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.
Stinkiness	Medium The Hovawart has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Golden Retriever has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Hovawart is a perfect example for low drooling tendency.	The Golden Retriever drools quite a lot, so if you dislike being covered by slobber spots on your clothes, you may want to choose another dog breed.	The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Hovawart vs Golden Retriever vs Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Gestation Length	60-64 days	60-64 days	60-64 days
How often can the have a litter?	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.
Litter Size	6-8 puppies	5-10 puppies	6-10 puppies
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