Differences and Similarities between the Chihuahua and the Hovawart.

Last Updated: Mar 22, 2022

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Chihuahua Versus Hovawart: Introduction

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

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

Read on.

Chihuahua versus Hovawart

Chihuahua versus Hovawart: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Chihuahua belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

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.

Chihuahua versus Hovawart: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chihuahua 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 Chihuahua and the Hovawart

Factor Chihuahua Hovawart
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 5/5 2/5
Life Span 10 to 18 years 10 to 14 years
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 3/5
General Health 2/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 2/5
Weight 3 to 6 pounds 55 to 110 pounds
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 2/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 1/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 4/5
Height 6 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder 23 to 29 inches
Average Lifespan 14.0 years 12.0 years
Average Price $1820 No Data
Price Range $850 – $2500 No Data
Temperament Score 69.6 percent 91.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • No Data

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Chihuahua 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 Chihuahua is 84 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Hovawart is 78 out of 125.

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

    Chihuahua versus Hovawart

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chihuahua and the Hovawart

    Below is a list of where the Chihuahua and the Hovawart are most different:

  • Chihuahuas cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Hovawarts can tolerate cold weather.
  • Chihuahuas have low exercise needs. However, Hovawarts require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Chihuahuas adapt well to apartment living. However, Hovawarts do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the Chihuahua and the Hovawart

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

  • Both the Chihuahua and the Hovawart do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Hovawart do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Hovawart cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Hovawart do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Hovawart are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Hovawart do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Chihuahua 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 Chihuahua and the Hovawart are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Hovawart are very playful.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Hovawart are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Hovawart get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Hovawart are very easy to groom.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Chihuahua versus Hovawart

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

    Chihuahuas weigh 3 to 6 pounds when fully grown. Chihuahuas are 6 inches to 9 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 Chihuahua versus Hovawart

    The lifespan of Chihuahuas is between 10 to 18 years. The average lifespan of Chihuahuas is 14.0 years.

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

    Chihuahuas live longer than Hovawarts.

    Go to this article to learn more about Chihuahua lifespan and how long Chihuahua live.

    Chihuahua versus Hovawart

    Temperament of the Hovawart Versus the Chihuahua

    The Hovawart has a better temperament than the Chihuahua.

    This is because the temperament score for the Hovawart is 91.7 percent while the temperament score for the Chihuahua is 69.6 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 69.6 percent, the Chihuahua 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 Chihuahua and the Hovawart by measuring the temperaments of 46 Chihuahuas and 24 Hovawarts.

    Chihuahua versus Hovawart

    Tolerates Being Alone: Chihuahua versus Hovawart

    Chihuahuas do not like to be left alone.

    Hovawarts do not like to be left alone.

    Do Chihuahuas shed more than Hovawarts?

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

    Check out our articles to learn more on how to minimize shedding in Chihuahuas, and on how to groom a Chihuahua

    Hovawarts shed moderately.

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

    Chihuahuas are very easy to groom.

    To learn more about how to properly groom a Chihuahua, check out our article on how to groom a Chihuahua.

    Learn more on how to take care of a Chihuahua here.

    Hovawarts are very easy to groom.

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

    Chihuahuas do not get along well with other dogs.

    Hovawarts do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Chihuahuas good family dogs? What about Hovawarts?

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

    Chihuahua make a good addition to a family. They love kids and kids love them.

    Learn about Chihuahua temperament here.

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

    Is the Chihuahua Easier to Train than the Hovawart?

    Chihuahuas are very easy to train.

    Hovawarts are not easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Chihuahua or the Hovawart

    Chihuahuas do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Hovawarts do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Chihuahuas and Hovawarts?

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

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

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

    Chihuahuas have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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 Chihuahuas Bark and Howl? What about Hovawarts?

    Chihuahuas bark and howl, but not very much.

    Hovawarts are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Hovawarts Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Chihuahuas cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Hovawarts can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chihuahua vs. Hovawart

    Chihuahuas 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 Chihuahuas Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Hovawarts Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Chihuahuas 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.

    Is the Chihuahua Better for Apartment Owners than the Hovawart?

    Chihuahuas adapt very well to apartment living.

    Hovawarts do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Chihuahuas are very good for new dog owners.

    Hovawarts are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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