Which is Better between the Boxer and the Bearded Collie?

Last Updated: Jun 16, 2022

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Boxer Versus Bearded Collie: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Boxer and the Bearded Collie 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 Boxer and for the Bearded Collie. 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 Boxer and the Bearded Collie.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Boxer or the Bearded Collie.

Boxer versus Bearded Collie

Boxer versus Bearded Collie: Overview

Both the Boxer and the Bearded Collie are similar in size. The Boxer and the Bearded Collie are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Boxer 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.

On the other hand, the Bearded 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.

Boxer versus Bearded Collie: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Boxer to the Bearded Collie 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 Boxer and the Bearded Collie

FactorBoxerBearded Collie
Tolerates Being Alone1/52/5
Tolerates Hot Weather1/53/5
Life Span10 to 12 years12 to 14 years
Tolerates Cold Weather2/54/5
Does NOT Drool4/55/5
General Health2/53/5
Does NOT chew on things4/53/5
Height21 to 25 inches at the shoulder20 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners3/54/5
Dog Friendly3/55/5
Low Prey Drive3/53/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl3/53/5
Tendency NOT to Wander3/51/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living4/53/5
Easygoing2/52/5
Kid-Friendly4/54/5
Friendly Toward Strangers4/54/5
Does NOT Shed2/52/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/52/5
Easy To Train4/55/5
Intelligence4/54/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Easy To Groom5/52/5
NOT Rambunctious1/52/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor1/52/5
Minimal Exercise Needs1/52/5
Potential For Playfulness5/55/5
Weight60 to 70 pounds45 to 55 pounds
Average Lifespan11.0 years13.0 years
Average Price$1530$1000
Price Range$1000 – $1800$600 – $1425
Temperament Score83.9 percent56.9 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health TestsNo Data
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye examination each year, results registered with the OFA.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds11126
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)4834
    *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (The American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Boxer 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 Bearded Collie. 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 Boxer is 73 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Bearded Collie is 80 out of 125.

    Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Bearded Collie, we still believe that the Boxer is a better pet than the Bearded Collie.

    This is because Boxers are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Boxer will come out on top.

    Also, we are biased in favor of the Boxer :-). We are for the Boxer. So get a Boxer!

    Boxer versus Bearded Collie

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Boxer and the Bearded Collie

    Below is a list of where the Boxer and the Bearded Collie are most different:

  • Boxers are very easy to groom. However, Bearded Collies require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • The Similarities Between the Boxer and the Bearded Collie

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

  • Both the Boxer and the Bearded Collie do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Boxer and the Bearded Collie do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Boxer and the Bearded Collie have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Boxer and the Bearded Collie are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Boxer and the Bearded Collie adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Boxer and the Bearded Collie 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 Boxer and the Bearded Collie get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Boxer and the Bearded Collie are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Boxer and the Bearded Collie shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Boxer and the Bearded Collie gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Boxer and the Bearded Collie are very easy to train.
  • Both the Boxer and the Bearded Collie are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Boxer and the Bearded Collie are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Boxer and the Bearded Collie have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Boxer and the Bearded Collie do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Boxer and the Bearded Collie require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Boxer and the Bearded Collie are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Boxer versus Bearded Collie

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

    The Boxer weighs 60 to 70 pounds when fully grown. The Boxer is 21 to 25 inches at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Bearded Collie weighs 45 to 55 pounds when fully grown. The Bearded Collie is 20 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Boxer versus Size of Bearded Collie

    Appearance (Colors) of the Boxer and the Bearded Collie

    Boxer Colors

    The Boxer comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Brindle
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Black
    • Bicolor
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange

    The Boxer comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • Black
    • White / Cream
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Brindle

    Bearded Collie Colors

    The Bearded Collie comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Black

    The Bearded Collie comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • White / Cream
    • Black

    Lifespan of Boxer versus Bearded Collie

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

    The lifespan of the Bearded Collie is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of the Bearded Collie is 13.0 years.

    The Bearded Collie live longer than the Boxer.

    Boxer versus Bearded Collie

    Temperament of the Bearded Collie Versus the Boxer

    The Boxer has a better temperament than the Bearded Collie.

    This is because the temperament score for the Boxer is 83.9 percent while the temperament score for the Bearded Collie is 56.9 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 83.9 percent, the Boxer has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 56.9 percent, the Bearded Collie has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Boxer and the Bearded Collie by measuring the temperaments of 472 Boxers and 51 Bearded Collies.

    Price of Boxer versus Price of Bearded Collie

    The average price of the Boxer puppy is $1530. The price of the Boxer typically ranges from $1000 – $1800. However, the price of a Boxer can be as low as $100 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1292 Boxer puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Bearded Collie puppy is $1000. The price of the Bearded Collie typically ranges from $600 – $1425. However, the price of the Bearded Collie can be as low as $150 and as high as $3500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 26 Bearded Collie puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Boxer is more expensive than the Bearded Collie.

    Boxer Bearded Collie
    Average Price $1530 $1000
    Price Range $1000 to $1800 $600 to $1425

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Boxer and Bearded Collie. For different price points, the charts show how many Boxer puppies or how many Bearded Collie puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Boxers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Boxers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Bearded Collies

    A breakdown of the prices of Bearded Collies

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Boxer puppy or the Bearded Collie puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Boxer versus Bearded Collie

    Adopting the Boxer versus Adopting the Bearded Collie

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Boxers and many Bearded Collies are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Boxer named Moe that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Boxers like Moe on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Boxers, Bearded Collies are also available for adoption. For example, Ollie is a Male Bearded Collie that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Bearded Collies like Ollie that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Boxer and the Bearded Collie can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Larry is the name of another Boxer (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Snoopy is an adorable Male Bearded Collie on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Boxers and Bearded Collies are always available for adoption. Images and image labels from petfinder.com

    You can find more Boxers and Bearded Collies that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Boxer versus the Intelligence of the Bearded Collie

    Boxer Bearded Collie
    Intelligence Rank 48 out of 130 dog breeds 34 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Boxer has an obedience intelligence rank of 48 out of 130 dog breeds. The Boxer belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Boxers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Bearded Collie has an obedience intelligence rank of 34 out of 130 dog breeds. The Bearded Collie belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Bearded Collies tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The Bearded Collie is more intelligent than the Boxer.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Boxer versus Popularity of Bearded Collie

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Boxer and the Bearded Collie over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Boxer is more popular with dog owners than the Bearded Collie. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Boxer is 11 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Bearded Collie is 126 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Boxer

    Popularity of Boxer

    Popularity of Bearded Collie

    Popularity of Bearded Collie

    Year Boxer Popularity Rank Bearded Collie Popularity Rank
    2013 7 112
    2014 8 121
    2015 10 119
    2016 10 126
    2017 11 125
    2018 11 127
    2019 14 136
    2020 14 125
    2021 14 143

    Tolerates Being Alone: Boxer versus Bearded Collie

    Boxers do not like to be left alone.

    Bearded Collies do not like to be left alone.

    Do Boxers shed more than Bearded Collies?

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

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Boxer or the Bearded Collie?

    Boxers are very easy to groom.

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

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

    Boxers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Bearded Collies get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Boxers good family dogs? What about Bearded Collies?

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

    Bearded Collies are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Boxer Easier to Train than the Bearded Collie?

    Boxers are very easy to train.

    Bearded Collies are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Boxer or the Bearded Collie

    Boxers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Bearded Collies do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Boxers and Bearded Collies?

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

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

    Does the Boxer Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Bearded Collie?

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

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

    Do Boxers Bark and Howl? What about Bearded Collies?

    Boxers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Bearded Collies bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Boxers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Bearded Collies Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

    Bearded Collies can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Boxer vs. Bearded Collie

    Boxers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

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

    Can Boxers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Bearded Collies Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Boxers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

    Is the Boxer Better for Apartment Owners than the Bearded Collie?

    Boxers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Bearded Collies adapt moderately well to apartment living.

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

    Boxers are OK for new dog owners.

    Bearded Collies are very good for new dog owners.

    Boxer Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Boxer compares to other breeds aside from the Bearded Collie. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Boxer to other breeds:

    Boxer versus Berger Picard     Boxer versus American Water Spaniel     Boxer versus Collie     Boxer versus Leonberger     Boxer versus Peek A Poo     Boxer versus Norwich Terrier     Boxer versus Lhasa Apso     Boxer versus Shiranian     Boxer versus Patterdale Terrier     Boxer versus Barbet     Boxer versus Harrier     Boxer versus Afghan Hound     Boxer versus Spanish Mastiff     Boxer versus Sheepadoodle     Boxer versus Neapolitan Mastiff     Boxer versus Portuguese Water Dog     Boxer versus Maremma Sheepdog     Boxer versus Newfoundland     Boxer versus Komondor     Boxer versus Labradoodle     Boxer versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     

    Conclusion: Boxer versus Bearded Collie. 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 Boxer and the Bearded Collie better suits you and your family.