Huntaway vs Border Collie NZ: NZ's Two Great Farm Dogs Compared

The Huntaway and the Border Collie are the two breeds most associated with New Zealand farming. They're both brilliant working dogs — but they do almost opposite jobs, and they come with very different needs as family pets. Here's how they compare.

The key difference in one line

A Border Collie gathers stock *toward* the handler silently, using intense eye contact and wide outruns. A Huntaway drives stock *away* from the handler noisily, using its powerful bark and body to push mobs through paddocks and yards.

Understanding this distinction explains everything else about these breeds — their temperaments, their training needs, and how they behave as pets.

Side-by-side overview

*Scores from PetMall breed profiles (1–5). Both breeds are unsuitable for low-activity or confined living.*

The Huntaway: bred right here in New Zealand

The Huntaway is one of the few breeds developed entirely in New Zealand, and it's genuinely irreplaceable on NZ hill-country farms. The breed emerged from crosses of working dog types to produce a dog that could push large mobs of sheep along steep, rough terrain — something no eye-dog breed could manage efficiently over long distances.

Huntaways work by barking — selectively and effectively. A good working Huntaway has a deep, resonant bark it uses on command to move animals, then stops when the pressure is no longer needed. They're big, bold, and built for endurance, covering hill country that would exhaust most other breeds.

As NZ's dog diversity grew, Huntaways became famous through events like the New Zealand Sheep Dog Trial Association competitions. Their bark-on-command and driving instinct are coded so deeply that a Huntaway pup will often start barking at stock with minimal training.

The Border Collie: a different kind of genius

The Border Collie is widely considered the most intelligent dog breed in the world. Developed on the border of Scotland and England, it was bred to gather and control sheep with almost supernatural precision — using a hypnotic stare ("the eye") to freeze and direct animals without physical contact.

In New Zealand, Border Collies are used for mustering, bringing mobs down from the hills toward the handler, splitting mobs, and working sheep in paddocks where quiet, careful work is needed. They can read stock movement far in advance and adjust their approach accordingly — a level of stock-reading ability the Huntaway simply isn't bred for.

Border Collies also excel in herding trials and are the dominant breed in international dog sports (agility, disc dog, obedience) due to their trainability and drive.

As pets and companions

Neither breed is ideally suited to pure companion life, but if you're considering one as a pet rather than a working dog, there are meaningful differences.

Border Collies as pets are more common, better documented, and slightly more adaptable than Huntaways — but only if you can give them 1.5–2+ hours of vigorous activity and mental stimulation every day. Without that, they become obsessive (chasing lights, shadows, cars, children) and destructive. They're exceptional with children in their own household when well socialised and exercised — the ★★★★★ kids score reflects that. They bond broadly across a family rather than to one person.

Huntaways as pets are less common and present different challenges. Their bark-on-command instinct can manifest as nuisance barking in a suburban setting if not managed early. They're large (up to 40 kg), boisterous, and intensely driven. A Huntaway that can't work will often pace, dig, and bark. That said, a well-exercised Huntaway with clear structure can be a loyal, affectionate companion — the breed is known for its friendly, tail-wagging nature when not in work mode.

For either breed, rural or semi-rural life with a meaningful job, a large property, and regular off-lead exercise will produce a much happier dog than an urban or suburban environment.

Training comparison

Both breeds rank ★★★★★ in trainability, but in different ways.

• Border Collie: Extraordinarily responsive, learns cues in very few repetitions, and anticipates what you want before you ask. The challenge is that it can become anxious and over-stimulated if training sessions are too long or too intense. Short, precise sessions work best.
• Huntaway: Highly trainable but more biddable than biddable-on-hair-trigger. Huntaways are bred to make decisions on their own when driving stock over large terrain, which means they have more inherent independence than a Border Collie. They respond well to consistent, positive reinforcement-based training.

For new owners of either breed, see our dog training guide NZ.

NZ sheepdog trials

New Zealand has a strong tradition of working dog trials run by the New Zealand Sheep Dog Trial Association (NZDSTA). Events include:

• Huntaway events: Bark-driving tests where dogs move sheep over distance using bark commands
• Heading events: Gathering and penning tests where silent eye-dogs (mainly Border Collies and Heading Dogs) work

These competitions are a window into what these breeds were bred to do and are worth attending if you're considering either as a working dog.

Which suits you?

Huntaway suits you if:

• You run a sheep farm or station and need a drover/driver breed
• You want a bold, enthusiastic dog that works large areas independently
• You have extensive outdoor space and a job for the dog

Border Collie suits you if:

• You want a gathering and control dog for closer, more precise stock work
• You're interested in dog sports (herding trials, agility, obedience)
• You have time for 2+ hours of intense mental + physical exercise daily
• You want a family dog that also works (Border Collies are more family-adaptable)

For both, the lifestyle must match the dog. See our best dog breeds for lifestyle blocks and farms NZ guide and use our Find a Breed tool to compare across more criteria.

Ownership costs

See our cost of owning a dog NZ guide. Working-bred Huntaways can be more expensive if they're already trained (started or broken-in dogs), while pet-bred Border Collies from registered breeders typically run $800–$2,500. Both require ongoing council registration under the Dog Control Act 1996.

Quick takeaways

• Huntaway drives stock away from handler using bark; Border Collie gathers stock toward handler using eye
• Huntaway is a purely NZ breed; Border Collie is Scottish origin but ubiquitous on NZ farms
• Both need high exercise and mental stimulation — unsuitable for urban or low-activity households
• Border Collie slightly more family-adaptable; Huntaway better for large-scale driving work
• Both excel in different NZ sheepdog trial events

See also

• Huntaway breed profile
• Border Collie breed profile
• Best dog breeds for lifestyle blocks and farms NZ
• Dog training guide NZ
• Dog enrichment guide NZ
• Find a Breed

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References

• New Zealand Sheep Dog Trial Association (NZDSTA), breed and trial information, checked 2026-06-05: https://www.nzdsta.org.nz/
• New Zealand Kennel Club (NZKC), Huntaway and Border Collie breed information, checked 2026-06-05: https://www.nzkc.org.nz/
• SPCA New Zealand, responsible dog ownership, checked 2026-06-05: https://www.spca.nz/advice-and-welfare/
• MPI New Zealand, Code of Welfare for Dogs (working dogs), checked 2026-06-05: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/animals/animal-welfare/codes/all-animal-welfare-codes/code-of-welfare-dogs/
• Companion Animals New Zealand, breed guidance, checked 2026-06-05: https://www.companionanimals.nz/

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*This guide provides general information for New Zealand dog owners. Working dog selection should also involve talking to experienced NZ farmers, trialists, and breeders. For health advice specific to your dog, consult a registered New Zealand vet.*