Scientific name: Canis lupus familiaris
Temperament: Familial, Even Tempered, Devoted, Reserved, Active, Watchful
Weight: Male: 25–40 kg, Female: 25–40 kg
Height: Male: 63–70 cm, Female: 58–65 cm
Colors: Black, Blond, Black & Gold
Origin: Germany, Black Forest

Nature and character

The Hovawart is considered as a very strong breed and thus as a particularly reliable dog. So that his qualities come to bear, the dog owner should also have some qualities themselves. The Hovawart is an "all-rounder" who expects clear structures from its owner. He is a strong and confident dog who needs tasks. The Hovawart as original "yard guard" often has a strong wake, which is often used in the training for Schutzhund. He loves to be petted, but he also needs the rough pack game. The Hovawart can sometimes take a lot of rest and inactivity, but must be replaced by activity again.

The Hovawart needs a home and family connection, for which he then feels responsible and then faithful. Many Hovawart lovers appreciate this loyalty of the dog, which characterizes his nature in particular.

Activities with the Hovawart

The Hovawart was bred for a particular ideal, the real guardian of the sphere of its owner, his family and his home. He has remained a working dog who appreciates when he gets tasks. His excellent sense of smell makes the Hovawart a good detection and drug dog. In addition, he is suitable by his sometimes stubborn loyalty as a protective or police dog. The Hovawart is today an excellent companion and sports dog, a wonderful family member and a dog that goes with you through thick and thin.

Origin & History

The origins of this breed go back a long way. Already the medieval jurist Eike von Repkow mentioned in his circa 1220 AD, a dog of this kind, without having described it in more detail. The translation of the name "Hovawart" from Middle Low German simply means "guardian of the court". As Hovawart, however, all farm dogs were referred to for a long time. Only at the end of the 19th century are first descriptions of a "Hovawarth", which corresponds to today's breed standard approximately.

Around 1900, Bertram König and his son Kurt Friedrich König tried to find this breed of dog. According to her observations, several typical features of the Hovawart encountered a small population of peasant dogs in the Black Forest, which they considered to be the supposedly medieval dog. From 1922, they joined German Shepherds, Leonberger, Newfoundland and the Kuvasz into the breed. These breeding attempts were so successful that today's Hovawart was recognized in 1937 as an independent breed.

Racial characteristics Hovawart

The standard measurements of the male a withers height of 63 - 70 centimeters and about 40 kilograms of body mass. The bitches, however, are about 58 - 65 inches tall and weigh around 30 kilograms. The hovawart comes in three colors: black, black and blond.

The very careful breeding has for the never advanced to "fashion dog" Hovawart some very pleasing results. He has in

Hovawart breed characteristics relation to his height a long life expectancy, which can go on for over 15 years. In addition, through careful breeding the dreaded malformation of the hip joint, the hip dysplasia occurs only rarely. Because of the rarity of this disease, which can affect all larger breeds, but also large cats, the hovawart is considered a very healthy breed. 

The prevention of inbreeding diseases was also successfully controlled by very strict breeding rules. Offspring assessments are more important in hovawart breeding than championships of dog shows.

The particularly strict purebred breeding association for Hovawarte (RZV), but also the Hovawart breeding community in Germany (HZD) and the Hovawart Club Germany (HC) have ensured that the Hovawart today is considered a model example of healthy dog breeding. An example of strict breeding control is the breeding permit for Hovaware dogs. They are only allowed to cover five times domestically and only five times in the case of a very good genetic assessment. Hereditary diseases and other common features, such as cataracts, are relatively rare with less than one percent. The successes of the German breed societies in mind, have adhered to the FCI affiliates associations of Italy, Austria and Switzerland, the same strict rules in the Hovawartzucht.

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