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HOVAWART — BREED DESCRIPTION & INFORMATION
Breed Description / Health Issues / Breed Standards / Grooming / Training / Additional Information
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Breed Description |
Manu
Photo courtesy of Mika Varpio |
| Breed Registries: |
- Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) - Working Dogs Group *
- American Kennel Club (AKC) - Not Recognized
- United Kennel Club (UKC) - Guardian Dogs
- The Kennel Club [U.K.] (KC) - Working Dogs
- Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) ** - Standard No. 190
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Note: The breed registries indicated above are the most recognized all-breed registries. The breed may be recognized by other registries not indicated here. For further details about dog registries, please see the document: Dog Breed Registries in North America.
* — Effective 25 October 2005, the breed is recognized for registration purposes in accordance with the CKC policies governing recognition. Effective March 1, 2006, the breed will also be eligible to compete in CKC approved events. The FCI Standard is used as the official CKC Standard for the breed. For further details, see the CKC News Article: Update: Recognition of New Breeds (11 November 2005).
** — The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) is the World Canine Organisation, which includes members (one member per country) that each issue their own pedigrees and train their own judges. The FCI recognizes 332 breeds, with each being the "property" of a specific country. The FCI is not a breed registry nor does it issue pedigrees. |
| Origin: |
Germany |
| Height: |
Males: 24 to 28 inches
Females: 22 to 26 inches |
| Weight: |
66-88 lbs (30-40 kg) |
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The Hovawart, meaning "guardian of the estate", is of ancient German origin where he was considered very valuable. Hovawarts were originally bred and used to work as reliable guardians of flocks, castles, and farms. By the end of the last century, the Hovawart was virtually extinct. However, during the 1920's a small group of enthusiasts revived the breed through a strict breeding program and, in 1937, the breed was officially recognized in Germany.
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The Hovawart is known for his stable temperament, not easily excitable and he generally carries himself in a dignified manner. He is affectionate, loyal and devoted to his family. He is watchful, agile, intelligent and naturally obedient. He makes an excellent herding and guard dog and also enjoys such activities as agility and obedience. His natural protective instincts make him a good candidate for schutzhund training and his excellent sense of smell makes him suitable for search and rescue and tracking.
The Hovawart is of medium size, impressive but not heavy. Females are smaller in size and more elegant in appearance. His coat is mostly long, except on the face and forelegs where it is short. His colours are either black, black-and-tan, or golden and his eyes are amber.
The Hovawart makes an excellent family companion. However, because of his strong-willed personality, guarding instincts and high intelligence, this may not be the ideal breed for first-time dog owners. Bringing a Hovawart into your home can be challenging and requires significant time and attention along with proper training. The Hovawart also enjoys having a job to do and, therefore, you should be willing to get involved in some form of activity, such as obedience, schutzhund, tracking, or agility to name a few.
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Health Issues:
The Hovawart is generally a healthy breed with an average life span of 14 to 15 years. According to the Hovawart Club of America, there are no known issues of breed-specific diseases and hip dysplasia rates are exceptionally low in comparison to other large breed dogs.
If you are considering the adoption of a Hovawart puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. To obtain "breeding status" in the Hovawart Club of America, among other things, breeders must have their dogs' hips x-rayed after the age of 2 years and be evaluated by the OFA as "Good" or "Excellent" in regards to hip dysplasia. In addition, breeding stock must also have a CERF eye evaluation within one year of breeding and have a full thyroid panel prior to breeding. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.)
Health Resources:
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Breed Standards:
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Grooming:
- Grooming — See this section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for additional information, tips and articles on Grooming as well as listings of Groomers from across Canada.
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Training Resources:
The Hovawart is a very intelligent dog and responds best to positive training methods.
- Training — For information on training your Hovawart, see this growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.
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Additional Information:
- Clubs, Sports & Activities — For information on the many sports and activities you can get involved in with your Hovawart. (Note: Breed specific clubs can be found under the Breed Clubs secton.)
- Working Dogs — The Working Dogs section of Canada's Guide to Dogs provides information and listings of organizations who are involved in various jobs, such as Guide Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Police Dogs, Protection Dogs, and much more.
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Note: We are always in need of articles for the individual breed sections.
Submissions are welcome and encouraged. Please feel free to e-mail us.
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