shop


The Furry Critter Network

Hovawart Breed Description

Back to Canine Breed Menu


thm-img


Breed Organization

The Hovawart Club of North America

Native Country
Germany

Other Names
N/A

Life Expectancy
Approximately 10-14 Years

Litter Size
No Litter Information Available

Breed Group
AKC-FSS

General Description

The Hovawart is a large, heavy-boned dog that have been bred to be intelligent guardians of home and livestock. They come in three colors: blond, black and tan, and black. The standard size for males is approximately 25 to 28 inches at the withers (the top points of the dog’s shoulder blades). For females the height range is approximately 23 to 26 inches. They are alert, faithful, trustworthy, extremely intelligent, fun loving, and stubborn. A hovawart likes to have a job to do, or he will use his creative nature to find one. They take approximately two years to mature. Currently, hovawarts in North America are participating in search and rescue organizations, therapy dog activities, obedience trials, agility trials, flyball and service dog training.


Breed Standard

Head: Robust. Broad, arched forehead. Pronounced stop. Strong, long muzzle. Black lips.
Ears: Triangular, pendulous, hanging flat against the head.
Eyes: Oval. Dark or medium brown color.
Body: Muscular and streamlined. Powerful neck without dewlap. Broad, deep brisket. Straight, solid back. Croup slightly sloped.
Tail: Long, richly clad, reaching just below the hocks. Carried low at rest.
Hair: Long, coarse with slight wave. Short on the head and front of the legs. No streaking or curl. Little undercoat.
Coat: Fawn (blond) becoming lighter on the legs and abdomen. Black. Black and tan (most common) with fawn markings (above the eyes, on the chest, legs, and under the root of the tail). Each of the three varieties allows one small white spot on the forechest and mixture of a few lighter colored hairs, particularly on the tip of the tail.
Size: Dog: 63 to 70 cm Bitch: 58 to 65 cm
Weight: 30 to 50 kg

History

This old breed's name comes from the German word Hofewart, meaning estate dog, revealing his traditional role as guard dog for German farms in the thirteenth century. His distant ancestors were probably Asian mastiffs. Over the centuries, the breed was gradually abandoned. It wasn't until the 1920s that the breed was resurrected by crossing German Shepherds, Leonbergers, Newfoundlands, and others. The breed was recognized in 1936 and established as a utility dog by the FCI in 1964. Today, the Hovawart is quite popular in Germany and Scandinavian countries.

Behavior

In German, the word hovawart is accepted to mean “guardian of the hearth” or “guardian of the farm.” In either case, the breed was developed to protect and guard the German farmsteads and; consequently, the dogs were designed to bond very closely with their families. This makes them exceptionally good companions even when there is no need to guard. However, the owner should always be aware that the guarding instinct is there and will show up whenever the dog perceives there to be a threat.

Hovawarts, like all dogs, can be good with children if properly socialized. However, no child should be left unsupervised with any dog. Young dogs and young children are both in a state of learning and may not interact appropriately. Because of the size of a hovawart, small children may be knocked down by a playful act, or an unintentional collision. Because of their size and strength they may be difficult for a child to control. Care should always be taken to ensure the safety of both dog and child.

Hovawarts can be as large as 28 inches at the shoulder and weigh as much as 100 pounds or more. Therefore, the more running room they have, the happier they will be. It is preferable to have a large fenced yard, but substitute exercises such as hiking, trips to a dog park, etc. can make up for some lack in this area. Apartments are not typically large enough, or have room enough, for the desired activities.

Function

Herder, Utility Dog: rescue (avalanches), tracker (drugs), guide dog, guard dog, Pet.

Health

Hovawarts are quite healthy. One can expect an average lifespan in the 10 to 14 year range and owners should be prepared to dedicate this amount of time to their care. There are no known issues of breed specific diseases and hip dysplasia rates have been calculated at less than 5%. For a large breed dog, this is an exceptionally low rate.


Back to Canine Breed Menu

Featured Rescues

"Don't Shop ... Please Adopt"

laptop pro

ASPCA

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) was the first humane society to be established in North America and is, today, one of the largest in the world.

Our organization was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans and must be protected under the law. Headquartered in New York City, the ASPCA maintains a strong local presence, and with programs that extend our anti-cruelty mission across the country, we are recognized as a national animal welfare organization. We are a privately funded 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, and are proud to boast more than 2 million supporters across the country.

The ASPCA’s mission, as stated by founder Henry Bergh in 1866, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”


laptop pro

Petfinder

If you can’t find the pet you’re looking for on Petfinder, don’t give up. Some shelters maintain waiting lists for specific breeds, so don’t be afraid to ask! There are also breed-specific rescues for just about every breed, and most of them post their pets on Petfinder. (Petfinder can even e-mail you when a pet that fits your criteria is posted — just click “Save this Search” at the top of your search results page.)


laptop pro

Rescue Me

Jeff Gold, Founder, Rescue Me! Animal Rescue Network

Jeff Gold lives in Watkinsville, Georgia on the same property as Rescue Me's Animal Rehabilitation Center, with 18 rescue animals. Shown with him in the photo to the left are Maggie, Izzie and Cortez. In 2003, after learning there was nobody doing boxer rescue work in Georgia, Gold founded Boxertown, an organization which helped find homes for over 500 boxers during its first two years. Based upon this success, Gold came up with the vision for Rescue Me! ― a network which helps all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals find good homes, anywhere in the world. RescueShelter.com is also a free service of Rescue Me! and provides the world's largest and most up-to-date directory of animal rescue organizations for all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals, including a comprehensive directory of wildlife rehabilitators in over 150 countries.



Top