hovawart dog

History of origin

In medieval Germany, it was difficult to imagine the solemn departure of a knight without being accompanied by a pack of thoroughbred dogs. And, judging by the paintings and engravings of that time, they were large beautiful animals with silky hair and hanging ears – in a word, the same Hovawarts that are known and loved all over the world today.

Unlike golden retrievers, to which they are very similar, Hovawarts have never been hunting, they not only served as decoration for knightly trips, but also protected housing and herds from thieves and predators. By the way, even the very name of these dogs is translated from German as “yard guard”. Hovawarts are also mentioned in the medieval treatise “Five Noble Breeds”, and this suggests that these dogs were loved and respected.

And some scientists argue that the breed has very ancient roots, and the first such dogs came to Europe with the nomadic tribes of the Germans.

However, around the XNUMXth century, the popularity of the breed began to decline sharply, as a wide variety of dogs appeared, brought from all over the world, and the Hovawarts would have disappeared from the face of the earth, if not for two enthusiasts, the father and son of Koenig, who were seriously engaged in restoring the livestock of these beauties. and saved the breed from extinction. Moreover, they even improved the exterior of their wards, adding to them the blood of Leonbergers, Newfoundlands, Hungarian Kuvasses and Bernese Mountain Dogs.

Today in Germany there is a club of admirers of the breed, although the Hovawarts are known and loved all over the world, thanks to their bright appearance and good disposition.

Breed description

Quite a large, very harmoniously built dog, outwardly resembling a golden retriever. The head is rectangular in shape, the back of the nose is parallel to the line of the skull. The nose is black or dyed to match the coat. The eyes are small, with an intelligent and friendly expression. Ears of medium size, triangular, hanging. The back is straight, the stomach is moderately tucked up. The tail is saber-shaped, usually carried below the hocks, in a good mood the dog raises it to the level of the back and even higher, but never throws it on the back.

The coat of the Hovawart is silky, of medium length, sometimes slightly wavy. It forms beautiful fringes on the chest, ears and paws, and a rich dewlap on the tail.

This breed has three colors: pure black, black and tan (tanning is usually red-red or golden) and fawn.

Photos

Character

The soul of the company, the cheerful Hovawart will never let his owner get bored. These dogs love their family so much that they never get tired of demonstrating it again and again. At the same time, they are never intrusive, and if the owner is not in a good mood, they will understandably move away and wait until his mood improves.

Hovawart is a dog of one owner, they are very hard on even a short-term separation from the family, and being transferred to other people, they can even get sick from longing.

These beauties organically combine outstanding watchdog qualities and goodwill towards humans. They love children and new acquaintances, but with other animals they behave a little condescendingly, considering themselves, by definition, the main ones.

With a lively mind, Hovawarts are able to make decisions on their own and find a way out of difficult situations, so sometimes they can show a certain amount of stubbornness – because they know better what to do.

But they grow up very slowly. So don’t be fooled by the size of the dog at times, it remains a puppy at heart until it’s about three years old. Yes, and then do not mind fooling around.

In general, it must be said that the Hovawart considers himself the guardian and patron of the family, therefore, on a walk, he will definitely make sure that everyone is in front of him and no one is lost. For the same reason, children can be trusted with confidence – he will never let them offend and will not harm himself.

Care and maintenance

In order for the dog to always be in good physical and psychological shape, and its coat to look perfect, a number of efforts must be made. Firstly, Hovawarts are very athletic dogs, so they need to be walked a lot. Secondly, they must be combed out at least 2 times a week so that the wool does not form tangles and does not roll around the house.

As for the dog’s sleeping place, an ordinary rug will do – in fact, the presence of a beloved owner nearby is much more important for them than a comfortable bed.

Hovawarts were bred in Germany, where the weather rarely indulges people on hot days, so the dogs tolerate cold and damp very well. Of course, this does not mean that you need to constantly keep them in the yard in an uninsulated booth, but you should not cancel a walk or a trip to nature because of bad weather either. By the way, these dogs simply adore tourism in any manifestation: whether it is a trip to nature in a family car or a multi-day hike through forests and mountains. They generally like it when something happens around them, so leaving a Hovawart alone for the whole day in an empty apartment will be very cruel. The dog will get bored, get bored and begin to slowly destroy this very apartment – simply because there is nothing to do.

Education and training

These smartest creatures are incredibly easy to train. They instantly grasp commands and willingly carry them out. Moreover, if females, as a rule, are more diligent in training, then males demonstrate greater diligence. True, their lively temperament makes dogs (especially young ones) often distracted, so make sure that the learning process does not become boring and monotonous. Turn it into an interesting game and the result will amaze you.

Education should begin from the first minutes of meeting the puppy, and then be sure to go through general obedience and training courses with the dog. But they do not need special coaching for protection and protection, all this is already inherent in the breed, and they should not be made more aggressive towards a person at all.

It is very important to teach the puppy to walk beside him while he has not yet grown up, otherwise then you will not lead your four-legged friend on a leash, but he will lead you.

Health and disease

Hovawarts are not only healthy, but also long-lived breeds. Of course, with proper care and a healthy psychological environment in the house. Of course, they, like other dogs, can get sick and they also have the scourge of almost all dogs – joint dysplasia, but it should be remembered that this disease is inherited, therefore, when choosing a puppy, be sure to find out if dysplasia has occurred in his family as well as other hereditary diseases.

Otherwise, the health of a four-legged friend depends entirely on you. If the dog has daily physical and mental stress, proper nutrition and, most importantly, the love of the owner, she will live happily ever after.

Word to the breeder

Alena Volchik from Ufa, breeder of vom Hovi’s Herz kennel: “Hovawarts are an amazing breed. Dogs combine watchdog, protective qualities with the desire and need to spend a lot of time with their beloved owner, turning into a great companion, able to accompany his family everywhere. Dogs have a balanced temperament, which, combined with education and training, makes them excellent dogs for living together with a person. Hovawarts are suitable both for life in the city and for the private sector, revealing themselves from different angles in various conditions. Hovi conquer with their natural beauty and nobility, penetrating into the very heart. They are just incredible!”

Margarita Zotova, Moscow, breeder of the first Hovawart breeding kennel in Our Country “Hartsberg”: “Hovawart is a special breed of dog for me, with which I have been going through life for 16 years. Namely, in the breed I like:

• mental stability;
• good health and the almost complete absence of common diseases characteristic of large breeds;
• physical endurance;
• high adaptation to the conditions of detention (family, children, exhibitions, etc.);
• innate instincts to protect their territory.

These are wonderful friends and family members who occupy a part of our lives, who will not betray and will not let their person be hurt.

The main content of the breeding work of the nursery is the selection of the best breeding animals, the planned well-thought-out selection of pairs for mating, the cultivation and education of puppies, the training and education of adult dogs. Dogs that meet the requirements of service and breeding qualities, meet the breed standard, that is, meet the indicators of origin, behavior, exterior, constitution and other indicators, are enrolled in breeding dogs. Due to the impact on parents of various breeding methods and techniques, as well as with the help of further selection of dogs, the required qualities are strengthened in the population.

Irina Bolokhova from Moscow, owner of Hof Aniri kennel: “The breed was bred to protect the territory. Loving her family, but wary of strangers. Serious dog for serious owners. Requires training and proper socialization.

Popular questions and answers

We asked to answer questions about the content of the Hovawarts zoo engineer, veterinarian Anastasia Kalinina.