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All About Hovawart

The Hovawart is an elegant and independent guard dog with a friendly nature. Nowadays, the breed is very popular, especially as a family dog ​​and companion dog. Here you will find everything you always wanted to know about the popular dog breed.

History of the Hovawart

The Hovawart is an old German working dog breed that was first mentioned in writings from the Middle Ages. The name comes from Middle High German and means something like “yard guard” (Hova – yard, wart – guardian). In reports and pictures from the 15th century, the breed appears as an alert guard dog and tracker of thieves. In the 20th century, the famous breeder Kurt Friedrich König wanted to create a breed based on these dogs that would act confidently and independently.

So he crossed the best farm dogs from the Black Forest, Odenwald, and Harz Mountains with the German Shepherd, the Newfoundland, the Leonberger, and the Kuvasz. The result was a robust and healthy farm dog that is still very popular in Germany today. The breed was officially recognized in Germany in 1937 and included internationally in 1964 in FCI Group 2, Section 2 “Molossoids”.

Traits and Character Traits

The Hovawart is an intelligent, independent, and extremely courageous dog. The powerful nature boy has a strong guard instinct and is rather suspicious of strangers. He is not aggressive, but a balanced dog who would never attack lightly. He likes to stay in the background and then intervene in events when it seems appropriate to him. For this reason, consistent training and good socialization are essential.

The breed requires a confident and confident owner. If your two-legged friend is expressing insecurity or fear, the dogs will take the lead. The Hovawart needs a home with a family he can protect and be loyal to. He is cuddly and playful towards his caregivers but does not show unconditional obedience. He remains very lively and active into old age.

Is the Hovawart right for me?

If you want to get a Hovawart puppy, you should be absolutely sure that the breed is right for you. After all, with a life expectancy of up to 14 years, the dog will be a part of your everyday life for a long time. Daily walks, extensive training, and stroking are part of everyday life with a Hovawart. He does not like to be alone and needs a consistent and loving caregiver. Ideally, you’ll keep your Hovi in ​​a large house with a fenced yard that he can guard as his territory. If you are looking for a beginner dog, the Hovi is definitely not the right one. Then you should rather get a Golden Retriever or a Labrador Retriever.

If you are absolutely sure that the Hovawart is the right dog for you, you need to find a reputable breeder. Puppies should only be purchased from a registered breeder from the VDH. You can budget between 800 and 1000 euros for a healthy puppy. You have the choice between the three different colors blonde, black with golden brown markings, and black. The sex differences are clearly recognizable in the breed. Males reach a height at the withers of up to 70 cm, whereas females are generally slimmer and only reach a height of 58 to 65 cm. You will always find Hovawarts or mixed breeds looking for a new home in the animal shelter. If you already have some experience, you can also take a Hovawart in need with you.

How Do I Keep a Hovawart?

Puppy education and development

Because of its strength and size alone, the Hovi only belongs in a hand with dog experience. The Hovawart is a ‘late developer’, as its full physical and mental development is largely complete by the age of three. Because he matures so late, he takes a little longer than other breeds to do everything. In training, a Hovi puppy will want to be convinced that your commands are worth obeying. You can usually achieve more with friendly parenting, play, and treats than with pressure and punishment. If you approach things too aggressively, the puppy may no longer forgive you and the relationship will be ruined forever. Since the Hovawart does not have a pronounced “will to please”, but prefers to decide for himself what he has to do, he does not only need strong leadership at a young age.

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