Hovawart

The Hovawart is a medium to large working dog from Germany. Its name means yard-watcher or farm-watcher, from the Middle High German words hova, a court or farm, and wart, a watchman. It is still a guard at heart, and it is also used for search and rescue and tracking.

History

The Hovawart lost ground after the Middle Ages. Newer breeds such as the German Shepherd Dog gradually took over its place as a guard and working dog, and by the start of the twentieth century it had almost vanished.

Around 1915 a group of enthusiasts set out to save it, led by the zoologist Kurt Friedrich König. They began by searching the farms of the Black Forest for dogs of the old type. König then bred from these dogs with care, crossing in Kuvasz, Newfoundlands, German Shepherd Dogs, Leonbergers, a Bernese Mountain Dog and an African hunting dog. The first Hovawart litter was entered in the German breeding registry in 1922, and the German Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1937.

The Second World War nearly undid this work. Many Hovawarts were used in the German war effort and died, and by 1945 only a few were left. In 1947 Otto Schramm and other enthusiasts in Coburg founded a new club, which still exists. In 1964 the German Kennel Club recognized the Hovawart as the country’s seventh working breed.

Appearance

The Hovawart is a muscular, long-haired dog, slightly longer than it is tall. Males stand 63–70 cm (25–28 in) at the withers and females 58–65 cm (23–26 in). Weight is 30–50 kg (66–110 lb).

The bridge of the nose is straight and the muzzle is about as long as the skull, with tight skin and black pigment on the face. The eyes are oval and dark to medium brown. The ears are triangular and hang down, reaching about level with the mouth. The tail reaches the hocks but not the ground.

The coat is long and lies close to the body, with only a little undercoat. It is longer on the chest, the belly and the backs of the legs. There are three colors: black, black and gold, and blonde.

Temperament

Hovawarts are protective dogs. With training they can make good family pets, thanks to their guarding instinct and their wish to be part of a group.

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