The history

Hovawart is a very old German race of useful dogs with a young tradition. Its name comes from Mittelhochdeutsch dialect and means a guard of a farmyard (hova - farmyard, wart - guard). In the literature of the Middle Ages we can often meet a usage of a word of hovawart usually like a reverse of hounds which were an ownership of gentry. These dogs were used like guarding animals and were an enormous worth. Nobody knows if hovawards were in the only one ownership of gentry or peasants as well. Since some years it has been lasting a dispute if hovawart is a new race or the new one, rendering according to the pattern of the old hovawart of gentry. The world of hovawart' s lovers can be divided into advocates of a race lasting and the other ones that treat hovawarts like a new arising race. Unfortunately we have an impression that hovawart disappeared jointly with old-German watchdogs and German aristocracy. During a few ages there were no mentions remark these dogs. A race is live again thanks to an enthusiast Kurt Konig. Advocates of a theory of proceeding the breeding, that is again revival of hovawart, claim it was re-created from the dogs that were found by Konig on isolated farms on distant agricultural areas of Harz and Schwarzwald. Opponents of this theory show the fact that breeders used German shepherds, Leonberger, Newfoundland, Kuwasz, Landseer, recent St. Bernard's dogs and semi-wild African steppe dogs to uprising a new race according to a pattern of hovawarts. The first Konig's hovawarts made the world before the First World War thanks to his father Bertram Konig. The war survives the breeding which arisen once again after the end of war blustery.

The year 1920 can be submitted as a beginning of a planned breeding which was started by Konig in the surroundings of Thale in the mountains of Harz. After the Second World War we could meet hovawarts in places, but according to current conditions they arisen in isolation. Germany was divided into zones and public communication didn't operate so good. For these reasons it was very hard to maintain the connection between breeders. An effect is that during relatively patchy dogs genotype, local brands have to develop it under duress. It was said about Cobur, Hamburg, Oldenburg and Berlin breeding. In the middle of fifties there was one action undertaken relied on connecting farm associations what was done only partly. Despite of this fact hovawart has become a race with fixed features.

We could meet the first hovawarts in Poland in 80s of the twentieth century. It is hard to say that this race gave poles' hearts. Currently there is about 500 hovawarts in Poland. This race is met constantly very rarely, but it seems there is enormous potential for its development. Hovawarts appear increasingly on Polish exhibitions where present their beauty.

#Developed on a base of a book „Cynology, the knowledge about a dog" J. Monkiewicz , Jolanta Wajdzik and Encyclopaedia of Racial Dogs H. Raber.

 

Nutrition

Besides descriptions in hovawart' s genes, also nutrition has very important influence on its health. Hovawarts are a big race and because of that quickly growing ones. The first 18 months of their life and a way of feeding have enormous influence on their size, a status of hip joints, a status of their fur and a possibility of emerging rickets or ENOSTOZA. To give all products in balanced amount and in the best absorbing figure, we have to feed our pupil with ready-made food. We can divide all fodders into this one from a lower shelf (cheap fodders from supermarkets), medium one and this from a higher shelf.
We are only interested in these ones from the higher shelf: Eukanuba, Royal Canin, Hill's, Bento Kronen, Sir John's, Purina and some fewer known, which have recently entered the market. They are specific because of having in their stock: Chondroityna for protection of joints; balanced amount of phosphates; calcium and vitamin D3; omega acid for a growth of silky fur and for suitable lipoid economy of organism; a high quality of animal and plant proteins with reducing amount of starch; vitamin C and E; Mannooligosacharydy (it reduces a growth of pathogenic intestinal bacteria); mineral salts and reduced amount of so-called excipients. Their construction, that is dry granules, has a big meaning - it is used to clear teeth from food remains and prevent from remaining dental calculus. A choice of a fodder from this higher shelf is up to your dog, what they like, we can give them.

A fodder is given to a dog in a recommended amount set by the manufacturer. We should pay attention to the fact that given amounts on the packaging are a dose for the whole day. To gain a dose for one meal, we have to divide a dose set on the packaging into the amount of meals during one day.

At the beginning we feed 4 times in a day, decreasing to 3 times in their third/fourth month of life and after becoming 6 months we decrease to twice a day. We have to provide a full bowl of fresh water when our dog eats dry food. A dog has to sip dry food with a large amount of water in order to facilitate digestion. We can add to a fodder vitamin C, white cheese and cod-liver oil in capsules. In the case of appropriate development of a puppy we don't give additional calcium to the fodder because its excess can cause OSTEOCHONDROZA. Additionally we add calcium phosphate to the food in a period of exchange milk teeth into fixed ones.

A dog should be given the food always at about the same time. After finishing a meal we pick up the bowls, even thought our dog didn't eat everything. A dog has to learn that food is always given at described time, not when it wants. It is recommended, particularly when a dog is big, not to put up the bowls on the ground or on the floor but on a special stand. A dog can't be given meat into the food. The fodder provides all nutrient ingredients the dog needs. As far as bones are concerned, we can give our dog only veal or beef bones.

 

Maintenance

Hovawart is a dog that doesn't require any special maintenance procedures. Procedures which should be regularly repeated: combing and washing the ears. Hovawart is a dog that doesn't require any special maintenance procedures. Procedures which should be regularly repeated: combing and washing the ears. Regular combing and brushing are very important for our dog because not only remove unnecessary fur, ford and parasite but stimulate also blood inflow to the skin. Thanks to that the fur is becoming more healthy and more sleek. In the period of being a puppy, hovawart should be combed as often as possible with a suitable comb or a brush. However a grownup dog should be combed approximately once a week.

More important there is a checking of dog's fur in order to find ticks. Because of the ample hovawart's fur this task is not easy, but necessary. Ticks can be a reason of a lot of dangerous diseases. Obligatorily we have to protect our dog against ticks. We can find a lot of different devices on the market. Personally I recommend quite expensive but effective as well "Frontline".

Because of having floppy ears, the ford emerges very often inside. During maintenance we have to pay attention to this. When our dog has dirty ears, we should bathe them for example with Otosol.

We should bath our dog when we ascertain it is dirty. It shouldn't be done too often and for sure not in the winter time. Too often bathing makes dogs' skin remain without any fatty cover and makes fur become dull and less resistant to moisture. We have to use special shampoo for that.

 

Walks

Despite hovawart is exactly a watchdog, it doesn't mean that spending time only in a garden and guarding a house provide it appropriate dose of a movement. Grownup dog needs at least a one-hour walk a day. Otherwise it doesn't develop healthy and the energy blows up it from inside. During the walk, a dog should run as much as possible preferably with a company of others dogs or playing with its owner. Grownup dog can run by a bicycle as well. However a puppy should be given only such dose of a movement it needs of its own. It can't be forced to excessive effort.

 

Training

Education of a puppy should be started at the beginning, after it settle down in our house. We can teach our dog to be obedient and punish it of our own. The first command we should teach there is a command „Come to me". Always when we go for a walk, we have to be sure our dog will come to us independently of the situation it meets.

Besides teaching a dog of the owner's own, it is recommended to attend in a kindergarten for dogs by our pupil. In a special training place it meets other puppies and learns playing with „colleagues" and the owner. Because hovawart is a useful dog, it is worth being trained and worked on. The first step of a real training should be a training, so-called Dog Companion. I think each hovawart should have such training and pass the PT exam after completing. During this training a dog is taught principles of obedience - walking by the leg, remaining on a place, fetching, performing commands from a distance. PT training is not so difficult for such a wise dog that hovawart is.

It is up to us and our possibilities if we decide to train our dog later. We can choose a discipline we will major in. It can be tracking, agility, obedience, defense and others. Personally I think working with hovawart is a pleasure for the owner and for hovawart as well.

 

Health

The most often hovawart's diseases: dysplasia of hip joints, hypothyroidism, abnormal development of liver vessels, cataract, heart diseases. Because I am not a specialist in a dogs diseases' domain, I recommend all interested in this topic to have a look on a webpage connected with a vet portal Vetserwis.pl

Origin: Germany

Utilization: Working Dog

F.C.I. Classification:  Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer type-Molossian and Swiss Mountain- and Cattledogs. Section 2.2 Molossian, Mountain type. With working trial.

Historical Summary: The Hovawart is a very old German working dog breed. The name's origin stems from Middle High German (an old form of German); Hova = Hof (= yard, farm) and wart = Wächter (= watchman). Since 1922 the breeding of this breed, by using dogs similar in type still found on farms, has been restored. Apart from this, in the early years of breeding, crosses with German Shepherd Dogs, Newfoundlands, Leonbergers and other breeds were admitted. Due to the strict measurements taken in selecting the breeding stock the original working type was attained again. In the country of origin very great importance is attached to the health of the Hovawart. Especially the presence of hip dysplasia has been reduced to a small percentage by selecting, for decades, breeding stock free from dysplasia. It is to be expected that all other Hovawart breed clubs will aim for this exemplary goal.

General apperance: The Hovawart is a powerful, medium size, slightly elongated, long-haired working dog. Difference between sexes is clearly recognizable, specially in shape of head and build of body.

Important Proportions: Length of body comprises at least 110 to 115 % of height at withers.

Behavior/Temperament: Recognized working dog with versatile usage. Kind and even disposition. Has protective instinct, fighting instinct, self-confidence and ability to take stress; of medium temperament; combined with a very good nose. His balanced body proportions and special devotion to his family make him an outstanding companion, watch, guard, tracking and rescue dog.

Head: The nasal bridge is straight and parallel to the skull. Muzzle and skull are of about the same length. The skin of the head fits tightly.

Cranial region:

• Skull:  The powerful head has a broad, rounded forehead.
• Stop:   Well visible.

Facial Region:

• Nose:  Nostrils well developed. In black/gold and black dogs pigmentation is black. In blond dogs it is black; "snow nose" (temporary loss of pigmentation) accepted.
• Muzzle:  Strong, tapering only slightly when seen from above and in profile.
• Lips:  Fit tightly.
• Jaws/Teeth:  Strong complete scissor bite with 42 teeth according to tooth formula. Teeth set square to the jaws. Pincer bite accepted.
• Eyes:  Oval, neither protruding nor deep set. Color: dark to medium brown. Eyelids fit tightly.
• Ears:  The loosely fitting triangular drop ears are set on high and wide apart, thus giving the optical illusion of broadening the skull. They reach in length to the corners of the mouth (labial commisure). Their tip is slightly rounded. When the dog is at ease they are kept hanging flat, when alert they may be carried directed slightly forward. Their front edge lies approximately halfway between eye and occiput.

Neck:  Strong, of medium length. Skin tightly fitting.

Body:

• Back:  Straight and firm.
• Loin:  Strong, slightly longer than rump.
• Croup:  Medium long and slightly sloping.
• Chest:  Broad, deep and strong.

Tail:Bushy, reaching to below the hocks, but not to the ground. According to the dog's mood it is carried high and curved over the back or hanging down.

Limbs:
Forequarters:  Forelegs strong, straight and vertical, seen from the front and side.
Shoulders:  Very well muscled. Shoulder-blade long and well laid back.
Upper arm:  Long, closely fitting to body.
Elbows:  Fitting well to chest.
Pastern Joint:  Strong.
Pastern:  Moderately sloping.
Hindquarters: Hindlegs strong and vertical when seen from behind. Hindquarters are well angulated.
Upper and Lower Thigh:  Very well muscled.
Hock Joint:  Strong, well let down.
Feet: Roundish, strong and compact. Toes arched and tight. Dewclaws to be removed except in those countries where this is prohibited by law. Nails with black pigmentation in black/gold and black dogs; in blond dogs there may be less pigmentation.

Gait / Movement:  In all gaits the movement of the Hovawart is on a straight line and covering the ground well. The trot is very extended, with powerful drive from the hindquarters.

Coat
Skin: Tightly fitting all over. With a bluish sheen in black/gold and black dogs, with a mostly pink sheen in blond dogs.
Hair:  The strong long-haired coat is lightly waved and lying close, with only little undercoat. It is longer on chest, belly, rearside of forelegs, rearside of thighs and tail. It is short on head and at the front side of the fore- and hindlegs. The coat is dense.

Color: 
There are 3 color varieties: black/gold, black, and blond.
Black/gold:The coat is black and shiny, the color of the markings medium blond. On the head the markings begin below the nasal bridge and extend round the corners of the mouth into the marking of the throat. The point-shaped markings above the eyes are clearly visible. The chest markings consist of two adjacent patches which may be connected. On the forelegs, the marking, seen from the side, extends from the toes to about the pastern and tapers off on the rearside at about elbow level. On the hindlegs, seen from the side, the marking below the hock is seen as a broad stripe, above the hock only as a narrow stripe which extends on the front side of the hindleg up to the level of the belly. A marking is also present beneath the set on of the tail. The markings are distinct in outline everywhere. Single small white spots on the chest as well as some single white hairs on toes and tip of tail are permissible. Black pigmentation on eyelids, lips and pads.
Black: The coat is black and shiny. Some single white spots on the chest as well as some single white hairs on toes and tip of tail are permissible. Black pigmentation on eyelids, lips and pads.
Blond: The coat is medium blond, shiny and becomes lighter towards legs and belly. Single small white spots on the chest as well as some single white hairs on toes and tip of tail are permissible. Black pigmentation on eyelids, lips and pads.

Size:
Height at the withers:
For males: 63 - 70 cm (24.8 - 27.6 inches).
For females: 58 - 65 cm (22.8 - 25.6 inches).

Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Disqualfying faults:

General Apperance
- Dogs which do not conform to the impression of original breed type.
- Distinctly "masculine" females.
- Distinctly "feminine" males.

Important Proportions:  Distinctly differing body proportions than those quoted in the standard.

Behavior / Temperament:  Aggressive, anxious, gun-shy or lethargic dogs.

Head:

• Lacking stop.
• Blue eye or wall eye.
• Erect tipped ears, rose ear; off-standing ears.
• Undershot, overshot or wry mouth.
• Absence of more than 2 of the 4 PM1 or the 2 M3, or absence of any other tooth.

Neck:  Distinct dewlap or very throaty.

Body:

• Pronounced sway or roach back.
• Narrow or barrel shaped chest.
• Abnormal tail; tail much too short; pronounced ring tail.

Limb:  Much too high in hindquarters (overbuilt)


Coat:  Predominantly curly coat (ring curls).

Color:
In general:

• All colors not conforming to the standard, e.g. blue-gray, deer color, brown, white, patched, blond with smutty touch or predominantly banded hair.
• White patches. Single white hairs on the inside of the upper thighs are not a disqualifying fault.
• Black/gold dogs:
• Gray or brown patches other than the correct markings.
• Undercoat predominantly of another color than black.
• Predominantly gray or whitish markings.
• Black dogs:
• Gray or brown patches.
• Undercoat predominantly of another color than black.
• Blond dogs:
• Some single white hairs on the nasal bridge are not a disqualifying fault.
• Red-blond color throughout without getting lighter.
• Whitish-blond color, also on ears.
• Distinctly white markings.
• Dark patches or dark mask.

Size:

• Undersize.
• Oversize by more than 3 cm (1.2 inches).