Hovawart
Other names: Hovie
This large, hairy German is kind-hearted, often to the extent of heroism. Originating as a guard dog, the Hovie has gone on to star in search-and-rescue expeditions as well as winning the hearts of many a family – to whom she will always be devoted. Clever, fun, and hard-working when required, the Hovie is the veritable picture of a suburban family dog, her tousled blonde, black and tan, or black fur the stuff of many a German camping trip snapshot, a Teutonic take on the Labrador Retriever.
Key facts about the Hovawart
Origins and history
The original Hovawart goes back at least as far as the Middle Ages, when one heroic tale tells of a Lord’s son being dragged to safety by an injured Hovawart during a raid on the castle. The breed became almost sacred after that, but declined over the centuries so that it had to be rebuilt between the world wars, with Alsatians, Newfoundlands, and Leonbergers among the genetic stock mixed into the Hovawart soup. The second world war almost did for her again, since the Nazis put them to work even as breeding programs became unfeasible. Nevertheless she survived, has gone international, and now the breed flourishes.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 2 - Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs
Section
Section 2 : Molossian type
Physical characteristics of the Hovawart
Adult size
Female : Between 23 and 26 in
Male : Between 25 and 28 in
Weight
Female : Between 55 and 77 lb
Male : Between 55 and 77 lb
Coat colour
Black and gold/tan, black, or blond.
Type of coat
A strong, wavy, close, dense overcoat, with a little undercoat.
Eye colour
Dark brown.
Description
Coming off somewhere between a Newfoundland and a Labrador Retriever, this mid-large sized dog is a handful of fun. Her haircut may be sloppy, but it covers a strong body leading to an impactful head, with tight skin and an easy-going, suburban sort of a facial expression. Her ears are fabulous, loosely fitting her skull so that they seem to expand its breadth; at the other end, muscular legs prop up a bushy tail whose angle denotes the dog’s mood.
Good to know
These dogs often find work as therapists due to their intelligence and sensitivity.