Hovawart is one of the oldest German dog breeds. Animals possess excellent security qualities and at the same time very friendly towards the owner. Initially, the breed received recognition only at home and is only now beginning to gain popularity in America and Europe. This article will examine the history of the origin of such dogs, their temperament, as well as the basics of grooming.
Appearance story
Hovawart is considered a fairly old breed of dog. The first written information about her appeared back in 1274, although official recognition occurred much later - in 1959. For breeding, such breeds as Hungarian kuvas, Newfoundland and Leonberger were used. Manuscripts from the 13th century contain references to courtyard guard dogs, referred to as “hovewarts” or “hofwarts”.
The name of the breed can be translated as "guard of the yard" or "guard of the estate".
In 1473, dogs were recognized in Germany as one of the most noble species. Animals received such a title due to their character and intelligence. Dogs possessed good hunting qualities, and also differed in the ability to instantly make important decisions in stressful situations. There are many references to dogs in books of different centuries.
For example, in the oldest literary source in 1274, events that occurred in 1210 were described. During the siege of the German fortress by the northern peoples, the owner of the castle entrusted the life of the little son to his pet, who was the representative of the Hovawarts breed. The child was attached to a dog, after which the animal was released outside the fortress.The dog saved the boy’s life, and also led the warrior to the castle to help.
Throughout its history, the breed has undergone more than one exterior change. If we talk about modern representatives of the Hovawarts, then Kurt and Bertram Köning made a huge contribution to their breeding. The beginning of the period, the restoration of the species is 1915. Breeders selected the strongest representatives of this species, crossed them and were engaged in the cultivation and training of offspring.
The first nursery appeared in 1922, and in March 1937 the ideal representative of the breed was born, according to breeders. The puppy was named Castor, the characteristics of this dog are considered the standard to this day. 32 litters were received from Castor, but World War II made adjustments to the breed. Almost all ideal representatives of this species died.
A new stage in the restoration of the breed began in 1949. In Germany, dogs were registered as service dogs in 1959. However, all over the world the breed was recognized only in 1964.
Description
Hovawart refers to medium-sized breeds, with clear differences in appearance depending on gender. The mass of animals may vary depending on height - it is important that the pet's body is proportional. Adult males older than 7 months can reach 40-45 kilograms, and bitches - 35-40 kilograms.
Height is measured at the withers and according to the standard for males, it can vary from 63 to 70 centimeters. Female dogs can have a height of 58 to 65 centimeters. The length of the body depends on the height of the animals and should have an indicator in the range from 110% to 115%. The coat of dogs is quite dense, with long undulating hairs.
The longest hair in animals is in the abdomen, hind legs, as well as on the tail and chest. There is a slight undercoat.
Only 3 coat colors are officially recognized.
- Solid black without any marks of extraneous shade.
- Pale yellow - saturated coat color. Presence of brightened areas on the body in the chest and abdomen is allowed. This color can also be called light red.
- Black and tan. The predominant color is black, fawn spots can be on the muzzle, in the chest, on the legs and near the tail.
The skull in dogs is quite powerful, with a wide frontal part. Ears have a triangular shape and are widely spaced; the bite is of the “scissors” type. The muzzle is about the same length as the skull. The size of the neck in dogs is medium, the skin is tight. The body of the breed is quite strong, with a straight back and a powerful lower back.
The chest is strong, the hind upper body is slightly sloping and medium in size.
The tail in length reaches a level below the complex motor joint on the hind legs, which is called the hock. The coat on it is long and thick. The front and rear legs are muscular and straight. The paws have a rounded shape, and the fingers are pressed tightly against each other. Black dogs should have the same color.
Advantages and disadvantages
Like all dog breeds, Hovawarts have their advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of animals include the following:
- representatives of this breed are friendly and very loyal to the owner;
- good learning ability, due to the high level of intelligence;
- dogs do not need careful care, so they are suitable for keeping even inexperienced dog breeders.
As for the disadvantages of the breed, it should first be noted high cost of puppies. In addition, extreme caution should be exercised when choosing a pet, since any discrepancy with the exterior standard is considered a marriage. The disadvantages can also be attributed to an independent nature: despite the fact that the Hovawarts are easy to learn, they always prefer to make independent decisions rather than acting strictly by order.
Character Features
Hovawarts are excellent guards, but at the same time are deprived of aggression. Animals are distinguished by a strong stable psyche, can sensibly assess a dangerous situation and do not bother with a loud bark without good reason. Representatives of this breed are very smart and have all the qualities of a leader.
In critical situations, these dogs are ready to zealously protect the person and the home.
Hovawarts are good companions and quickly become attached to their master. Such dogs grow up quite late. The body and psyche of the Hawawarts are finally formed only by the second year of life. Pets are quite active and need regular walking and outdoor games. It is not recommended to leave the pet alone with the child, as the animal can inadvertently harm him. Having a rather large size and playfulness, a dog can accidentally knock a child down.
Due to its independent nature, such a breed needs proper training. Otherwise, a naughty and unbalanced dog may grow out of the puppy.
However, it should be remembered that even those individuals who are well-educated and trained, for the most part, when making decisions will be guided by their own opinions, and not by the owner's team.
Every member of the family will love the dog, but only one will be considered the owner and obey. In relations with a pet, it is important to show love and respect, otherwise the animal can be very offended and even become isolated.
Hovawarts can easily stand the change of places, so you can take them with you on vacation. In the company of other animals, representatives of this breed will clearly show leadership qualities and defend the territory. Therefore, Hovawarts can easily get along only with representatives of those breeds that, by their nature, do not seek to take a leading position.
A person who has decided to start a hovawart needs to remember that each individual can have individual character traits.
Also, the behavior of the pet may not meet the general standard due to improper upbringing. However, the protective instinct in such dogs will be present in any case, since it is laid by nature.
Content Rules
The most suitable place for keeping Hovawarts will be a private house. It is best to arrange a place for the dog in the territory adjacent to it. However, it should be remembered that it is impossible to put representatives of this breed on a chain. You can keep your pet in the aviary, but not all the time, since the animal needs freedom of movement.
Hovawarts can also live in apartments, as they calmly respond to temporary discomfort and some restriction in movement.
However, the pet needs a lot of attention from the owner and regular walking. Walking with the animal is necessary every day and preferably at least 2 hours. It is best to choose a suitable place where you can let Hovawart run without a leash and a muzzle. During walks, the dog should be physically exhausted, which will maintain its health and psyche in the norm.
What to feed?
When developing a Hovawart diet, it is important to remember that the menu should be balanced. The dog should receive daily all the substances in the right amount needed for growth and development. At first it is recommended to feed the pet with the same foods that the dog ate at the breeder. You need to make changes to the menu and the feeding schedule gradually.
There should not be a bowl of food at the place of feeding all the time. Feeding is desirable at the same time, and then remove the remnants of the products that the dog did not eat. It is also recommended to pay attention to the temperature of the food - the products should be warm.
Permanent access to a pet should be only to clean water. It must be replaced at least 2 times a day.
The animal needs to be given food after walking, and not before them. The thing is that during the digestion of food, strong physical activity is undesirable for dogs. The feeding regimen largely depends on the age of the pet and its temperament. Puppies eat at least 6 times a day. Gradually, the frequency of feeding should be reduced. After 9 months, dogs are usually transferred to two meals a day.
What to include in the menu?
There is no clear menu for dogs, and the diet for each pet can be individually compiled. You can feed the animal with both ready-made feeds and natural food. It is important not to mix these types of products during feeding.
If you plan to give the animal dry food, then the amount of ordinary food in the diet should be reduced to a maximum of 30%. Finished feed should be of good quality and balanced in composition. It is recommended to purchase dry formulations and canned goods of the same brand.
As for natural products, then first of all, the dog needs meat. It is recommended that its animals be given raw for better absorption of protein. It is best to give your pet beef and various offal. Fatty meats can negatively affect the digestive system of the animal, and are also less absorbed by the body.
The meat can be alternated with seafood and boneless sea fish. For animals, you can cook cereals from cereals, for example, millet or oatmeal.
Grated fresh vegetables, such as carrots, cucumbers or zucchini, can be added to cereals. Some individuals like sweets, but for them it can be useful only in the form of some fruits. They can be given to the dog only as a treat and in small quantities. It can be apples, bananas, pears, melons and so on. It is allowed to give berries together with fruits.
Low-fat dairy products can feed a pet no more than 3 times a week. In no case should they be mixed with meat, vegetables or fruits.
Eggs are also useful for dogs, but in small quantities and also not more than 3 times a week. It’s sometimes useful for a pet’s teeth to gnaw on fresh bones, but they don’t have any benefit to the body. As a prevention of caries, it is better to buy a dog special solid goodies in pet stores.
Prohibited Products
Confectionery, such as buns or chocolate, should not be given to dogs. Regular consumption of sweets can lead your pet to a weight problem, as well as diabetes. Unsweetened pastries for animals are also impossible. It is allowed occasionally to feed a dog several small pieces of dried bread.
A substance such as caffeine is harmful to animals, so the foods and drinks that contain it should also be excluded from the diet.
Otherwise, the nervous and cardiovascular systems of the pet will be under attack. Some fruits are contraindicated for dogs - first of all, these are all citrus fruits. Too dangerous food, as well as mushrooms, is dangerous for animals. In no case should you give your pet alcohol or vitamin supplements intended for people.
How to care?
Despite the fact that the Hovawarts are owners of a rather long and beautiful coat, they do not need complex care. The coat of representatives of this breed has the ability to repel water and is resistant to pollution. Animals do not need to bathe every time after walking. Frequent bathing, on the contrary, can harm the pet. Water adversely affects the condition of the skin, drying it.
Hovawart should be washed only when its coat becomes dirty or an unpleasant odor emanates from it.
To swim, you must use special products for long-haired dogs. After water procedures, you need to carefully rub the dog with a towel to remove excess water from the coat. To prevent the wool from tangling, it is necessary periodically comb. It is enough to carry out this procedure 2 times per week. During molting, it is advisable to comb out the pet every day to remove excess hairs that have fallen out.
It is not necessary to cut the hair of the Hovawarts. The exception is paws, namely the area next to the fingers.
It is necessary to cut the long hair between the fingers in the winter, and this is done primarily for the convenience of the dog itself. If you do not remove long hairs, snow will stick to them during walks.
Hovawarts require special attention not only on the coat, but also on the ears and jaw. To prevent tooth decay and tartar formation, dogs are advised to buy special bones at pet stores. It is advisable to periodically brush your pet’s teeth using a special brush and toothpaste for dogs.
Ear cleansing should be done at least once a week. For cleaning, you can also purchase a special lotion at a pet store or veterinary clinic.
It is advisable to inspect the ears daily, so that you can immediately detect the presence of parasites or the onset of the development of the disease and promptly begin treatment.
Also at home should be available compounds for cleansing the eyes. The eyeball should be processed only as necessary in case of contamination. Hovawarts have rather stiff and long claws that can interfere with the pet. It is advisable from a young age to teach a pet to clipping.
Parenting and training
Earlier, the importance of educating and training the representatives of the Hovawart breed was already noted. If you do not engage in training a pet from an early age, then it can grow up naughty and unbalanced. Immediately after the puppy appeared in the house, he must be accustomed to the nickname, his place and walking on a leash.
It is worth remembering that Hovawarts mature longer than other breeds of dogs. Adults can retain some of the features of small puppies for up to 3 years. Therefore, in the process of training, you need to be patient, not be angry with the animal for playfulness and in no case do not punish him physically.
Since childhood, the Hovawart must understand who is its main owner. If an animal does not consider a person a leader, then it will be difficult to train.
It is believed that females memorize teams faster, and males more faithfully follow instructions.
In order to be able to control the dog’s behavior, it is necessary to teach it the following commands: “Near”, “Lie”, “To me”, “Sit”, “Fu”, “Voice” and “Stand”. A pet may be extremely reluctant to follow some directions, for example, “Lie down”. Hovawarts, by their nature, are leaders and do not like to be in a position that implies complete submission.
Health and Life Expectancy
Hovawarts have fairly good immunity and do not have hereditary diseases. The state of health largely depends on proper nutrition and proper care. Life expectancy averages 13 years. but with proper care, Hovawarts can live 17 years, while feeling good. Like all dogs, representatives of this breed need timely vaccination. In addition, the pet should be regularly treated for helminths and skin parasites.
About the features of the Hovawart breed, see below.
