The hovawart is a rare breed, which deserves to be known better. There is already a lot of information about the breed available online, so what follows is only a brief overview.

Once upon a time in Germany, there were dogs living in farms. They are in a way the ancestors of our hovies. The name "hovawart" comes from German words meaning: the farm/estate guardian. They were known in the middle age as an faithful protector of their families and the property and also excellent to track criminals.
Because of the vagaries of history (the wars mainly) these dogs became very rare. Some people decided to recreate this breed and started to cross the remaining dogs with other working breeds such as the German Shepherd, the Leonberg, the Kuvasc and the Newfoundland. Some other breeds may have been used but did not have a major impact on the breed. The hovawart slowly started to gain recognition across Europe and in 1984, the International Hovawart Federation was created. The hovawart is also now recognized by the Kennel Club.

The hovawart is a versatile general-purpose working dog, calm in the house but full of energy when outside or working. It is a dual dog, on one hand it is the most faithful loving dog, dedicated to his family and on the other hand, it has as an impressive working potential. The hovawart is a clever dog able to learn a lot. However, you will need to gain its respect if you want it to do anything for you. It is not a dog to work in submission, it is all about motivation and fair handling. The adolescent stage of your hovie will be here to remind you this. But it is worth it. It wants to be involved in everything you are doing, they love going for walks with you and enjoy canine activities. We encourage every hovawart owners to work their dog, they enjoy every minutes of it: working trials, obedience, agility, you name it, your hovawart will love it. And what a wonderful way to reinforce the bond between the dog and its owner.

The hovawart has an amazing personality, full of character. This is a dog that can laugh and play with you and start a sulk the very next minute because you have not "played by the rules" (preferably its rules!).

The hovawart has the reputation of being quite vocal due to his watch dog origins. It is true that barking is probably its favourite method to alarm his owner, but the hovawart does not bark for no reason and will only warn you of an unusual situation. It soon learns to know your circle of friends and family. With the hovawart, once a friend, always a friend.

As a large dog bred originally for his guarding abilities, the hovawart should be socialised with people and animals from a early age. Training based on fun and reward is advisable from the start. Once fully grown, the hovawart requires a fair amount of exercise, but also of mental stimulation. Be fun, be firm and be fair. Follow these simple rules and enjoy life with your hovawart!

Whether you have a similar or a very different view of the breed, please do not hesitate to let us know what you think.

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