Fun Hovawart Facts For Kids

Anusuya Mukherjee
Oct 20, 2022 By Anusuya Mukherjee
Originally Published on Aug 05, 2021
Edited by Jacob Fitzbright
Hovawart facts, as per the German Kennel Club standards, these German breed dogs were recognized as the country's seventh working breed.

When you want to choose a dog as a pet, the qualities you should look for in a dog are friendly, intelligent, easily mingling in families, a guard dog, and a loyal companion. The Hovawart dog breed is the right choice for you.

The history of the Hovawart dogs is ancient and was originated in Germany from the Harz regions and the Black Forest in Germany as a working dog breed. The Hovawart's name signifies 'a guardian of estates or castle.' The German Boron first created the Hovawart's to guard their estates and castles.

Hovawarts are ancient and pure breeds. However, by the twentieth century, these dog breeds began to diminish and were replaced by the new breed, the German Shepherd Dog.

To restore this breed, the breeders started cross-breeding with German Shepherds, Newfoundlands, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Leonbergers. The German Kennel Club officially recognized this large breed in 1937. Let us learn more about their Characteristics, personality, temperament, grooming, and health issues in this content.

We hope you would like our article on Hovawart facts. You may also look into our other articles about the pocket pitbull and the lab chow mix.

Hovawart Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Hovawart?

This German breed, Hovawart, is a medium to large dog. These dogs do very well in tracking, guarding, and working activities.

The Hovawarts are mainly devoted, reserved, even-tempered, rescue, and guard dogs. They are perfectly known as the owner's pet. They are very friendly and have a strong bond with children but are reserved towards strangers.

Sometimes they have a dominant temperament, due to which sometimes it is difficult for them to mingle with other dogs. They require consistent and strict training throughout their lives. It is better to socialize them at an early age.

These dogs make a great family valuable dog as a guard, watch and rescue dog. The Hovawart is a large-sized dog whose coat comes in black, black and gold, and blond.

What class of animal does a Hovawart belong to?

The Hovawart, Canis lupus familiarise, belongs to the Mammalia class of the Canidae family. They look somewhat like a golden retriever. This breed has been recognized by Kennel Clubs, including the FCI, and is currently part of the AKC's Foundation Stock Service.

How many Hovawarts are there in the world?

The exact count of how many Hovawarts are in the world is unknown. These dogs are popular in Germany; only 100 Hovawarts were found in the USA. However, these dogs are currently a part of the AKC's Foundation Stock Service.

Where does a Hovawart live?

Hovawarts live in households with their owner with ample space in their yard. This breed's overall temperament is intelligent, faithful, alert, and easy to train.

The breed is affectionate, friendly, and is a good companion. These breeds try to work with the owners and do not work for the owners. These breeds are not suitable for those dog owners who suffer from allergies.

What is a Hovawart's habitat?

Hovawarts can adapt to a house or an apartment life but are not recommended for small apartments as they are less active indoors and are best for outdoors with large yards. The Hovawarts are mainly reserved even-tempered, watchful, and rescue dogs.

They are very much adaptive to even low or high temperatures. They like sleeping outdoors.

They need constant exercise and prefer outdoor activities to keep them active and healthy. The Hovawart's are a very healthy breed of all the working dogs; however, some may suffer from some health issues like hip dysplasia and hypothyroidism.

To maintain a solid, healthy, and balanced life, these dogs should be engaged in some training, daily walks, and playing some fetching games.

These breeds are strong and intelligent and respond well to training and grooming sessions. It is a good option for novice owners.

Who do Hovawarts live with?

Hovawarts are best in a family with children and other dogs. This breed likes to stay in houses with ample space in the backyards. Hovawarts become destructive in small spaces as their energy level is very high.

They are excellent watchdogs, rescue dogs, and guard dogs in farms and rural areas. They are intelligent and sensitive. Through early training and socialization, they may become even better dogs.

How long does a Hovawart live?

The Hovawart dog has a life expectancy of around 10 to 14 years. These dogs are healthy; however, like other large dog breeds, they also suffer from health issues like hypothyroidism and hip dysplasia.

Compared to other large breeds, their rate of health issues is relatively low. They are very active and hardworking. They need strict training and exercise for one hour each day for a healthy life.

How do they reproduce?

Hovawarts reproduce through the mating process, where the male Hovawart mounts the female during copulation. After fertilization, before giving birth to the puppies, the female experiences a 63-day gestation period. Hovawarts have a litter size of six to eight puppies.

Hovawart puppies are first fed with their mother's milk for few months and are given solid food when grown up. It takes two years for a Hovawart dog to mature. Mothers take care of their puppies.

What is their conservation status?

No studies have been traced proving a Hovawarts conservation status; however, their conservation status is not evaluated. These dogs are an old working breed. In 1922, to restore this breed, this dog's breeding was done using similar kinds of dogs found in the forests or farms. However, in 1937, the Hovawarts were officially recognized by the German Kennel Club.

Hovawart Fun facts

What do Hovawarts look like?

The Hovawart is a medium to large German dog breed with a large head and a long body, furry tail, and short hanging ears. A Hovawart's skull is about the same length as its muzzle.

These breeds are mainly found in three colors: black, blond, and black and gold. These dogs have an excellent nose and are used in tracking, guarding, and working dogs. The coat of this breed is easy to groom.

They have a medium shedding tendency, so a vacuum is often a must. Regular brushing will reduce shedding and tangling and make the coat look shiny and soft, so professional grooming is unnecessary. These dogs have strong, deep, sharp barks and high energy levels.

They have solid and sharp jaws and teeth and may bite if provoked. The males Hovawards are larger than the females in comparison to the size.

How cute are they?

A Hovawart is charming, adorable and child-friendly. They have beautiful oval-shaped eyes, a strong head with a long body, drooping ears, and straight feet with a silky coat.

Owners have color options in three colors like black, blond and black and gold. These dogs are intelligent, obedient, and always faithful towards their owners. These breeds are very active; hence they need some game or exercise to keep them engaged.

How do they communicate?

Hovawarts are affectionate dogs and like to be hugged and cuddle with family members. They are intelligent and know how to communicate with various vocal sounds and body gestures. They express their feeling by wagging the tail, squinting, blinking, or licking are some of the happy gestures.

When anxious or nervous, they move, jump or climb to show their anxiousness. They can be easily trained. They remain true friends when raised with children and other dogs.

Hovawarts should be engaged in some activities. The owner should communicate daily with their pets; if these dogs are left alone, they tend to develop loneliness.

These dogs have a strong -deep throat and can bark at strangers. Like other dog breeds, these Hovawarts also need early socialization and mingling with other dogs. When provoked, they might bite such positive socialization is a must, or they might become stubborn by nature.

How big is a Hovawart?

The Hovawart dog is a medium to large size German dog breed. According to the American Kennel Club, they are as big as 28 inches; a full-grown Hovawart can weigh up to 100 pounds. The male is taller than the female.

The male's height is between 25–29 inches, and the female's is 23–26 inches. They have a large head and a long body and very energetic. The Hovawarts require ample space to run and play and exercise.

How fast can a Hovawart run?

Hovawart is a good runner and can run efficiently over rugged terrain. However, the exact speed is not known.

This breed is known for its exceptional tracking, rescue, and working dog skills. They have a high energy level and run until they are tired. Due to their high energy level, they can be destructive if they happen to stay in a small space.

So the owners must keep in mind when they get this type of breed home. The apartment should have a large open yard for these dogs to play.

How much does a Hovawart weigh?

According to the American Kennel Club, the Hovawarts are medium to large-sized German dogs with an average weight of 66–110 lb (30–50 kg). A full-grown Hovawart can weigh up to 100 pounds. At the age of nine months, the puppies reach adult age.

What are their male and female names of the species?

There are no specific names for the male and female of this species. Like other dog breeds, the male Hovawart is known as a dog, and the female Hovawart is known as a bitch. The males are larger than the females compared to the size. The male Hovawarts are more challenging and aggressive in comparison to the female.

What would you call a baby Hovawart?

The baby of a Hovawart is called a puppy. In general, all dog breeds are commonly known as puppies when they are born. As these breeds are great learners, it is essential to start the training and socialization at an early stage.

What do they eat?

Hovawarts are omnivorous food lovers. So, it is essential to track your dog's calories. It entirely depends on us what and how much we feed them. Overfeeding can make them obese.

It is highly recommended that you follow a proper diet. The Hovawart dogs can survive for an extended period if proper diet and care are followed, as they have a life expectancy of 10-14 years.

As these breeds are large and heavyweight dogs, their food should include all the proteins, vitamins, and calories required at all their growth stages.

If you give them formula-based food, then the best way is to consult your breeders or veterinarians regarding their food from their young to adult age. Along with the diet, the dog owner should give them proper training and regular exercise like one hour walk daily and engage them in games like fetching the ball or running with them.

Are they slobbery?

The Hovawart has a low drooling tendency, but they can be a little slobbery after exercising, playing, or eating. Sometimes when their stomach is upset, then they might slobber.

When these dogs are traveling in the car, they do slobber due to the motion in the car. Excess slobber can be due to health issues also, so it is better to have a regular health checkup for your pet.

Would they make a good pet?

Hovawarts are a very faithful companion and make a great family pet. They are very close to children and can go up to any extent to help them when they are in need.

Though they have strong jaws and sharp teeth, Hovawart dogs have a low tendency to chew, play-bite, nip or shout at people. In short, you can say these breeds are non-aggressive unless they are provoked. These breeds excel in searching, working, and rescuing.

These dog breeds are easy to train and can be trained at a young age. They are groomed easily and do not need professional grooming. Hovawarts are the best watch and family dog.

They are easily adaptable to a normal lifestyle and any environment. However, these dogs like to spend time outdoor rather than indoor.

Did you know...

When you look at a Hovawart dog, you might get confused if it is a Hovawart or a golden retriever. Though they look similar but are different from each other. Below are a few differences between a Hovawart and a golden retriever.

Hovawarts are hard to handle, while golden retriever is easy to handle.

Hovawarts need exercise or they become aggressive, while golden retrievers become aggressive when left alone.

Both these breeds love family and would want to please them.

Hovawarts accept strangers after a bit of friendship, while golden retrievers will bark at the strangers but will not attack them.

The Hovawart dog breed makes as a great protector and guard dog. They can go beyond and protect their owners.

These dogs were used by Germany in the war because of their extraordinary skills like search and rescue, tracking, and working dog activities.

Hovawarts are healthy dogs but they are not hypoallergenic.

Hovawarts can sometimes be stubborn, so the owners should keep in mind that they should never use strict or harsh training methods; and handle these breeds patiently.

Did you know that the cost for adopting a Hovawart puppy depends upon many factors like the age of the Hovawart puppy, weight, litter size, breeder's reputation, and Hovawart breeder's popularity? The cost range of Hovawart or their puppies usually starts from $1,500-$2,700.

If you are patient enough and want to survey, you can visit online sites like Adopt-a-Pet.com or the pet groups on social media or at the rescue center to find one. It is always advised to look for a famous breeder familiar with this parental breed's history.

Before you choose one, you should look into their health conditions.

According to ISSA, the breeders should follow every breeding dog's health testing. After 20 months, the breeding dogs should pass the excellent temperament test.

Are Hovawarts good family dogs?

Hovawarts are kid-friendly dogs and dog-friendly dogs. These dogs are mostly recommended for older people. Hovawarts are best for the owners as they have an easy-going personality. The Hovawarts are reserved by nature towards the strangers. However, these dogs are not good for owners suffering from allergies, as this dog breed has a moderate shredding tendency.

How to say Hovawart?

Hovawarts dog breeds are originated from Germany, and they were classified as working dog breeds. The name 'Hovawart' has been derived from the middle high German words Hova = Hof, which means 'yard, farm' and Wart = Wächter means 'watchman.'

In the 13th century, these dogs were used to guard the farm and the yard, and this is how they got their name.

These breeds are exceptionally playful, loyal, lively, intelligent, and have all the qualities that you need in your pet. We would be happy to find your next new best friend if this article helps you.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including the pitbull chihuahua mix and the cheagle.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one of our Hovawart coloring pages.

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Written by Anusuya Mukherjee

Bachelor of Arts and Law specializing in Political Science and Intellectual Property Rights

Anusuya Mukherjee picture

Anusuya MukherjeeBachelor of Arts and Law specializing in Political Science and Intellectual Property Rights

With a wealth of international experience spanning Europe, Africa, North America, and the Middle East, Anusuya brings a unique perspective to her work as a Content Assistant and Content Updating Coordinator. She holds a law degree from India and has practiced law in India and Kuwait. Anusuya is a fan of rap music and enjoys a good cup of coffee in her free time. Currently, she is working on her novel, "Mr. Ivory Merchant".

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