Hovawart is one of the most ancient 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 European countries. This article will review the history of the origin of such dogs, their temperament, as well as the basics of care.
Appearance history
Hovawart is considered quite an old breed of dogs. The first written information about it appeared in 1274, although official recognition occurred much later - in 1959. For breeding, such breeds as the Hungarian Kuvasz, Newfoundland and Leonberger were used. In the manuscripts of the XIII century there are references to yard guard dogs, referred to as "Hovevart" or "Hofvart."
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. This title animals received thanks to the nature and intelligence. The dogs had 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 of 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 his little son to his pet, who was a representative of the Hovawart breed. The child was tied to a dog, after which the animal was released outside the fortress. The dog saved the life of a boy, and also led to the castle of warriors for help.
Throughout its history, the breed has undergone more than one exterior change. If we talk about the modern representatives of the Hovawarts, then Kurt and Bertram Koening made an enormous contribution to their elimination. The beginning of the period of the restoration of the form is 1915. Breeders selected the strongest representatives of this species, crossed them and engaged in the cultivation and training of offspring.
The first nursery was born in 1922, and in March 1937 an ideal representative of the breed was born, according to breeders. The puppy was named Castor, the characteristics of this dog are considered to be the standard to this day. 32 litters were received from Castor, but World War II made adjustments to the development of the breed. Almost all the ideal representatives of this species died.
A new stage of breed recovery 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 belongs to the breeds of medium size, with obvious differences in appearance depending on gender. The mass of animals may vary depending on growth - It is important that the pet's body is proportionate. Adult males older than 7 months can reach 40-45 kilograms, and females - 35-40 kilograms.
Height is measured at the withers and according to the standard in males, it can vary from 63 to 70 centimeters. Female dogs may be between 58 and 65 centimeters tall. The length of the body depends on the height of the animals and should have a figure ranging from 110% to 115%.The coat of the dogs is quite dense, with long wavy hairs.
The longest hair in animals is in the areas of the abdomen, the backs of the legs, as well as on the tail and chest. There is a slight undercoat.
Officially recognized only 3 colors of wool.
- Solid black color without any marks of an extraneous shade.
- Pale yellow - saturated color of wool. It is allowed to have lightened zones on the body in the chest and abdomen area. This color can also be called light-red.
- Black and tan. The predominant color is black, fawn spots may be on the muzzle, in the chest, on the paws and near the tail.
The skull of dogs is quite powerful, with a wide frontal part. The ears are triangular in shape and 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 fits snugly. The body of the breed is quite strong, with a straight back and powerful loin.
The chest is strong, the back upper torso is slightly oblique and has an average size.
The tail in length reaches a level below the complex motor joint on the hind legs, which is called the hock. The coat is long and thick. The front and rear legs are muscular and straight. The paws are rounded and the fingers are tightly pressed together. In black dogs, the claws should be the same color.
Advantages and disadvantages
Like all dog breeds, the Hovawarts have their own advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of animals include the following:
- representatives of this breed are friendly and very loyal to the owner;
- good ability to learn, 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 minuses of the breed, first of all it should be noted high cost puppies. In addition, when choosing a pet you need to exercise extreme caution, since any discrepancy with the standard exterior is considered a marriage. Also, the shortcomings can be attributed to an independent character: despite the fact that the Hovawarts are easy to learn, they always prefer to make independent decisions, rather than acting strictly by decree.
Character traits
Hovawarts are excellent guards, but at the same time devoid of aggression. Animals have a strong stable psyche, can sensibly assess a dangerous situation and do not bother with loud barking without a good reason. Representatives of this breed are very intelligent and have all the qualities of a leader.
In critical situations, such dogs are willing to zealously protect the person and home.
Hovawarts are good companions and quickly become attached to their master. These dogs grow up quite late. The body and psyche of the Havartes are finally formed only by the second year of life. Pets are quite active and need regular walking and games in the fresh air. It is not recommended to leave the pet alone with the child, as the pet may inadvertently harm him. Having a rather large size and playfulness, a dog may accidentally knock a child down.
Due to its independent nature, this breed needs proper training. Otherwise, a naughty and unbalanced dog may grow out of a puppy.
However, it should be remembered that even those individuals that are well-educated and trained, for the most part, when making decisions will be guided by their own opinion, and not by the host team.
A dog will be loved by each member of the family, but only one will be considered the master and obeyed. In the relationship with the pet, it is important to show love and respect, otherwise the animal can be very offended and even withdraw into itself.
Hovawarts easily tolerate changing places, so you can take them with you to rest. In the company of other animals, representatives of this breed will clearly show leadership qualities and defend the territory.Therefore, the Hovawarts 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 pet's behavior 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 policy
The most suitable place for the maintenance of Hovawarts will be a private house. It is best to arrange a place for the dog in the area adjacent to it. However, it should be remembered that it is impossible to put representatives of this breed on a chain. You can keep a pet in the aviary, but not all the time, as the animal needs freedom of movement.
Hovawarts can also live in apartments, as they calmly react to temporary discomfort and some restriction in movement.
However, a pet is required a large amount of attention from the owner and regular walking. Walking with animals is necessary every day and preferably at least 2 hours. It is best to find a suitable place where you can let a Hovawart run without a leash and a muzzle. During walks, the dog must be physically exhausting, which will allow it to maintain its health and psyche in normal conditions.
What to feed?
When developing the Hovawart diet, it is important to remember that the menu should be balanced. The dog must daily receive all the substances in the right quantities necessary for growth and development. First, it is recommended to feed the pet with the same products as the dog ate from the breeder. Make a change in the menu and feeding schedule you need to gradually.
At the place of feeding should not stand all the time a bowl of food. Feeding is desirable to carry out at the same time, after which to remove the remnants of food that are not eaten by the dog. It is also recommended to pay for food temperature - foods should be warm.
Permanent access to the pet should be only to clean water. It must be replaced at least 2 times a day.
It is necessary to give food to an animal after walks, but not to them. The fact is that during the digestion of food dogs are undesirable strong physical exertion. Feeding regime depends on the pet's age and temperament. Puppies eat at least 6 times a day. Gradually, the frequency of feeding must be reduced. After 9 months, dogs are usually transferred to two meals.
What to include in the menu?
For dogs there is no clear menu, and the diet for each pet can be made individually. You can feed the animal as a ready-made feed, and natural food. It is important not to mix these types of foods during feeding.
If you plan to give the animal dry food, then the amount of normal food in the diet should be reduced to a maximum of 30% The finished feed should be of good quality and balanced in composition. It is recommended to purchase dry formulations and canned foods of the same brand.
As for natural products, first of all the dog needs meat. It is recommended that his animals be given raw for better protein digestion. It is best to give your pet beef and various offal. Fat varieties of meat can adversely affect the digestive system of the animal, as well as worse absorbed by the body.
Meat can be alternated with seafood and boneless sea fish. For animals, you can cook porridge from cereals, for example, millet or oatmeal.
In the porridge, you can add grated fresh vegetables, such as carrots, cucumbers or zucchini. Some individuals like sweet, but it can be useful for them only in the form of some fruits. They can be given to the dog only as a treat and in small quantities. These can be apples, bananas, pears, melons and so on. Allowed with berries to give berries.
You can feed your pet no more than 3 times a week with fermented milk products of low fat content. 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 often than 3 times a week. It is sometimes useful for the teeth of the pet to gnaw fresh bones, but they do not carry any benefit to the body. As a prevention of caries, it is better to buy a dog special hard delicacies in pet stores.
Prohibited Products
Dogs should not be given confectionery, such as buns or chocolate. Regular consumption of sweets can lead to weight problems with the pet, as well as cause diabetes. Unsweetened baking animals also can not. It is allowed to occasionally feed the dog a few small pieces of dried bread.
Such a substance as caffeine is harmful to animals, so food and drinks in which it is contained must also be excluded from the diet.
Otherwise, the nervous and cardiovascular systems of the pet will be hit. Some fruits are contraindicated for dogs - first of all, these are all citrus fruits. For animals too fatty food is dangerous, as well as mushrooms. 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 wool, they do not need complicated care. The coat of representatives of this breed has a feature of repelling water and resistance to pollution. Animals do not need to bathe every time after walking. Frequent bathing, by contrast, can harm a pet. Water adversely affects the condition of the skin, drying it.
It is necessary to wash a Hovawart only when its wool becomes dirty or an unpleasant smell will emanate from it.
For swimming you must use special means for long-haired dogs. After water procedures, you must carefully rub the dog with a towel to remove excess water from the coat. To keep wool from tangling, it is necessary periodically combing. This procedure is sufficient to carry out 2 times per week. During the molting period, it is advisable to comb a pet every day in order to remove excess loose hair.
Cut the hair of Hovawarts is not required. The exception is paws, namely the area next to the fingers.
It is necessary to cut off the long hair between the fingers in winter, and they do it primarily for the convenience of the dog itself. If you do not remove long hairs, snow will stick to them while walking.
Hovawarts require special attention not only to the coat, but also to the ears and jaw. To prevent the occurrence of caries and the formation of tartar, dogs are advised to buy special bones in pet stores. It is advisable to periodically brush your teeth with a pet, using a special brush and toothpaste for dogs.
Ears should be cleaned at least once a week. For cleaning, you can also purchase a special lotion at a pet store or a veterinary clinic.
It is advisable to examine the ears on a daily basis so that you can immediately detect the presence of parasites or the beginning of the development of the disease and promptly start treatment.
Also at home should be available formulas for cleansing the eyes. The eyeball needs to be processed only as needed in case of contamination. Hovawarts have rather tough and long claws that can interfere with a pet. It is advisable to teach your pet to claws from a young age.
Upbringing and training
Earlier, the importance of educating and training representatives of the Hovawart breed was noted. If you do not train your pet from an early age, he may grow up naughty and unbalanced. Immediately after the puppy appeared in the house, it must be accustomed to the nickname, his place and walking on a leash.
It is worth remembering that Hovawarts mature longer than representatives of other dog breeds. Adults can retain some traits of small puppies for up to 3 years. Therefore, in the process of training, you need to be patient, not be angry at the animal for playfulness and in no case physically punish him.
Since childhood, Hovawart must understand who its main owner is. If the animal does not consider man to be a leader, then it will be difficult to train.
It is believed that females memorize teams faster, and masculine ones follow instructions more conscientiously.
In order to be able to control the dog's behavior, it is necessary to teach it to such teams: “Next”, “Lie down”, “Go to me”, “Sit”, “Fu”, “Voice” and “Stand”. A pet may perform some instructions extremely reluctantly, for example, “Lie down”. Hovawarts are by nature a leader and do not like to be in a position implying complete submission.
Health and life expectancy
Hovawarts have fairly good immunity and do not have hereditary diseases. Health depends on proper nutrition and proper care. Life expectancy is on average 13 years. but with proper care, the hovawarts can live for 17 years, while feeling good. Like all dogs, members of this breed need timely vaccination. In addition, the pet regularly needs to be treated from worms and skin parasites.
On the peculiarities of the breed Hovawart see below.
