Hovawart

People usually start looking up Hovawarts when they’re weighing up a large guardian breed: big enough to deter trouble, steady enough to live closely with a family, and sensible enough to train without a constant wrestle. Get the match wrong and you can end up with a dog that’s under-exercised, under-socialised, and hard to manage—especially as adolescence rolls in.

The Hovawart is an old German working dog with a calm, watchful style and a strong need for purpose. Below is a clear snapshot of size, coat, temperament, training, health checks, and what to look for in a breeder or rescue—grounded in recognised breed standards and practical welfare guidance.^{1, 2}

• Size: Medium-large; males typically 63–70 cm and 30–40 kg, females 58–65 cm and 25–35 kg (breed standard figures).^{2, 3}
• Coat: Long-haired, weather-resistant coat; usually slightly wavy, with feathering. Undercoat varies seasonally.³
• Colours: Black-gold (black and tan), black, and blond (golden).^{2, 3}
• Temperament: Devoted and protective; typically even-tempered with a natural guarding instinct when well bred and well raised.³
• Energy level: Moderate to high; tends to thrive on daily exercise plus mentally engaging work (training, scent games, tracking).³
• Life span: Commonly around 10–14 years (varies with lines and individual health).⁴
• Health concerns: Hip and elbow dysplasia are key considerations; eye issues exist in the wider dog population and responsible breeders will discuss what they screen for in their lines.⁵
• Grooming: Weekly brushing most of the year; more during seasonal shedding. Keep an eye on feathering behind ears and legs where tangles form.³
• Training: Responds best to calm consistency and positive reinforcement; harsh handling tends to backfire in guardian breeds.³
• Exercise needs: Daily movement plus structured brain work; a bored Hovawart will often invent their own “job”.³

History and origin

The name “Hovawart” comes from Middle High German roots meaning a guardian of the homestead. References to similar farm and estate guarding dogs appear in German records centuries ago, though the modern breed as recognised today was rebuilt much later.⁶

By the early 1900s the type had largely faded, and a small group of enthusiasts—most notably Kurt Friedrich König—set out to recreate and standardise the Hovawart from surviving dogs and selected outcrosses. Organised breeding gathered pace after World War I, and kennel-club recognition followed as the population stabilised.⁴

Physical characteristics

Hovawarts are slightly longer than they are tall, with a strong, athletic frame built for steady work rather than sprinting. The head is broad, the ears are dropped, and the overall impression is capable and rugged rather than exaggerated.³

The coat is long and protective, commonly described as slightly wavy, with longer hair on the chest, belly, backs of legs, and tail. It’s a coat made for weather and movement, not elaborate trimming.³

Size and colours (breed standard basics)

• Height: Dogs 63–70 cm; bitches 58–65 cm.^{2, 3}
• Weight: Dogs 30–40 kg; bitches 25–35 kg (commonly cited standard guide).²
• Colours: Black-gold, black, blond.^{2, 3}

Temperament: what living with a Hovawart is like

A well-raised Hovawart is usually steady in the home and alert outdoors—watching first, then deciding what matters. The guarding instinct is real, which is helpful when it’s guided and predictable, and a problem when it’s fuelled by poor socialisation or inconsistent boundaries.³

They tend to bond closely with their people and do best when they have a daily rhythm: exercise, training, rest, and family time. Left to drift, they often become busy—patrolling fences, sounding alarms, or rehearsing their opinions at the front gate.

Training and socialisation

Start early and keep it simple. Guardian breeds don’t need “tough” training; they need clarity, repetition, and a handler who stays calm when the dog tests the edges. Reward the behaviours you want to see again, and practise them in many places, not just the backyard.

Socialisation is most effective during a sensitive early window—roughly 3 to 14 weeks—when pups form lasting impressions about people, places, surfaces, sounds, and other animals. The goal isn’t to overwhelm the puppy; it’s to build a long list of ordinary things that feel safe.^{7, 8}

A practical early plan

• Make exposure gentle: short sessions, plenty of space, and the option to retreat.^{7, 8}
• Prioritise handling: paws, ears, mouth, grooming brush, collar and lead—paired with treats.
• Teach calm skills early: settle on a mat, wait at doors, recall games, and trading items back.
• Keep puppies safe: follow your vet’s advice about disease risk while still creating controlled social experiences.

Health concerns and care

Like many medium-large working breeds, orthopaedic health matters. Hip and elbow dysplasia are two of the conditions responsible breeders try to reduce through screening and careful selection. Ask what scoring system they use, and to see results for both parents (not just a verbal assurance).⁵

Day-to-day care is straightforward: keep the dog lean, conditioned, and mentally busy. Large dogs carrying extra weight place more strain through joints over time, so portion control and steady exercise are part of health care, not just aesthetics.

Grooming

A Hovawart coat usually needs brushing once or twice a week, with extra attention during seasonal shedding. Check behind the ears, along the feathering, and under the collar for knots. Bathing is occasional; frequent bathing can dry the skin if it’s not needed.

Working roles: tracking, search and rescue, and service work

The breed standard describes a versatile working dog, and many Hovawarts enjoy roles that use their nose and their steadiness—tracking, obedience, and structured search games. Not every individual will suit operational work, but the breed’s design points in that direction: endurance, attentiveness, and a tendency to stay connected to their handler while working.³

Hovawart as a family dog

With children, the usual rules apply: supervision, calm introductions, and teaching kids how to give the dog space. Hovawarts are powerful, and even a friendly dog can knock a small child over without meaning to.

With other pets, early management matters. Many can live well with other dogs and cats, especially when introduced carefully and raised with them, but don’t assume friendliness will happen automatically. A protective adolescent dog needs guidance, not guesswork.

Finding and choosing a breeder or rescue

Look for someone who treats temperament and health as the core of the breeding program, not an afterthought. In Australia, Dogs Australia (ANKC) guidance suggests asking to meet the dam, seeing the litter together, confirming vaccination and microchipping timing, and discussing hereditary conditions and health test results.⁹

If you’re adopting through rescue, ask what the dog has lived with (dogs, cats, kids), what training foundations exist, and what situations are known triggers. A good rescue will be frank, not flattering.

Quick checks before you commit

• Both parents’ health screening results are available to view (not just “vet checked”).⁹
• The breeder can describe the pups’ early socialisation plan in detail, including how they handle the sensitive period.^{7, 8}
• You’re encouraged to visit, and the dogs look comfortable with the breeder and their environment.¹⁰
• The breeder asks you serious questions about fencing, exercise time, and how the dog will be managed around visitors.⁹

Final thoughts

The Hovawart suits people who like their dogs large, thoughtful, and useful—guardians that settle well when their needs are met. Choose for stable temperament, commit to early socialisation, and keep the dog busy with real work, even if that work is simply training games woven into ordinary days.^{3, 7}

References

1. The Kennel Club (UK) – Hovawart breed standard
2. FCI – Hovawart (No. 190) breed listing and standard publication details
3. Dogs Global – Hovawart FCI standard (summary text)
4. Wikipedia – Hovawart (history overview and modern reconstruction notes)
5. Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) – Canine health screening and databases
6. Hovawart.be – History of the Hovawart (historical references and revival summary)
7. Purdue University – Canine Welfare Science: Socialisation & early exposure
8. The Ohio State University – Indoor Pet Initiative: Puppy socialisation period
9. Dogs Australia – Choosing a breeder (questions to ask)
10. RSPCA Pet Insurance (AU) – Tips for safely buying a pet (responsible breeder checks)