How to Identify a Hovawart

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Last Updated: June 30, 2023

Hovawarts originated in Germany and are assigned to the working group. Their name originates from the Middle High German words Hof (meaning farm or yard) and Wächter (meaning watchman).^{[1]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.

Go to source} While they share some characteristics with other breeds, they also have several unique ones. This wikiHow will help you figure out whether or not a dog is a Hovawart.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Body Structure

Hovawarts are usually anywhere from 23–28 inches (58–71 cm) tall, and they typically weigh somewhere between 65–90 pounds (29–41 kg).^{[2]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.

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Hovawarts should have a head with tight-fitting skin and a straight nasal bridge which is parallel to the skull. Their skull and muzzle should be the same in length.^{[3]
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Hovawarts should have drop-ears that are triangular in shape and fit loosely. Roughly halfway between the point of the dog's eyes and occiput should be the front edge part of the ear. The ears should be high-set and wide apart from each other, making the dog's skull seem to be broader. They should be long enough to reach the mouth's corners, with tips that are a little rounded. The ears should hang flat when the dog is relaxed, and they may appear pointed a little forwards when the dog is alert.^{[4]
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Hovawarts should have oval-shaped eyes that should not protrude or be set deep, and they may be anywhere from dark to medium brown in color.^{[5]
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Hovawarts should have a bushy tail that should extend to below their hocks, but it should not be touching the ground. It either hangs downwards or high and curving over the dog's back, depending on how they're feeling.^{[6]
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Overall, Hovawarts should appear a little elongated and powerful, with movement that is in the form of a straight line and covers ground.^{[7]
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Method 2

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Coat

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Look at the coat's color. Hovawarts may be black, blond, or black and gold in color.^{[8]
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- If the dog is black in color, the coat should be shiny, and you may notice a few white hairs on the dog's toes or the tip of their tail, along with a few white spots on the dog's chest.^{[9]
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- If the dog is blond in color, they should have a shiny coat that is moderately blond in color and gets lighter going towards their belly and legs. You may notice a few white-colored hairs on the dog's toes or the tip of their tail, along with a few white-colored spots on the dog's chest.^{[10]
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- If the dog is black and gold-colored, they should have a shiny black-colored coat, along with moderately blond-colored markings that start under the nasal bridge on the dog's head, going around the mouth corners to the throat marking. You should also notice markings above the dog's eyes in the shape of points and two patches on the chest next to each other that can sometimes connect. There is also a marking on the dog's forelegs that goes from the dog's toes to around their pastern. It should taper at the rear, around the dog's elbow. You should also notice a hind legs marking that should appear to be a stripe that is broad below the dog's hock when looked at from the side and a stripe that is narrow above the dog's hock, which goes from the hind leg's front area to the dog's belly. A marking should also be located under the point the tail is set on. These markings should all be outlined clearly, and you may notice a few white-colored hairs on the dog's toes or the tip of their tail, along with a few white-colored spots on the dog's chest.^{[11]
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Hovawarts generally don't have a large grooming need. They only need to be brushed around one time per week, and while they do shed sometimes, they don't typically shed excessively at any time of the year.^{[12]
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Hovawarts should have a dense coat that is long in length and strong, and it should be close-lying with a little wave to it. The hair should be shorter on the front of the dog's front and back legs and longer on the dog's tail, belly, chest, and the back of their thighs and front legs.^{[13]
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Method 3

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Temperament

Hovawarts are known to be playful dogs overall and enjoy games such as fetch once they are trained properly.^{[14]
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Hovawarts are easygoing dogs who can generally handle new environments without getting overwhelmed.^{[15]
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Hovawarts are active dogs who have a lot of energy and will need daily exercise through activities such as a walk.^{[16]
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Hovawarts are protective dogs, with a bark that is loud (though only when they feel something is threatening them - they will generally not bark too much). This makes them usually good guard dogs.^{[17]
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If they are not trained correctly, Hovawarts may be aggressive towards other dogs, so this is something you will want to keep in mind.^{[18]
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Hovawarts are intelligent dogs, but they may make choices by themselves, meaning they are also stubborn, and will need gentle training that also helps curb the stubborn behavior. They also have a large need for mental stimulation, so this is something you will want to keep in mind.^{[19]
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Tips

Consider dog DNA testing if you would like to know your dog's breed. This can help confirm whether or not your dog is a Hovawart.

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