Breeds / Large
Hovawart puppies
The Hovawart is a German estate guardian rebuilt in the twentieth century, watchful and devoted to their family but reserved with strangers. They mature slowly and respond to patient, reward based training rather than pressure.
The facts
- Size class Large
- Country of origin Germany
- Adult weight 29.5 to 40.8 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 65 to 90 lb
- Adult height 58 to 71 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Medium double
- Shedding Moderate
- Typical lifespan 10 to 14 years
- Good with children Usually good
- Good with other dogs Usually good
About the Hovawart
The Hovawart's name comes from an old German term for a yard watchman, and the breed was reconstructed in the twentieth century from surviving farm dogs to bring back that medieval estate guardian. This is a large, well proportioned dog of 29.5 to 40.8 kg standing 58 to 71 cm, with a medium length coat that carries little undercoat and comes in black, blond and black and gold. The character is watchful without being sharp: attached to their family, reserved with strangers, and slow to grow up mentally.
They want a long walk plus several shorter outings a day, and a large fenced garden makes life far easier, so a flat is a poor fit. Grooming is light, an occasional brush outside the shedding season. Training needs to be reward based and consistent, because the breed is sensitive and shuts down under heavy handling, and they need a purpose such as tracking, obedience or rally. Work with a Hovawart as the thoughtful guarding breed they are, because handling them like a biddable gundog loses their cooperation.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Hovawart puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip dysplasia, screened by hip evaluation of breeding stock, though rates in the breed are low
- Gastric dilatation volvulus, a surgical emergency, risk rises with deep chests
- Hypothyroidism, detected by a blood test of thyroid hormone levels
Your Hovawart puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Hovawart.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 29.5 to 40.8 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 42 inch (42 x 28 x 30 in, 107 x 71 x 76 cm) for an adult of up to 40.8 kg; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other large breeds
More on the Hovawart
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- Health notes from Hovawart breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/hovawart/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Martina Stakenborg, Mülheim a. d. Ruhr, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.