Breeds / Large
Hovawart puppies
The Hovawart is a German estate guardian rebuilt in the twentieth century, watchful and devoted to its family but reserved with strangers. It matures slowly and responds 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 Low
- Coat type Medium double
- Typical lifespan 10 to 14 years
- Good with children Usually good
- Good with other dogs Usually good
Where these come from:
About the Hovawart
The Hovawart takes its name from an old German term for a yard watchman, and it was reconstructed in the twentieth century from surviving farm dogs to bring back that medieval estate guardian. It 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 its family, reserved with strangers, and slow to grow up mentally.
It wants 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 it needs a purpose such as tracking, obedience or rally. The common mistake is treating a thoughtful guarding breed like a biddable gundog and losing its 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 is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its 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
From Hovawart breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/hovawart/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
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.
Other large breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.