Hovawart

Breed overview

Following the medieval period, the popularity of the Hovawart began to decline.

• Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.
• Country of origin: GermanyBreed reference country of origin.

Breed facts

• Following the medieval period, the popularity of the Hovawart began to decline.
• Newer breeds such as the German Shepherd Dog slowly replaced the Hovawart as a guard and working dog until it had almost disappeared by the beginning of the twentieth century.
• Around 1915 a group of enthusiasts decided to try to save the breed.
• König then started a careful breeding program using these dogs and crossed them with Kuvasz specimens, Newfoundlands, German Shepherd Dogs, Leonbergers, a Bernese Mountain Dog and an African hunting dog.
• After much work, the group was rewarded in 1922 when the first Hovawart litter was entered into the German Breeding Registry.

Size and appearance

The Hovawart is a muscular, medium sized, long-haired working breed. The breed is slightly long with length being between 110-115% of the height at withers.

• Body mass reference: 30 - 50 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 30 - 50 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
• Height reference: 58 - 65 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 58 - 65 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
• Height reference: Up to 65 cmBreed reference height. female, maximum.
• Height reference: 58 cm or moreBreed reference height. female, minimum.
• Height reference: 63 - 73 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 63 - 73 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
• Height reference: 63 cm or moreBreed reference height. male, minimum.
• Height reference: Up to 70 cmBreed reference height. male, maximum.

• Coat layers: double
• Coat length: long
• Height category: tall
• Height category: very_tall
• Weight category: giant
• Weight category: large

Personality and behavior

Care planning: record what your dog enjoys, how they greet visitors, and how they respond to new places. Add notes after walks and training so you can see their habits over time. Where this profile includes behavior research, use the same named measures when comparing your shortlist.

Exercise and activities

Care planning: build a weekly routine with walks, play and time to explore. Enter the minutes and sessions that work for your dog, then compare the weekly total with your available time. Keep notes about the activities your dog enjoys and adjust the routine together.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

• Coat layers: double
• Coat length: long

Health and lifespan

Care planning: keep your dog's veterinary records, health-check dates and agreed care plan together. Add reminders for appointments and record changes you want to discuss at the next visit. Use the linked breed organizations and original references to explore their current health resources.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

Compare breeds

Compare supported adult height and weight ranges, matching research measures and sourced coat and care categories.

Breed history

Following the medieval period, the popularity of the Hovawart began to decline. Newer breeds such as the German Shepherd Dog slowly replaced the Hovawart as a guard and working dog until it had almost disappeared by the beginning of the twentieth century. Around 1915 a group of enthusiasts decided to try to save the breed.

Clubs and further reading

• Hovawart - article and references

Sources

1. Hovawart - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Hovawart, revision 1377825061. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hovawart&action=history
2. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
3. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
4. File:Helos 11.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 3.0. Helos 11.jpg - Ursula Schneider / Nürmbrecht. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Helos_11.jpg. License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.
5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.