Hovawart

FCI:

Hovawart - Group II Pinschers and Schnauzers, Molossoid breeds, Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs

General Appearance:

This is a lovely dog and balanced character, confident, reliable and an excellent defensive dog, tracker with an excellent sense of smell, reasonably temperamental, calm and little stubborn. These features enable to cope without the hassle of any stressful situation. Devotion to the family makes it an excellent owner´s companion, while at the same time it can be a working dog with a large usage.

Temperament/ Behaviour:

It requires a sensitive treatment in education and during training it cannot use any harsh or even rude or coercive methods; everything must be managed by gentle consistency, without any coercion. Trainer accustomed to using harsh methods that bears (unnecessarily) e.g. German shepherd with this breed it does not work, just destroy it. Hovawart´s owner should not be irresponsible, person who uses power for training, who is not balanced by mood.

Important for success in education and training is the closest possible relationship between the dog and the owner-trainer, which must be based on mutual trust and respect. Therefore Hovawart should not stay all time in an outdoor kennel. Conversely, the most frequent close contact with the owner and members of its family, it makes its relationship closer.

The training will be more successful, what you prepare for the dog. One exercise should therefore not be repeated endlessly. Unable to cope if a dog perfectly succeeds for one of the two other exercises that it works perfectly complimented with positively motivates (treats) and by verbal encouragement (said strongly encouraging intonation, never angry or even menacing!) the dog will be stubborn.

Hovawart is well manageable when it was educated by correct procedures then it is well controlled, docile and it exhibits excellent memory. It can be quite persistent. Ideal for monitoring is an excellent defender, but also it has a remarkable talent for scent work, and it can be used in tracking missing persons and in rescue work. If it is well prepared, achieved in competitions and practice of high achievement, it is able to prepare even the most difficult tracks.

Hovawart is with children very friendly, is very patient and remain playful into old age. When it was in its early teens properly socialized, all comes without problems with other dogs and with the various small domestic pets. Against unknown persons it retains a certain distance. If it does not have enough daily activity, e.g. training, it needs long walks.

Body:

It's a powerful, medium sized dog of balanced body proportions, slightly elongated body frame, with a very strong sexual dimorphism evident both in the construction of the head and body - male and female must be reliably recognizable at first look. Length of body should extend at least 110-115% height at withers, male 63 to 70 cm and female from 58 to 65 cm.

The head has a skull about the same length as the muzzle. When viewed from the side, the top lines of the skull in the imaginary extension of the line of the muzzle. The skin on the head is flush with the muscle and subcutaneous tissue does not form folds and wrinkles. The skull is massive and has a broad, bulging forehead. The frontal slope (stop) is well defined, sloping. The muzzle should be strong and when viewed from above and toward the nose tapers only slightly.

The muzzle is level. The nose must be in black and black-and-gold colour when black with fawn-coloured should also be black, but the seasonal lack of pigment in them tolerated. The nostrils are large. Lips are tightly fitting to the jaws and teeth. Teeth should be strong, complete, consisting of 42 teeth planted vertically in the jaws. Desirable is scissor bite, pincer however, it is admissible.

The eyes are oval shaped, medium to dark brown colour nor the sunken or protruding and eyelids are lying close to the eyeballs. The earlobes are set high and wide apart, hanging, triangular in shape. Optically widen the skull. Slightly rounded peaks reach corners of the mouth. In repose they lay close to the cheeks freely, in the heat of passion can be angled slightly forward so that the front edges when viewed from the side about the middle distance from the eye to the occipital area. The neck is medium length and strong without dewlap.

The back should be straight and strong, loin is thick and slightly longer than rump, which is moderately long and slightly sloping. Tail should be profusely covered with hair reaching below the hocks, but not to the substrate. According to the mood of an individual is carried high and curved over the back or hanging down.

The chest should be broad, deep and roomy. The front legs are strong, straight and when viewed from the front and sides vertical to ground. Shoulders should be well muscled, long and sloping, so that their tops upwards and backwards. The shoulder bones are long and fit snugly against the hull. Elbows are drawing the chest, and wrists are strong, pasterns when viewed from the side slightly askew.

The hindquarters should be strong, viewed from behind and perpendicular to the substrate when viewed from the side properly angulated. The thighs should be well muscled, like shin, ankle thick, low over the base. Feet are round, strong and compact, with arched, tightly knit toes. Dewclaws should be removed (except in countries where this is prohibited by law on protection of animals). Nails with black and black-and-gold coloured individuals of black, fawn may be lighter pigmentation.

In all kinds of actions directed movement of the limbs straight forward, it is appropriately hearty (long) and when viewed from the front and back parallel to the median longitudinal vertical plane of the body. The trot has to be spacious, hind legs are a source of abundant forward driving force (a huge reflection).

The skin on the entire body is flush with the skeletal muscle and skin. For black and black-and-gold colour when it has a bluish sheen in blond is pinkish. The coat should be long, dense and contiguous, closed, with very rich undercoat. Chest, abdomen, backside of the forearms (where they form a "feathering") and thighs - pants and underneath the tail („flag") is longer. On the head and front sides of the two pairs of legs and their distal portions is short.

There are three colour varieties: black and gold, black and fawn; for black and golden colour possible black, shiny, medium deep gold markings. They are starting to head down the sides of the muzzle (below the nasal bridge), stretching around the corners of the mouth and pass into the badges on the neck. Further, distinctive, round shape, are the eyes. Front chest are two close together or even be related. The forelegs begin when viewed from the side of the fingers, extend to the rear pastern and stretch down to the elbows. On pelvic forms when viewed from the side of the narrow strip that runs along the hocks and front continues to the bottom line of the body. The last is around the anus. All markings must be sharply defined. In black character colour is black and shiny, with dark blond to be moderately rich golden, shiny and lower body towards legs and belly lighter.

In all three shades of colour are permitted individual small white marks on the front chest and single white hairs on toes and tip of tail. The edges of the eyelids, lips and toe pads should be black.