The Hovawart is one of the most impressive German dog breeds, yet it's seen far less often day to day than the German Shepherd or Labrador. Anyone who chooses this powerful, alert companion gets a dog with a mind of its own, a strong sense of family and a guarding instinct that gave it its name: "Hova" for farmstead and "wart" for guardian. In this guide you'll find out what characterises the Hovawart's temperament, what to watch for in training and exercise, and how to feed this large dog correctly through every life stage. If you're still unsure whether the Hovawart really suits your everyday life, our Breed Finder can also help you decide.
Profile and temperament
The Hovawart is a large, powerfully built dog with a dense, often slightly wavy coat in black, blond or black-and-tan. Males reach a shoulder height of around 63 to 70 centimetres, while females are somewhat smaller at around 58 to 65 centimetres. Weight ranges from 25 to 40 kilograms depending on sex and build.
Character-wise, the Hovawart is a dog with substance. It's confident, alert and extremely people-oriented, yet by no means exuberant or clingy in the classic sense. Rather, it observes its surroundings closely, forms a close bond with its family, and decides for itself whom to trust. Towards strangers it's initially reserved, which is part of its natural protective behaviour and not a sign of nervousness. Within the family, on the other hand, it's remarkably affectionate, patient with children, and a reliable companion for quiet walks as well as sporting activities.
Important to know: the Hovawart matures late. While many dogs already seem fully grown at eighteen months, the Hovawart often doesn't develop fully in mind until three to four years of age. You should factor this long maturing phase into your training from the very start.
Origin and history
The Hovawart's roots go back a long way. As early as the Middle Ages, dogs of a similar appearance were used as guard and farmstead dogs on German manors, documented, among other sources, in a 13th-century record from the Hunsrück region. In the 1920s, breeders deliberately picked up this tradition and shaped regional landrace dogs into a distinct breed, which was officially recognised as the Hovawart in 1937.
Unlike many other guard dog breeds, the Hovawart was never bred for sharpness or pure protection work, but was always conceived as a versatile companion dog: alert enough to guard farmstead and family, yet friendly and balanced enough to live in close contact with people. This dual role shapes the breed's character to this day and explains why the Hovawart is neither a pure working dog nor a pure lapdog, but something in between: a dog with a purpose.
Training and exercise
A Hovawart is not a beginner's dog. It needs people who lead consistently, calmly and fairly, without ever being harsh or authoritarian. Rough methods or constant pressure usually have the opposite effect to the one intended with this breed: the Hovawart withdraws or becomes stubborn. Training built on trust, clear rules and positive reinforcement is far more successful. Small, high-quality reward bites from our natural treats are excellent for training, as they're eaten quickly and don't interrupt the flow of the session.
Early and broad socialisation is essential. A puppy that meets many people, situations, sounds and other dogs in its first months of life grows into a calmer adult dog. Since the Hovawart is naturally watchful, this early experience helps it distinguish between genuine cause for concern and everyday situations, rather than treating every visitor or unfamiliar sound as a threat.
For the Hovawart, exercise means not just physical activity but, above all, mental stimulation. This breed was bred for independent thinking and action, and so it needs tasks that let it think for itself. Tracking, mantrailing, search and rescue work, obedience training or scent work in the garden all suit its nature well. Pure, endless running or hours of ball throwing, by contrast, tends to overexcite many Hovawarts rather than satisfy them. Anyone who regularly gives their dog real tasks gets a balanced, reliable partner for everyday life in return.
The right diet for the Hovawart
As a large-growing breed, the Hovawart needs particular attention to feeding during its growth phase. Growing too fast puts strain on bones and joints and increases the risk of orthopaedic problems such as hip dysplasia. What matters, therefore, isn't making the puppy grow as big as possible as quickly as possible, but letting it grow in a controlled, slow way. A food with an adjusted energy and calcium-phosphorus ratio, specially designed for large breeds, supports this even development of muscle and skeleton far better than an overly energy-dense standard food.
In adulthood, the Hovawart has a medium to rather moderate energy requirement that depends strongly on its actual exercise. A dog doing a lot of tracking work or sport needs noticeably more energy than a calm family dog on extended walks. In any case, pay attention to a high-quality protein foundation from real meat, healthy fats for coat and joints, and a suitable amount of carbohydrates. Our dry food provides a stable nutritional basis for this, while high-quality wet food works well for moistening, variety or as a supplement, particularly for dogs with a lower thirst drive or a sensitive stomach.
Because every Hovawart differs in activity, age and metabolism, it's worth taking a close look at the individual amount and recipe of food. With our Food Finder you can work out in a few steps which food best suits your Hovawart's age, size and activity level, rather than picking a product off the shelf at random.
Chews and chewing articles
Chewing is one of the most natural activities for the Hovawart. It relieves stress, cares for the teeth, and gives a dog that likes to "work" independently a meaningful task for quiet hours. For such a large and powerful dog, however, robust, properly chewable items are especially important so they can withstand the power of its jaws while still being healthily digestible.
Choose natural chews without artificial additives that suit your dog's size. In our natural chews you'll find a wide selection of robust, high-quality chews that will keep even a powerful Hovawart bite happy for a long time. Make sure to keep an eye on chewing duration, adjust the chew to your dog's age, and give puppies with still-growing teeth softer varieties. If you're unsure which chew best suits your Hovawart's size, age and chewing behaviour, our Chew Finder can help you choose.
Especially during the growth phase, the rule is: better slightly less often, but in the right size and hardness, rather than reaching for items that are too small or too hard out of convenience. That way chewing stays a pleasure for your Hovawart rather than a strain on its teeth or jaw joint.
Health and care
The Hovawart is generally considered a robust, long-lived breed, with a life expectancy of around 10 to 14 years. As with all large dogs, though, you should keep an eye on a few breed-typical risks. Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia do occur, which is why deliberate, slow growth in the first year of life and moderate exercise without excessive jumping or long flights of stairs are particularly important. A hereditary autoimmune condition known as Hovawart hypothyroidism, or autoimmune thyroiditis, also occurs more frequently in the breed and can be detected early through regular blood tests.
Coat care is manageable but needs to be regular. The medium-length, slightly wavy coat should be brushed about once or twice a week to prevent matting, especially behind the ears and on the legs. More frequent brushing is advisable during the spring and autumn coat change. Ears, teeth and claws are also part of routine care, and strong teeth benefit additionally from regular, suitable chews.
Also keep an eye on your Hovawart's body weight. Excess weight places additional strain on joints that are already under pressure and has been shown to shorten life expectancy. Feeding tailored to actual needs, combined with sufficient exercise, is therefore the best preventive measure you can take yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Hovawart suitable for beginners?
Rather not. The Hovawart needs experienced owners who can lead consistently and sensitively at the same time. Its pronounced watchfulness, independent will and long maturing period demand patience and dog experience. Anyone who has already worked with larger, independently thinking breeds will get on with a Hovawart considerably better than an absolute newcomer.
How much exercise does a Hovawart need daily?
An adult Hovawart generally needs one to two hours of exercise a day, spread across several sessions. Just as important as the pure exercise time is mental stimulation through scent work, training or other forms of activity, since purely physical exertion alone rarely provides lasting balance.
Does the Hovawart suit families with children?
Yes, provided the family has experience with large dogs and gives the Hovawart clear structure. Within its family it's generally patient, protective and affectionate with children. It's nonetheless important that children learn respectful handling of the dog, and that no unsupervised situations arise with unfamiliar children or visitors, as the breed's guarding instinct can play out unfavourably here.
How long does the growth phase last in a Hovawart?
Physically, a Hovawart is usually largely grown by 18 to 24 months, but it often doesn't mature mentally until three to four years of age. During the physical growth phase, controlled feeding tailored to actual needs is particularly important to avoid overloading the joints and skeleton and to lay the foundation for a healthy dog's life.
Character & who the Hovawart suits
In short, the Hovawart suits best: experienced families with space who are looking for a loyal guardian.
- Size: large
- Energy level: medium
- With children: extremely good with children
- Flat living: rather unsuitable for flats
- For beginners: rather suited to experienced owners
- Coat care: medium grooming effort
- Trainability: eager to learn
- Alertness: pronounced watchdog
Not sure whether this breed suits your life? Find out with our Breed Finder "Which dog breed suits me?".
Goes well with: Grain-free dog food
