Hovies are a reasonably large dog, and come in three shades: blonde, black, and black and tan. Their defining characteristics are a fairly long back, and a longish coat with feathering on their legs (front especially), ears and tail, which is held in a curve over their backs when they move.

Most people (in the UK) have never heard of a Hovawart (pronounced "Hoff-a-vart"), and initially assume they are some type of crossbreed. The black and tans are often thought to be a Rottweiler/German Shepard cross, probably because they are roughly German Shepard size and shape, but with Rotti colouring and a strong and square back end. Hovawart breeders will hate me for saying this, but blonde Hovies resemble large Golden Retrievers.

Their coats, while long, require very little maintenance. The things to watch for are tats behind the ears, and in armpits.

Hovies supposedly have few health problems. However, both my Hovies have suffered with sensitive stomachs.

I exercise my dogs for 2 to 3 hours a day. I don't think they would be happy with significantly less activity.

Both my dogs had poor bite inhibition as puppies, and I suspect that this is a breed trait? They take a while to mature, and remain playful well into adulthood.

Their heritage is guarding, and they are extremely good guard dogs, with a loud deep bark. They can be slightly aloof with strangers (the bitches more so than the dogs), and need a moment to checkout new people before accepting them.

Hovies tend to be dominant with other dogs: not necessarily aggressive, but just a little too pushy. This can become a problem if not properly managed. They need to be well socialised at an early age, and throughout their first year. They are however very affectionate and loyal to their immediate family. They would prefer to be with you than off hunting.

Hovies are intelligent, but this can work both for and against their trainability. They were originally bred to be freethinking, so the Hovie owner needs to establish respect and leadership, otherwise the dog will make their own decisions (some of which many not be good). They respond well to praise and encouragement, but rebukes are unproductive and damaging. They get bored quickly with repetitive tasks. The Hovie will work with you, but is not so keen on working for you.

Hovies are a breed in which there is a noticeable size difference between dogs and bitches. Dogs are larger and more heavily built. While the sexes share the same broad character, the dogs are more extreme than the bitches. Expect a dog to guard more zealously, and be extra dominant with other dogs.

Would I recommend Hovie ownership?

If you can be a pack leader, and want a dog with a free sprit and a strong inclination to guard, then the Hovie is a most fantastic companion. If you have little experience of handling a large and wilful canine, don't get a Hovi. The difficult aspects of ownership include the following.

Puppy/adolescent biting

With other breeds, a yelp by the owner will usually stop this behaviour. With a Hovie, it just excites and provokes. A great solution is to bring a Hovie pup into a home that already has a mature dog. The adult will take the brunt of the biting, and teach the puppy what is unacceptable far quicker than any human can.

Training

Hovies need to be trained and under control; they are big dogs. Always remember that they have been evolved to guard without the need of a master to tell them how to do it, so strong leadership must be established: they may resist at first. Good training skills are necessary and will reap quick results, but inexperience will lead to conflicts between master and dog.

Dominance

Animal socialisation is very important, especially with males, to curb their dominant tendencies. Unfortunately, the males can exhibit dog-on-dog aggression, and an untrained hostile 100 lbs dog is not a pleasure to walk.