| Country of origin: | Germany |
| Registries: | UKC, CKC |
| Occupation: | Versatile farm dog |
| Size: | 22 to 28 in tall; weight proportionate to height |
| Longevity: | 12 to 14 years |
| Exercise: | Vigorous daily exercise |
| Training: | Hard to keep challenged |
| Grooming: | Easy |
| Colors: | Fawn, black, blue, brindle, harlequin |
The first mention of the “Hofwarth”, an estate guard dog, is in Eike von Repgow’s Sachsenspiegel of 1220. In the late 19th century, a group of breeders decided to re-create the Hovawart, using farm dogs from the Black Forest and Harz mountain regions. These may have been crossed with the Hungarian Kuvasz, Newfoundland, and the German Shepherd. The elegant results were first recognized in 1936, and the Hovawart is now established in several European countries. A reserved dog, it is easy to train and generally sociable with children and other dogs, but some strains are prone to fear biting.