Hello! I just arrived back from a holiday in Switzerland where I met a Hovawart for the first time! I actually thought it was a flatcoated retriever as it was all black and had a lovely flatcoat type face! I have never heard of this breed before now. The owner told me they also descend from the Newfoundland. Can anyone tell me what their opinions of this breed are in terms of characteristics, personality and health. Is it a rare breed in the UK? How does it compare to the flatcoated retriever? Thank You!

Try looking at this site

It's one of the longest standing Hovie kennels in the UK

One used to go to our obedience class. That particular dog was extremely likely to take a pop at the other dogs. I think that that behaviour was probably more a reflection on the  owners than the dog though....It dragged the tiny woman round the room, and was totally out of control, but she refused to consider a head collar! 

Interesting you say that Pinklilies, that makes two! Not a good recomendation!

Regards, John

Apart from a superficial similarity they are totally different dogs. One being a gundog the other a working dog. Be very careful about choosing a dog on appearance. They are totally different in character. I would suggest a visit to "Discover Dogs" later in the year where you can talk to breeders of both breeds and start to get an informed opinion. I personally have only met one Hovawart for long enough to get to know it and although the owner was a very experienced person, she was having a fair amount of problems. That may not be representative of the breed as a whole but it did not give me a very good first impression of it.

Regards, John

Have had a look at the link, purely out of curiosity, and the lady opens states she's had various problems, including aggression with some of her dogs.
I'm sticking with Flatties :)

liberty

Nice dogs but not for first time owners. If you contact Min she'll be glad to tell you about them warts and all. She imported the first dogs.  I would say they are nothing like flatties not that i have known many Flatties personally
            Anne
               

I absolutely love them.  We have two breeders who attend my obedience club and their dogs are super characters, every one of them.  I have also stewarded for them at their open show and attended their agm when there were quite a few dogs. 

They are strong working dogs and need confident, able owners but they are also lovable, obedient, trustworthy and loyal dogs.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

Thanks for all the replies- I was just interested really as I had never seen this breed before in England. The dog that I met seemed really friendly- lots of licking! Though from what you say they are quite different in temperament to flatcoats. Is it true that it's related to the Newfoundland- couldn't see that on the website. We're not considering another dog- one flattie is enough for us at the moment!

Hi

The Hovawart is a german guarddog. They don't mature until they a 2-3 years old, and as mentioned earlier not a good beginner dog.

I was looking at these dogs before choosing a breed. We have 2 of them in my nabourhood, and they are quite a handful.

I would definately choose a flattie, if the choise were between a Hovawart and a Flatcoated.

I ended up choosing a labrador, and now have the prettiest (IMO) little 1 year-old brown girl, Luna

Jeanette

Was it not Elaine Betts Hovie that made the group cut at Crufts?  She qualified and won CDex at East Anglia Trial this year with it too I believe.

http://www.pineshovawarts.co.uk

Yes, it was Elaine's dog who was shortlisted in the group.  The ones I know do obedience to quite a high level and also all work to their Good Citizen awards.  There are several golds amongst them.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

apart from elaines dog .(obvisley has brains & beauty!), theres a lady called eleanor anderson who i believe lives in wales somewhere,she has two,her first won her out of beginners but is now retired, the star;nettle has done really well in novice last year with stacks of places including loads of 2nds, & she represented the welsh team in the inter regingional at crufts this year, both her dogs had lovely friendly personalitys,very laid back but very trainable! there are a couple more doing obedience now aswell

Hi guys,

I've met 4 in the last few years, mainly because there's one at our training club, so I have a bit of an interest in them anyway.  I think that they're lovely dogs but not for the novice owner.  The males can be VERY large and pretty independant, and they mature very slowly.  I have met one that was agressive to other male dogs, but whether thats a breed thing, I wouldn't like to guess.  That said, the one at training has a high old time of it, he's quite a character, but not the most consistant dog when it comes to training, and he does WT excercises and tracking as well.  Some days he's awesome and some days he's just NOT!!
I think that overall, they're bred to be somewhat more independant than, for instance, the Flattie.  I have a soft spot for Flatties, I can't really say anything negative about them apart from the thousands of licks you get from them! Because of their original purpose, they are bred to be friendly and biddable (I'm not sure where the 'clown' gene comes from though!) and to generally like being with people.

I like them both, but if I had to choose, it would definitely be a Flatcoat!

Ali :)