Hovawart

General Appearance

Powerful, medium size dog, slightly longer than high. Long-haired with weather resistant coat. Free from exaggeration. Noticeable difference between dogs and bitches.
Characteristics Versatile, companion and working dog. Adaptable, devoted, self-confident, agile and resilient.

Temperament

Kind and even temperament, loyal, self-assured, courageous, tolerant and composed, without nervousness or aggression.

Head and Skull

Clean head with moderately broad skull. Length from occiput to stop equal to length from stop to nose. Width and length of skull approximately equal. Viewed in profile, foreface straight and parallel to skull. Stop moderate though clearly defined. Strong, deep muzzle, tapering slightly. Well developed nostrils.

Eyes

Oval, medium sized. Dark to medium brown, toning with pigmentation. Alert and intelligent expression.

Ears

Triangular, with gently rounded tips and hanging loosely. Set medium to high, increasing apparent breadth of skull. Length reaching to the corner of the mouth, front edges positioned approximately midway between eye and occiput tip. Carried slightly forward when alert.

Mouth

Tight lips. Full dentition with scissor bite i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Pincer bite tolerated.

Neck

Strong, medium length, no dewlap.

Forequarters

Strong, well-muscled. Shoulders long and well laid-back. Upper arms long and lying close to the body, elbows fitting close to the chest. Forearms straight, viewed from any angle. Pasterns moderately sloping when viewed from the side.

Body

Well balanced. Slightly longer from point of shoulder to point of buttocks than height at withers. Strong topline, level from withers to croup. Slightly sloping croup of moderate length. Chest strong, deep and broad. Foreribs relatively flat, allowing elbows freedom of movement, but ribs increasingly well sprung from behind the elbows. Deep brisket. Strong loin. Moderate tuck up.

Hindquarters

Wide, powerful and well muscled. Well angulated without exaggeration. Second thigh wide and very well muscled. Legs straight when viewed from behind. Hocks strong and well let down. Feet Roundish, strong, compact with well arched toes. Pads thick and strong. Dew claws may be removed. Tail Bushy, reaching below the hocks but not to ground. When standing, hangs down. Raised over the back when alert or moving.
Gait/Movement Effortless, ground covering gait, straight and true. Good reach and drive.

Coat

On the body the coat is long but not excessively so. Dense, straight or slightly waved and close lying, with sparse undercoat. Short on head and front of legs, longer on the chest, belly, the rear of forelegs, back of thighs and tail.

Colour

Black: Deep, shining black without rustiness. A few white spots on chest and a few white hairs on toes and tip of tail are permissible. Black pigmentation on eye rims, lips and pads.

Blonde: Medium shade of blonde, shiny and becoming lighter towards the legs and belly. A few white spots on chest and a few white hairs on toes and tip of tail are permissible. Black pigmentation on eye rims, lips and pads. Snow nose acceptable.
 

Black/gold: Deep, shining black, without rustiness, with medium blonde markings clearly defined as follows:
1. A spot over each eye
2. on cheeks
3. as a strip around each side of muzzle but not on bridge of nose
4. on throat
5. two clear patches on either side of breastbones which may be joined
6. on forelegs the colour runs form toes to wrists with colour up the backs of the forearm extending to the elbows
7. on the hindlegs the colour runs from toes to hocks extending up the inside of the legs, seen from the side as a narrow strip up the front of the leg reaching to stifle and belly
8. under tail
A few white spots on chest and a few white hairs on toes and tip of tail are permissible. Black pigmentation on eye rims, lips and pads.

Black and tan

Black

Blond