This is a breed of considerable antiquity: records of dogs of this type date as far back as the 1200s and the breed has been known for many centuries as a guard dog, mainly of the farmyard. After a blank period in its history, it re-emerged in the early 1900s thanks to the efforts of a Kurt Konig. There was some debate as to whether the breed had been truly resurrected or whether it was in fact a re-invented breed. However, it is generally thought that dogs of the old-type Hovawart had survived in isolated farm and rural areas and that these were the basis of today’s breed, which was recognised by the German Kennel Club in 1937. Only seen in the UK in recent decades, the Hovawart is now emerging as a truly recognisable breed here, although the variation of colour permitted by the breed standard means that, at first glance, he can be difficult to distinguish from several other breeds to which he bears considerable resemblance.

A practical dog as well as an attractive one, the Hovawart is an intelligent, trainable breed, with a good nose and an ability to hunt. He makes a good, companionable house-dog who is not hard to feed and whose coat is relatively easy to keep tidy.