FEDERATION
CYNOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE
SECRETARIAT
GENERAL: 13, Place AIbert~ I
- B 6530
THUIN (Belg.)
FCI-Standard
N0 190
/ 27.05.1998 / GB
HOVAWART
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ORIGIN:
DATE
OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD: 12.0l.1998.
UTILIZATION:
Working Dog.
CLASSIFICATION
F.C.I.:
Group 2
Pinscher and Schnauzer type-Molossian
and
BRIEF
HISTORICAL SUMMARY
: The
Hovawart is a very old German working dog
breed. The name's origin stems from Middle High German (an old form of
German); Hova =
In
the country of origin very great importance is attached to the health of
the Hovawart. Especially the presence of hip
dysplasia has been reduced to a small
percentage by selecting, for decades, breeding stock free from dysplasia.
It is to be expected that all other Hovawart
breed clubs will aim for this exemplary goal.
GENERAL
APPEARANCE
:
The Hovawart is a powerful, medium size,
slightly elongated, long-haired working dog. Difference between sexes is
clearly recognizable, specially in shape of
head and build of body.
IMPORTANT
PROPORTIONS
:
Length of body comprises
at least 110 to 115 % of height at withers.
BEHAVIOR
/ TEMPERAMENT
:
Recognized working dog with versatile usage. Kind
and even disposition. Has protective
instinct, fighting instinct, self-confidence and ability to take stress;
of medium temperament; combined with a very good nose. His balanced body
proportions and special devotion to his family make him an outstanding
companion, watch, guard, tracking and rescue-dog.
HEAD :
The nasal bridge is straight and parallel to the skull. Muzzle and skull
are of about the same length. The skin of the head fits tightly.
CRANIAL
REGION:
Skull
: The powerful head has
a broad, rounded forehead.
Stop
: Well visible.
FACIAL
REGION:
Nose
: Nostrils well
developed. In black/gold dogs pigmentation is black; in blond dogs it is
black; ((snow nose» (temporary loss of pigmentation) accepted.
Muzzle
: Strong, tapering only
slightly when seen from above and in profile.
Lips
: Fit tightly.
Jaws/Teeth
: Strong
complete scissor bite with 42 teeth according to tooth formula. Teeth
set square to the jaws. Pincer bite accepted.
Eyes
: Oval, neither
protruding nor deep set. Color: dark to medium brown. Eyelids fit
tightly.
Ears
: The loosely fitting
triangular drop ears are set on high and wide apart, thus giving the
optical illusion of broadening the skull. They reach in length to the
comers of the mouth (labial commisure).
Their tip is slightly rounded. When the dog is at ease they are kept
hanging flat, when alert they may be carried directed slightly forward.
Their front edge lies approximately halfway between eye and occiput.
NECK:
Strong, of medium
length. Skin tightly fitting.
BODY:
Back: Straight and firm.
Loin: Strong, slightly longer than rump.
Croup
: Medium long and
slightly sloping.
Chest
: Broad, deep and
strong.
TAIL
:
Bushy, reaching to below the hocks, but not to the ground. According to
the dog's mood it is carried high and curved over the back or hanging
down.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS
: Forelegs strong,
straight and vertical, seen from the front and side.
Shoulders
: Very well muscled.
Shoulder-blade long and well laid back.
Upper
arm: Long, closely fitting
to body.
Elbows
: Fitting well to
chest.
Pastern
joint:
Strong.
Pastern
: Moderately sloping.
HINDQUARTERS
: Hindlegs
strong and vertical when seen from behind. Hindquarters are well
angulated.
Upper
and lower thigh
: Very well muscled.
Hock
joint: Strong, well let
down.
FEET
: Roundish,
strong and compact. Toes
arched and tight. Dewclaws to be removed
except in those countries where this is prohibited by law. Nails
with black pigmentation in black/gold and black dogs; in blond dogs
there may be less pigmentation.
GAIT
/ MOVEMENT
:
In all gaits the movement of the Hovawart is
on a straight line and covering the ground well.
The trot is very extended, with powerful drive from the
hindquarters.
SKIN
:
Tightly fitting all over. With a bluish sheen in
black/gold and black dogs, with a mostly pink sheen in blond dogs.
COAT
HAIR:
The strong long-haired coat is lightly waved and lying close, with only
little undercoat. It is longer on chest, belly, rearside
of forelegs, rearside of thighs and tail. It
is short on head and at the front side of the fore- and hindlegs.
The coat is dense.
COLOR:
There are 3 color varieties :
black/gold, black, blond. Black/gold:
The
coat is black and shiny, the color of the markings medium blond. On the
head the markings begin below the nasal bridge and extend round the
corners of the mouth into the marking of the throat. The point-shaped
markings above the eyes are clearly visible. The chest markings consist
of two adjacent patches which may be connected. On the forelegs, the
marking, seen from the side, extends from the toes to about the pastern
and tapers off on the rearside at about
elbow level. On the hindlegs, seen from the
side, the marking below the hock is seen as a broad stripe, above the
hock only as a narrow stripe which extends on the front side of the hindleg
up to the level of the belly. A marking
is also present beneath the set on of the tail. The markings are
distinct in outline everywhere. Single small white spots on the chest as
well as some single white hairs on toes and tip of tail are permissible.
Black pigmentation on eyelids, lips and pads.
Black:
The
coat is black and shiny. Some single white spots on the chest as well as
some single white hairs on toes and tip of tail are permissible. Black
pigmentation on eyelids, lips and pads.
Blond
: The coat is medium
blond, shiny and becomes lighter towards legs and belly. Single small
white spots on the chest as well as some single white hairs on toes and
tip of tail are permissible. Black
pigmentation on eyelids, lips and pads.
SIZE
Height
at the withers: For
dogs: 63-70cm ; For bitches : 58 - 65 cm.
FAULTS
:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and
the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in
exact proportion to its degree.
DISOUALIFYING
FAULTS:
GENERAL
APPEARANCE:
• Dogs which do not confirm to the impression of original breed
type.
•
Distinctly (doggy) bitches.
• Distinctly « bitchy » dogs.
IMPORTANT
PROPORTIONS:
Distinctly
differing body proportions than those quoted in the standard.
BEHAVIOR/TEMPERAMENT
Aggressive,
anxious, gun shy or lethargic dogs.
HEAD:
•
Lacking stop.
•
Blue eye or wall eye.
•
Erect, tipped ears, rose ear; off-standing ears.
•
Undershot, overshot or wry mouth.
• Absence of more than 2 of the 4 PMI or the 2 M3, or absence of
any other tooth.
NECK:
• Distinct dewlap or very throaty.
BODY:
•
Pronounced sway or roach back.
•
Narrow or barrel shaped chest.
• Abnormal tail; tail much too short; pronounced ring tail.
LIMBS:
Much
too high in hindquarters (overbuilt).
COAT
HAIR:
Predominantly
curly coat (ring curls).
COLOR:
In
general
•
All colors not conforming to the standard, e.g. blue-gray, deer
color, brown, white, patched, blond with smutty touch or predominantly
banded hair.
• White patches. Single white hairs on the inside of the upper
thighs are not a disqualifying fault.
Black/Gold
dogs:
•
Grey or brown patches other than the correct markings.
•
Undercoat predominantly of another color than black.
• Predominantly gray or whitish markings.
Black
dogs:
•
Grey or brown patches.
• Undercoat predominantly of another color than black.
Blond
dogs:
•
Some single white hairs on the nasal bridge are not a
disqualifying fault.
•
Red-blond color throughout without getting lighter.
•
Whitish-blond color, also on ears.
•
Distinctly white markings.
• Dark patches or dark mask.
Size:
•
Undersize.