Description: The Hovawart is a large and massive-looking dog that has the physical features of the Golden Retriever. Its body is slightly longer than it is tall, and is covered with thick and slightly long hair. There is feathering on its chest, legs, undersides, and tail. The Hovawart carries its tail low and hanging past the hocks.

The Hovawart has a powerful head and a rounded forehead. The eyes are dark and almond-shaped. The teeth meet in a scissors bite. The color of the eyes, nose and nails go along with the color of the coat.

Dynamics: The Hovawart is generally calm and has a gentle temper. But it can also be energetic and very active, especially when outdoors. It is obedient and affectionate companion, and is loyal to its family. This breed is excellent with children and other household pets, although it might show aggressiveness to other dogs of the same sex.

The Hovawart is an intelligent and cautious breed. It is reserved with strangers, but is friendly with those that tits owner knows. It is brave and protective, making a good watchdog. It is quick to learn as long as the training is firm and consistent. Socialization should start from puppyhood.

Breed Group: Herding

Weight: 55-90 pounds (25-51 kg.)

Height: 23-28 inches (58-70 cm.)

Color: The dense coat of the Hovawart comes in blonde, black, or black and tan.

Country of Origin: The Hovawart originates in Germany, becoming nearly extinct in the 1200s but was revived in the 1920s by Kurt Konig.

Activities: The Hovawart has great energy and adaptability. It requires lots of exercises and play sessions to keep fit. This breed is suited for tracking, search and rescue, watchdogging, schutzhund, and defense situations.

Grooming: The Hovawart’s coat needs occasional brushing and combing to remove dead hair and avoid tangles in the hair.

Other Info: The Hovawart has a life expectancy of 10 to 14 years. It is a generally healthy breed. Underactive thyroid is common, though. The breed is also prone to common health issues like hip dysplasia. The Hovawart is not for the city or apartment life. It prefers a home where there is an open space. It prefers cool climates and can be an outstanding watchdog.

Photo by Ursula Schneider

AKA: Hanover Hound, Hanoverian Hound, Hannover’scher Schweisshund

Description: The Hanoverian Scenthound, or the Hanover Hound, is a hunting and tracking dog with a compact and powerful body. It is rectangularly proportional, its body slightly longer than it is taller. It has a long face, with a wide muzzle and pronounced stop. Its ears are naturally left hanging. The eyes are an almond-shaped dark brown. The nose is black. Its strong jaws form a scissors or level bite.

Dynamics: The Hanover Scenthound is a working dog that has a calm temperament but passionate and persistent in its job. It is loyal to its owner.

Breed Group: Scenthound

Weight: 36-45 kg (80-99 lbs)

Height: males 50-55 cm (19-22 inches), females 48-53 cm (18-21 inches)

Color: The Hanoverian Scenthound’s coat color ranges from light to dark reddish fawn with a brindled appearance.

Country of Origin: The Hanoverian Breed originated from Germany. It was introduced into France in the 1980s but it is still a very rare breed.

Activities: The Hanoverian Scenthound is used in hunting and tracking game, but is also a great family companion.

Grooming: Combing and brushing the coat once a week is enough. Its short coat doesn’t need that much grooming.

Other Info: The Hanoverian Scenthound is not fit for the city or apartment life. It is at its best when an open are is readily available for it to have some amount of freedom.

Photo by Dojkungern

AKA: Standard Pinscher
Description: German Pinschers are a medium in size breed, muscular built and very strong. Their coat is short,their body is square in shape and regular in structure. Size is proportioned and ideal in height. Their head and neck is long,with a powerful expression. Ears are set high especially when they are alert. Their eyes are oval shaped, dark in color and regular in size. Muzzle is identical when comes to the length with a muscular cheeks, nose are dark colored and black lips, strong jaws and scissors bite. Their tail is regularly set high and coat is short but smooth and shiny. This breed has variety of colors.

Temperament: They are an Intelligent, brave dog with great senses thus making them a good guard dog that could very well protect their family. Easy to train as long as you have enough patience and follow right training techniques. They are a breed that is always full of energy and active but they do not bark a lot loke any other guard dogs do to alert their family. A very lively dog, but children around them must treat them like they are their boss and not to let them be dominated by German Pinschers. They must undergo obedience training to let them understand and teach them good behaviors and how to honor their master. They too could get along with other pets but only indoors since they could chase other pets when outdoors. They needed to be trained firmly and seriously to hinder tham from being harsh and develop good habits and rapor to the people around them especially with his family members.

Activity: They are required to have an ample amount of exercise and long brisk walk daily.

Health: No known diseases for them. They are a healthy breed. Their life span is from 12-14 years.

Grooming: They do not require heavy grooming because naturally, they have a short,smooth and shiny hair. Brushing them on an occasional basis would be fine to prevent dead hair. They are an average shedder.

Breed Group: Terrier,Working group
Color: Red fawn, black & tan, and dark brown with yellow markings.
Height: 16-19 inches (41-48 cm.)
Weight: 25-35 pounds (11-16 kg.)
Country Of Origin: Germany

Dynamics: This breed is a genius breed which possess special skills in their senses. They are a very lively, ideal guard dog but not a heavy barker. They have a good amount of stamina that is why they are always alert and full of energy.

Image Source: GotPetsOnline

AKA: Ainu Dog, Hokkaidoken, Ainu-ken, Ainu Inu, Seta, Shita

Description: The Hokkaido Dog a muscular dog with a sturdy body. It has small erect ears that face forward are set high on the head. The eyes are small and dark brown. It has solid strong teeth that form a scissors bite. Some of the breed has black spots on the tongue, and others have the blue black tongue distinctive to the Chow Chow and the Shar Pei. The lips have dark pigmentation. The forelegs are straight. The back is lean and solid. The tail is curled in a Spitz fashion, carried high above or over the back.

Dynamics: The Hokkaido Dog is a fearless and loyal dog breed that has a good-natured temperament. It is intelligent and is quick to earn, with a natural sense of direction, always returning to its master. It is a determined hunter, as well as a guard and watch dog.

It is gentle and obedient to its owner and family. But it can be aggressive and stubborn with other dogs. It should not be free around other animals, too, because it might unleash its hunter instincts. It gets along with children well if raised with them since puppyhood.

Breed Group: Northern

Weight: 45-65 pounds (20-30 kg)

Height: 18-22 inches (46-56 cm)

Color: The Hokkaido Dog’s coat comes in sesame, brindle, wolf gray, red, brown, or white.

Country of Origin: The Hokkaido Dog is a Japanese Spitz breed, and is rarely seen outside Japan. It was named after the Ainu tribe that came to Japan thousands of years ago.

Activities: The Hokkaido Dog requires a moderate amount of exercise to keep fit. This breed is used in big-game hunting (especially in hunting bears), as a guard dog of a property, and as a draft animal pulling sleds.

Grooming: The straight double coat of the Hokkaido Dog should be brushed and combed regularly.

Other Info: The Hokkaido Dog is not fit for the city or apartment life. It prefers to be outdoors. It has a life expectancy of 11 to 13 years.

AKA: Bhotia, Bhote kukur

Description: The Himalayan Sheepdog is a Nepali dog breed. It is now rare, and not much is known about it. What is known is that it is a large dog, with similarities in appearance to that of the Newfoundland dog and the Tibetan Mastiff. It has a long double coat, ranging from solid black to light brown. A white Himalayan Sheepdog is the rarest of them all. The Himalayan Sheepdog usually has a patch of white fur on the chest. It also has a long, round and hairy tail.

Dynamics: The Himalayan Sheepdog can be ferocious and strong-willed. This makes it great guard for livestock and farm houses. This breed is intelligent and at times can be very stubborn. Obedience training may be necessary. It is an excellent family dog. It is naturally reserved with strangers, though, because of its guarding instincts.

Breed Group: Flock Guardian

Weight: 62-84 lbs (28-38 kg)

Height: 26-32 inches (66-82 cm)

Color: The double coat of the Himalayan Sheepdog ranges from solid black to light brown. A white Himalayan Sheepdog is rare.

Country of Origin: Nepal

Grooming: The straight double coat of the Hokkaido Dog should be brushed and combed regularly.

Other Info: The Himalayan Sheepdog can live for some 10-13 years if they are bred properly.

Photo by Dogsindia.com