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

AKA: German Hunting Terrier, Deutscher Jagdterrier, Jagdterrier
Description: This breed has a resemblance of a Doberman. They also come in black color with a brown reddish mark on their muzzle. Their coat is stiff but also smooth and soft. Their head is lengthened and wide, circular cheeks and has strong jaws. Ears are regular in size that also matched their head, set high. Its eyes are dark in color and deep set, body is firm, strong and muscular, because they are born a hunter type of terrier. Their tail is also docked and carried high especially when they are alert.

Temperament: This kind of breed is a genius easy to train, but they could also at times be bad-tempered. A Very determined with work since they are born a hunter. And always full of energy and ready for work. A very friendly dog but could be suspicious with strangers and ready to protect their homes from those strangers that would try to invade their home. Also, they are a fearless and observant guard dog. They could become stubborn and difficult to handle when they lack exercise and or be stagnant and does nothing.

Activity: They are required to have daily walk and exercise. Since they are born hunter, they are used to working and do hunting jobs that is why they need a lot of exercise so they would not have any behavioral problem.

Health: They have no known health issues because they are healthy breed. Their life span is about 10-15 years.

Grooming: They don’t require heavy grooming. And since they have short hair, they only need to be brushed to eliminate dead hair and to maintain its softness and shine.

Breed Group: Terrier
Color: black and tan
Height: About 16 in (41 cm.)
Weight: 20-22 pounds (9-10 kg.)
Country Of Origin: Germany

Dynamics: This breed is a born hunter therefore, they are very much trained to work. With their rounded eyes that expresses to be affectionate, they could also be friendly to other people around them but they just have the attitude to be sometimes stubborn and needed much attention from their owner and could be left behind doing nothing.

Image Source: vivapets

AKA: Greek Sheepdog, Greek Shepherd

Description: The Hellenikos Poimenikos is a dog breed of medium to large size. It has a solid body and massive head, exuding superior physical strength and power. The muzzle and cheeks are wide and deep, with the jaws forming either a scissors or plain bite. The ears should not be cropped. The eyes are almond-shaped and the eyelids are tight.

The chest is broad and deep. The coat is thick, it body covered with slightly long rough-looking hair. The tail is thick at the base. Some tails are long, some are short. Some have no tail. The breed is generally characterized by its heavy bone structure, good muscle, and thick coat.

Dynamics: The Hellenikos Poimenikos is a working dog that requires great patience. It is proud and hardworking as a sheep and goat guard. It works better in pairs, moving at the sides of the flock and looking out for wolves and other predators. It is a loyal, independent, and brave dog, with a strong protective instinct for the animals and territory. It can adapt to any rough condition. It is naturally observant and wary, and it will only heed to its owner or shepherd.

The Hellenikos Poimenikos has a serious temperament. It does not tolerate violent behavior and can be dominant when the owner does not have strong leadership over it. It is wary of strangers and cautious in getting along with others. It is aggressive towards other animals. It has a loud and powerful bark that is given as a warning to back off its territory. To avoid excessive aggressiveness, proper socialization is required. The Hellenikos Poimenikos can also be trained to be trustworthy.

Breed Group: Flock Guardian

Weight: males 84-110 pounds (38-50 kg), females 70-92 pounds (32-42 kg)

Height: males 25-29 inches (65-75 cm), females 23-26 inches (60-68 cm)

Color: The coat colors of the Hellenikos Poimenikos include black, grayish-brown, and white.

Country of Origin: The Hellenikos Poimenikos originates in Greece.

Activities: The Hellenikos Poimenikos is an energetic and serious dog breed that needs to work to keep itself busy. Boredom will only cause it to develop destructive behavior and excessive barking.

Grooming: Brushing and combing at least once a week is enough. Remove dead hairs. Bathe only when necessary.

Other Info: The Hellenikos Poimenikos has a life expectancy of 12 years. It is a generally healthy breed. This breed is not meant for the city life. It is a natural flock guardian, and is best on an open field guarding the flock from wild predators.

AKA: Hellenic Hound, Greek Harehound, Greek Hound

Description: The Hellenikos Ichnilatis is a medium-sized hunter dog that has an excellent nose and an athletic body. It is slightly longer than it is tall. It has a fitting skin and sleek short coat. The head is noble, but not as massive as the Bloodhound’s. The ears hang flat, light and not too long. The nose is black and the eyes are a dark brown. The eye rims should be tight, with no haw. The teeth form a scissors bite.

Dynamics: The Hellenikos Ichnilatis is an intelligent and brave breed. It is a powerful and passionate hunter. It is relentless in chasing its prey, possessing a huge amount of stamina and cunning. It is also a very useful farm dog, guarding the grounds and alerting the owners for any suspicious people or activity with their loud bark.

But while it is swift and deadly in the hunt, it has an affectionate and friendly temperament with its owner and family. It is extremely playful, wagging its tail in an eagerness to please. It is good-natured, but it can be willful and stubborn. It has a strong temperament and can be independent. Proper training and discipline is needed, with patience and consistency, to avoid behavioral problems.

Breed Group: Hound

Weight: 38-44 pounds (17-20 kg)

Height: 18-22 inches (45-55 cm)

Color: The coat of the Hellenikos Ichnilatis comes in black with tan markings. Sometimes there is a small white spot on the chest.

Country of Origin: The Hellenikos Ichnilatis is an indigenous dog breed to Greece. It is descended from ancient Greek scenthounds and has remained pure throughout the centuries. It is the first Greek breed recognized by the FCI (in 1996).

Activities: The Hellenikos Ichnilatis needs a certain amount of freedom and a lot of exercise. The breed is used in hunting and is also very useful as a farm dog and family companion.

Grooming: The short sleek coat of the Hellenikos Ichnilatis is easy to care for and groom. Brushing with a bristle brush is enough. Bathe in mild soap and dry shampoo only occasionally. Nails should be trimmed. Feet and mouth should be inspected after work or exercises.

Other Info: The Hellenikos Ichnilatis has a life expectancy of 11 years. It is a very healthy breed, with an excellent health record. The Hellenikos Ichnilatis is not fit for an apartment life as it loves open spaces and has a lot of energy to exhaust.

Photo by Trisha Shears

AKA: King Charles Spaniel
Description: The English Toy Spaniel is a perfect toy dog, small with regular length hair, and has firm built. They have short, black nose like that of a pug. Their head is shaped like a dome . Its head is well rounded in shape, as well as their dark eyes expressing their affection to their owner. They have rounded long hairy ears set low near their head. Their muzzle is short, have square and wide jaw, bite is moderately undershot not showing its teeth. Tail is docked and carried just level on its back. Coat is soft, shiny and plumy all over their body, that come in various colors.

Temperament: This breed has a very sweet temperament. They are a loving pet dog, intelligent and very sweet. They are a very quite companion kind of dog and a medium barker therefore not suitable to be a guard or watch dog since they are very friendly and polite towards strangers. They don’t need much socialization training since they are considered everybody’s pet dog. Playful, affectionate and loves to be with everybody but sometimes has bad attitudes too. They are loyal to their owner too. And would choose to be with them always. They love children and other dogs as well. In some unforeseen ways, you’d just be surprise that they could show off and entertain people.

Activity: They are required to have daily walk to lead them away to behavioral problems and increase their energy and be healthy. Also, they would enjoy playing and frolic around in a wide but safe area.

Health: They are prone to respiratory ailments, heart disease , slipped stifle, eye problems and ear infections. Ears and eyes should be kept clean always to avoid infection. Their life span is about 10-12 years.

Grooming: They only require less grooming as long as they should be brushed well to prevent mats and tangles especially on their ears,eyes and feet. This breed is not a heavy shedder.

Breed Group: Gun Dog
Color: Blenheim are red and white, The Prince Charles are tricolor, The King Charles is black and tan.
Height: About 10 inches (25cm.)
Weight: 9-12 pounds (4.1-5.4kg.)
Country Of Origin: England

Dynamics: This breed has sweet temperament although they could also be stubborn at times. They are a pet dog that children would love to play. They are named after King Charles the II in England who also has little sweet dogs.

AKA: Ilio, Poi Dog

Description: The Hawaiian Poi Dog is extinct. It had a short coat covering its low and barrel-shaped body. The head was flat due to lack of chewing, as it was on a vegetarian diet. The Hawaiian Poi Dog was raised basically to become a delicacy of a Polynesian tribe in Hawaii.

Dynamics: The Hawaiian Poi dog is described as clumsy, playful, and had a friendly temperament. It was fat and lazy, fattened up to be eaten. It was like a hog more than it was a dog. It was sluggish, and it was evidently not very smart.

Breed Group: Southern

Weight: The Hawaiian Poi Dog was overweight as they were fattened up.

Height: approximately 14 inches (36 cm)

Color: The Hawaiian Poi Dog came in various colors.

Country of Origin: The Hawaiian Poi Dog came to Hawaii with the Polynesians more than a thousand years ago. In the 19th century other breeds mixed with the Hawaiian Poi Dog until the breed was no longer pure. The Honolulu Zoo attempted to bring back the breed but failed. The Hawaiian Poi Dog is now indeed extinct.

Activities: The Hawaiian Poi Dog acted more like a hog than a dog. It was fat and lazy and slow.

Other Info: The Hawaiian Poi Dog’s life expectancy could not be determined because it was eaten before it would die of a natural death. It was fed with a vegetarian poi diet that made it inactive, slow, and obese. Due to the lack of chewing in the diet, the head of the Hawaiian Poi Dog became flat and enlarged.

The Hawaiian Poi dog was actually also used as guard dogs for the tribe’s children. It would even sleep with the children to protect them. A puppy would sometimes be given to a child at birth as a gift. If the child would die, the dog the was killed and buried alongside the child. If the dog died first, its teeth were pulled and made into a necklace to be worn by the child.