As a rule, a Hovawart needs to be exercised twice a day for several hours. This should ideally be done in the forest or where he can run without a leash. The Hovawart needs to be exercised physically and mentally enough. Sports activities such as cycling and jogging are a must for a Hovawart.
Your pet needs daily exercise. In addition, your dog can romp around in the garden or you can go to a fenced exercise area.
Your dog needs to go outside at least 2 times a day.
Beyond that, you can decide according to your dog whether you go more often and how long your rounds will be.
Walking – When does the dog need to go out?
The question of how often a dog should go out depends crucially on its individual needs. Some dog breeds need a lot of exercise due to their special urge to move, while others are content with smaller rounds.
When a dog needs to go outside is also very individual. Decisive factors include cleanliness and walk training.
As a rule of thumb, however, dogs can last five to six hours before the next business is due.
This also tells you how often a dog should go out every day. You should plan at least four to five walks per day.
Ideally, you should schedule your dog’s walks so that he does not have to go out at night. In this context, it is important that the most urgent walk is in the morning. The walk after getting up must be integrated into the daily schedule.
As a rule, a routine rhythm is established after a certain time, so that the morning round takes place at 6:00 a.m. every day, for example.
Dogs make themselves known when they have to go out
Normally, every dog makes itself known as soon as it has to go out. However, this only applies to dogs that have already completed their cleanliness training. It is not yet to be expected from puppies. As soon as the intervals between rounds become too long, dogs start whining, possibly barking, are restless and otherwise draw attention to themselves.
Some dogs may scratch at the door, others may put the leash at their master’s feet. Pay attention to how your dog makes itself known and don’t let it get that far in the first place.
Your dog will be in better health if you react before your dog even contacts you.
If you are going to be away for a long time and your dog has to wait for you at home, find out here how long your dog can be left alone.
Whether young or old – all dogs need to go out.
Puppies and seniors need more exercise
A puppy stays with the breeder until at least 8 weeks. At least with a good breeder. After that, you can take your dog with you.
Once you have arrived at your new home, the first few weeks are especially important. During this time, you must pay special attention to the walks. Everything needs to be explored, from traffic to the forest.
Experience shows that puppies need more walks than adult dogs. Until they are truly house-trained, it is recommended that you take your fur friend out at least every two hours.
This way puppies learn that they have to do their business outdoors and not indoors.
The amount of time between each round can be extended individually over time. In addition to puppies, seniors also need to go outside more often.
Your dog is getting old and counts as a senior dog if your dog is over 12 years old.
With age, dogs get difficulties to control their urge for a longer period of time. It’s a good idea to cater to your dog’s individual needs.
You could take your dog out more often, but for shorter periods.
If the dog doesn’t go outside – What can happen?
If your dog doesn’t get out enough, it will sooner or later do its business indoors.
However, what is much more decisive and to the dog’s disadvantage – lack of exercise leads to considerable limitations. Dogs that do not get out or only get out too rarely are often overweight, which has an impact on their health.
Moreover, in such cases dogs tend to behave destructively, for example by destroying things or starting to go berserk.
It can happen, among other things, that shoes or furniture are chewed up. Furthermore, the lack of exercise leads to aggression towards people and other animals in the long run.
Some dogs start to withdraw because they are not stimulated enough physically and mentally. In this case, the behaviour resembles a typical depression.
Other dogs, on the other hand, become hyperactive. Finally, the muscles of the affected dog can stiffen, which leads to considerable pain. Further illnesses of the four-legged friend are also possible due to lack of exercise and too few walks.
For example, bladder or kidney diseases can occur due to continuous stopping.
To prevent this from happening to your four-legged friend, make sure he gets enough exercise!
If you don’t have enough time, you can look for someone who will walk your dog for a small fee.
Typical breed characteristics of the Hovawart
- Character: eager to learn, intelligent, relaxed,
- Size: male 63 – 70 cm; female 58 – 65 cm
- Weight: 25 to 45 kilograms
- Colours: blond, black, dun markings
- Life expectancy: 12-14 years
The Hovawart is a very popular dog breed, also because it can be used very flexibly. As a mountain rescue dog or as a simple farm dog he is always ready for action due to his good nose and his strong will.
With a height of up to 70 cm and a weight of 45 kilograms, the Hovawart is a respected guard dog that comes without any aggression.
Its life expectancy is about 14 years.
Already in the Middle Ages, the Hovawart was used to guard farms.
Due to his lovable character and high intelligence, he is also often used as a therapy dog. In addition, his people-oriented nature makes him especially popular with children.
Typical diseases of this breed include hip joint problems, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) and liver shunt.
The Hovawart makes some demands on his new home.
Training and care
Like any other dog, the Hovawart needs a good upbringing in infancy. Without learned discipline there could be big problems with this dog later on, as they are very intelligent and can become dominant quite quickly.
For an optimal upbringing, a dog school can also be very beneficial.
It is important that Hovawarts have a calm and familiar environment to grow up in.
The Hovawart is one of those dog breeds that is very easy to care for. However, daily brushing and regular checking of ears and teeth should be done.
The Hovawart’s coat does not mat so quickly, as it has very little undercoat.
Especially during the coat change in spring and late autumn, you can help your dog by brushing several times to remove the loose hairs from the coat.
If you want to know which dog breeds shed the least and are very easy to groom, read our informative article: Which dog breeds don’t shed?
Who is the Hovawart suitable for?
The Hovawart is a true family dog and possesses the best qualities such as friendliness, loyalty and good nature that characterise such a dog.
Likewise, the Hovawart can be optimally used as a guard dog for one’s own home or for the yard. With its distinct personality and high intelligence as well as independence, it immediately confronts any intruder.
It also fits that the Hovawart is initially suspicious of strangers and needs a while to warm up to someone.
But the Hovawart is also ideally suited as a sporting dog, for example for jogging or cycling.
When is the best time to go jogging with your dog, we tell you in our article: When to go jogging with your dog.
The Hovawart needs a disciplined environment and is not necessarily suitable as a beginner’s dog.
Because of his affection and sensitive side, the Hovawart needs a loving family around him that gives him enough exercise and activity.
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