Hovawart vs Dunker - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Hovawart vs Dunker - Breed ComparisonHovawart is originated from Germany but Dunker is originated from Norway. Hovawart may grow 15 cm / 6 inches higher than Dunker. Hovawart may weigh 33 kg / 73 pounds more than Dunker. Both Hovawart and Dunker has almost same life span. Both Hovawart and Dunker has almost same litter size. Both Hovawart and Dunker requires Low maintenance.

History

hovawart - historyThe Hovawart, is a German Black Forest breed developed as a guard dog for large estates in the medieval era. They first appeared in history in the early 13th century as heroes who saved the German son of a castle lord, despite being injured themselves. The boy they saved grew up to be a German legend. He wrote the oldest German code of law that remained from medieval times. In it he names the Hovawarts as a dog that if you are responsible for hurting, stealing or killing it, you must pay for it or replace it. No other dog had this protection.

In the late fifteenth century Hovawarts were featured in Heinrich Mynsinger’s “The Five Noble Breeds”. This guard dog breed was esteemed on a level with the hunting dogs – their health a question of life or death for their owner. In the 1500’s the popularity of the breed began to fade. The GSD or German Shepard Dog began to replace the Hovawarts as the preferred guard dog.

By the early 20th century the breed had almost disappeared but were saved by breed enthusiasts in the early 1900’s. Zoologist Kurt Konig was prominent in this effort and went looking in the Black Forest area for dogs working on farms. Using the dogs, he found on these farms, Konig began a breeding program crossing the them with Newfoundland’s, Kuvazoks, Leonbergers, GSD, an African hunting dogs and Bernese Mountain Dogs.

By 1922 the first litter of these pups was entered officially into the German Breeding Registry. In 1937 the Hovawart was recognized by the German Kennel Club. However, many members of the breed died in World War II as they were used widely by the military and not many were left by 1945. Once again breed enthusiasts came to the rescue forming a Coburg Hovawart club. This club still exists and in 1964, for the second time, the breed was recognized by the German Kennel Club. Other countries also began to take notice of this working breed.

The Hovawart has many skills in addition hunting and guarding. The Hovawart does not work for people, he works with them as he is a very independent thinker. He is also good at search and rescue and tracking. An owner of this breed must be stronger, smarter, more alert, intentional and consistent than his Hovawart. These are not dogs for the faint of heart or first-timers.

dunker - historyKnown as the Norwegian Hound, the Dunker hails from Norway. Bred and named after breeder Wilhelm Dunker to be a robust scenthound, Norwegian Scenthounds were crossed with a Russian Harlequin Hound because this particular dog was an excellent scent trailer and it could stand up to the freezing conditions of Norway.

The Dunker become popular in the mid-19th century in other Scandinavian countries. Hunters liked its intelligence, its robustness and its speed and strength. In 1902 a club was founded for the breed and in the same year the Norwegian Kennel Club recognized the Dunker.

The Dunker started dying out after the war, and in the late 1980s breeders of the Dunker petitioned to allow them to cross the remaining Dunkers with scenthounds. Today the dog is known in Norway but is uncommon outside Scandinavia.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Hound dog
Origin:
Germany
Norway
Height Male:
58 - 70 cm
22 - 28 inches
50 - 55 cm
19 - 22 inches
Height Female:
51 - 68 cm
20 - 27 inches
47 - 52 cm
18 - 21 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 51 kg
55 - 113 pounds
11 - 18 kg
24 - 40 pounds
Weight Female:
22 - 49 kg
48 - 109 pounds
9 - 18 kg
19 - 40 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 8
2 - 10
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Hovie
Norwegian Hound
Colors Available:
gold and black, gold, blonde
Blue or black dappled
Coat:
long dense
Straight and dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

Description

hovawart puppy - descriptionThe Hovawart is a proud and majestic dog and his looks match his character. He looks a bit like the Golden Retriever with a powerful and broad forehead. His skull and muzzle are the same length and his nose is black. His oval eyes are a medium to dark brown and his ears are high set and triangular.

Their chests are strong, broad and deep. The breed has strong legs straight in front with round, strong and compact feet. They are heavy boned with dense, long coats that lie flat and have a slight wave to them. The coat can be black and gold, blond or black.

dunker puppy - descriptionThe Dunker is a medium sized dog which stands at between 50-55cms with females being slightly smaller at 47-52cms. They usually weigh between 11-18kg and look similar to other scenthounds, being muscular and athletic.

The ears of the Dunker are floppy, the tail is long and carried straight with a bit of a curve, the nose is large and black as well as the eyes, but some dogs have light eyes which can even be blue.

The coat of the Dunker is straight and dense and this coat of his is well known for the unique color of the coat – blue or black dappled, while some dogs will have black, tan and white markings. White faces are preferred but you will find dogs with black masks.

Temperatment:

This is a non-aggressive dog and can become quite friendly when trained and socialized.

They are dogs that form strong bonds with their owners, being particularly good around children. They get on well with dogs and other pets in the home.

They’re intelligent dogs and are are easy to train. In fact, training and socialization is recommended for this dog as he does tend to be a bit stubborn.

Training ensures he is relaxed and obedient. He is an active dog and will certainly require some exercise each day. He’ll respond willingly if you call him to join you in your jogging- or cycling outings.

Characteristics

1.Children friendliness yes, they are good with children.

Special talents

hovawart dog - characteristicsThey have a great sense of smell and a well-balanced personality.

Adaptability

They are not indoor dogs and should have a yard to run in. They do not tolerate hot weather well. They do great out in the country.

Learning ability

They are intelligent independent thinkers. They lengths well with positive reinforcement.

dunker dog - characteristicsThe Dunker is such a good tempered dog and he will be happy to settle in the city or the countryside with his owner.

When you look at his history, he is a hunting dog, used for hunting rabbits. Being an active breed, he is better suited to living in a home where there is at least a fair sized garden.

He isn’t a high maintenance dog either, so no special attention to grooming is required. Being a fairly healthy breed, he isn’t likely to develop any serious health issues too. This low-maintenance, undemanding Norwegian Hound makes a splendid pet.

Health Problems

hovawart puppies - health problemsThough their isolation protected them from genetic health issues for centuries, once they were being rejuvenated and mixed with other breeds some common issues began to show up. These include:

  • Underactive thyroid
  • Hip Dysplasia – can cause arthritis or lameness
  • Osteochondritis – causes joint pain in shoulders mostly
  • Liver Shunts

dunker puppies - health problemsThe Dunker dog can live to reach a ripe age of 12 to 15 years. There are some health issues he may face -

Partial or Complete Loss of Hearing:

Partial or complete hearing loss can come about because of dirt or wax build-up in the ear canals. It can be because of an untreated ear infection, an injury or even old age.

Your veterinarian can examine your dog’s ear canal. Certain dog breeds such as the Dunker and others are more predisposed to deafness and you’ll find your dog responding slowly to your voice or he may be totally startled when woken.

Your vet will determine the type of treatment for your dog if an ear infection for instance is suspected. Treatment in this case may involve cleaning wax out of the ears or getting rid of overgrown ear hair.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is an inherited condition with your dog where bone rubs against other bone. Your Dunker dog will be in pain and his movement could be limited and he may even become lame. Get your pet to the vet because there are a number of treatment options.

Eye Problems:

Take a look at your pet’s eyes so that you’re aware of cloudiness, inflammation, discharge, a change in eye color or red eyelid lining. Take him to the vet if you suspect something serious, but in the meantime you can also gently wipe over your pet’s eyes to remove any discharge.

If you do need to bath your pet, make sure to protect his eyes before applying any lotion.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

hovawart dogs - caringFeed breed specific high quality dry food for puppies. Feed 1-2 cups in 3-4 meals per day

Feeding the adult

Again Feed breed specific high quality dry food for adults. Feed 2-3 cups per day in 1-2 meals per day.

Points for Good Health

Points for Good Health – Stamina

Games and Exercises

The Hovawart needs plenty of exercise. Remember this is a mountain farm dog used to working all the time. Walk or jog with them daily. They can excel at field trials, obedience, search and rescue, agility, flyball, therapy dog, and service dog.

Exercise:

dunker dogs - caringThe Dunker is a dog with stamina and energy and he will need a walk every day as well as some other forms of vigorous exercise. The idea is to involve a dog like this in all your activities, whether you go running, swimming or cycling.

Grooming:

The Dunker isn’t going to require you to spend a lot of money on maintenance for him. A good brush-down twice a week will be adequate as he is a fairly heavy shedder and brushing him will get rid of all those loose hairs. It is also time to check him over for fleas and ticks too.

Other grooming aspects to check will include nail trimming, checking the inside of the dog’s ears for excess wax build-up and dirt.

Dental care is of major concern because teeth left unattended can result in mouth bacteria. This bacteria enters the blood stream and results in systemic infection. Sometimes the bad teeth can be so painful that a dog no longer wants to eat.

It is imperative to brush your pet’s teeth at least 2 or 3 times a week with a special dog toothbrush and toothpaste.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Samoyed vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  2. Presa Canario vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  3. Pyredoodle vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  4. Maremma Sheepdog vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  5. Sarplaninac vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  6. Mountain View Cur vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  7. Native American Indian Dog vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  8. Polish Tatra Sheepdog vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  9. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  10. Mucuchies vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  11. Shepherd Husky vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  12. Slovak Cuvac vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  13. Southern Hound vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  14. Taigan vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  15. St. John's Water Dog vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  16. Tornjak vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  17. Tibetan Kyi Apso vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  18. Tibetan Mastiff vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  19. Hovawart vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  20. Hovawart vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  21. Hovawart vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  22. Hovawart vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Hovawart vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  24. Hovawart vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  25. Hovawart vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  26. Pharaoh Hound vs Dunker - Breed Comparison
  27. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Dunker - Breed Comparison
  28. Hungarian Vizsla vs Dunker - Breed Comparison
  29. Redbone Coonhound vs Dunker - Breed Comparison
  30. Norwegian Elkhound vs Dunker - Breed Comparison
  31. Santal Hound vs Dunker - Breed Comparison
  32. Podenco Canario vs Dunker - Breed Comparison
  33. Dunker vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  34. Dunker vs Basenji - Breed Comparison
  35. Dunker vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  36. Dunker vs Bluetick Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  37. Dunker vs Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  38. Dunker vs Bavarian Mountain Hound - Breed Comparison
  39. Dunker vs Basset Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  40. Dunker vs Beagle-Harrier - Breed Comparison
  41. Dunker vs English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  42. Dunker vs Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie - Breed Comparison
  43. Dunker vs Alpine Dachsbracke - Breed Comparison
  44. Dunker vs Basset Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  45. Dunker vs Chippiparai - Breed Comparison
  46. Dunker vs English Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  47. Dunker vs Beago - Breed Comparison
  48. Dunker vs Chinese Chongqing Dog - Breed Comparison
  49. Dunker vs Combai - Breed Comparison
  50. Dunker vs Cretan Hound - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds