Moscow Guard dog vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Moscow Guard dog is originated from Russia but Hovawart is originated from Germany. Both Moscow Guard dog and Hovawart are having almost same height. Moscow Guard dog may weigh 17 kg / 38 pounds more than Hovawart. Moscow Guard dog may live 3 years less than Hovawart. Both Moscow Guard dog and Hovawart has almost same litter size. Moscow Guard dog requires Moderate maintenance. But Hovawart requires Low maintenance

History

Looking much like the Saint Bernard, the Moscow Guard Dog or Moscow Watchdog is large, descending from quite a few giant breeds such as the Saint Bernard, different Russian Hounds and the Caucasian Ovtcharka.

The dog has a gentle temperament. Known also as a gentle giant, the Moscow Guard Dog was developed in the Soviet Union and is fairly common in its native country.

The first US-born litter of Moscow Guard Dogs was born in 2015. The Moscow Watchdog hasn’t yet been recognized by the AKC.

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.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
Origin:
Russia
Germany
Height Male:
64 - 68 cm
25 - 27 inches
58 - 70 cm
22 - 28 inches
Height Female:
64 - 68 cm
25 - 27 inches
51 - 68 cm
20 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
45 - 68 kg
99 - 150 pounds
25 - 51 kg
55 - 113 pounds
Weight Female:
45 - 68 kg
99 - 150 pounds
22 - 49 kg
48 - 109 pounds
Life Span:
9 - 11 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 10
6 - 8
Size:
Large dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Moscow Watchdog
Hovie
Colors Available:
Red and white - bit of black and tan
gold and black, gold, blonde
Coat:
Thick coats of medium length
long dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Description

The Moscow Watchdog is a large mastiff-type dog. He stands at between 64 and 69cm in height ad weighs in the region of 45 – 68kg. He has a thick coat which is medium length, he has floppy ears and a long, plumed tail. The most common colors for the Moscow Watchdog are red and white with a little bit of black and tan around the head.

He is quite a heavy shedder so regular brushing and grooming is recommended.

He takes his role seriously as guardian and protector of his human family.

Large dogs don’t usually live as long as smaller breeds, and with good care your Moscow Watchdog can reach between 9 and 11 years of age. If you want your dog to be a parent, the litter size you can expect is anything from 5 to 10 puppies.

Temperament:

The dogs were used for guarding purposes and they are strong-willed, dominant and independent. They are also gentle dogs but will still require training and socialization to make them obedient and an all-round pleasant dog.

While the Moscow Watchdog is described as a pleasant dog, he isn’t a friendly teddy-bear kind of dog, tending to be fairly aloof. He would do well with an owner who is firm, fair, consistent and strong, as he is strong-willed.

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.

Characteristics

The Moscow Watchdog is a large dog and beautiful to look at. Even though he is large and strong, he is gentle and calm and makes a splendid pet.

Because of his large size he is better suited to life in the countryside or the suburbs as compared to smaller properties in the city. Their exercise needs will also need to be met such as a walk every day.

Think carefully before you take such a large dog into your home as he will require a lot of good food. Before investing in any dog, make sure that you have the means to provide him with an excellent home where he gets the best care, because he is willing to give you the very best of himself.

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.

Health Problems

The Moscow Watchdog is a healthy dog breed, and with few inheritable health problems, you’re not likely to spend much at the vet with him.

Of course, any dog needs a good diet, adequate exercise, vaccinations, and parasite treatments to stay in top condition. Some of the common diseases to look out for -

Hip Dysplasia:

We always have to mention hip dysplasia as it is so common with all dogs. Its an hereditary condition where lack of hip joint stability causes pain inflammation and lameness in the dog. Your dog, even though he is young, can develop hip dysplasia and then it can lead to early arthritis too. Your dog will need to get to the vet.

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

Caring The Pet

Diet:

This is a large breed dog so you want to make sure that if you feed him from the many commercially manufactured foods there are, it is the high quality one packed with vitamins and minerals and which cater specifically for large breeds to ensure the right amount of minerals and vitamins for his size.

You don’t want to just go on and on giving him dry kibble every day, so occasionally it will be a good idea to give him some boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables which can be added into his kibble. This is all the variety your dog needs, as dogs like consistency and simplicity because then they don’t suffer with digestive issues.

Never leave him without a constant source of cool, fresh water.

Exercise:

Contrary to what this dog looks like – large and clumsy, he is actually quite agile and will require a good amount of exercise. He may not look particularly active but he will certainly want a daily walk and he will also require running off the leash in the park or some ball and rope games in the garden.

Grooming:

he Moscow Watchdog has a thick, medium length coat. He doesn’t require professional grooming, but a good brush through once a week will help to condition the coat. Also, the breed is a moderate shedder so removing loose hair keeps the coat shiny and healthy.

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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Samoyed vs Moscow Guard dog - Breed Comparison
  2. Presa Canario vs Moscow Guard dog - Breed Comparison
  3. Pyredoodle vs Moscow Guard dog - Breed Comparison
  4. Sarplaninac vs Moscow Guard dog - Breed Comparison
  5. Mountain View Cur vs Moscow Guard dog - Breed Comparison
  6. Native American Indian Dog vs Moscow Guard dog - Breed Comparison
  7. Polish Tatra Sheepdog vs Moscow Guard dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Moscow Guard dog - Breed Comparison
  9. Mucuchies vs Moscow Guard dog - Breed Comparison
  10. Shepherd Husky vs Moscow Guard dog - Breed Comparison
  11. Slovak Cuvac vs Moscow Guard dog - Breed Comparison
  12. Southern Hound vs Moscow Guard dog - Breed Comparison
  13. Taigan vs Moscow Guard dog - Breed Comparison
  14. St. John's Water Dog vs Moscow Guard dog - Breed Comparison
  15. Tornjak vs Moscow Guard dog - Breed Comparison
  16. Tibetan Kyi Apso vs Moscow Guard dog - Breed Comparison
  17. Tibetan Mastiff vs Moscow Guard dog - Breed Comparison
  18. Moscow Guard dog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  19. Moscow Guard dog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  20. Moscow Guard dog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  21. Moscow Guard dog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  22. Moscow Guard dog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  23. Moscow Guard dog vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  24. Moscow Guard dog vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  25. Moscow Guard dog vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  26. Samoyed vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  27. Presa Canario vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  28. Pyredoodle vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  29. Maremma Sheepdog vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  30. Sarplaninac vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  31. Mountain View Cur vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  32. Native American Indian Dog vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  33. Polish Tatra Sheepdog vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  34. Rafeiro do Alentejo vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  35. Mucuchies vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  36. Shepherd Husky vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  37. Slovak Cuvac vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  38. Southern Hound vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  39. Taigan vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  40. St. John's Water Dog vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  41. Tornjak vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  42. Tibetan Kyi Apso vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  43. Tibetan Mastiff vs Hovawart - Breed Comparison
  44. Hovawart vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  45. Hovawart vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  46. Hovawart vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  47. Hovawart vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Hovawart vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  49. Hovawart vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  50. Hovawart vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds