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The origins of the breed Little was known about the Hovawart until the Early Middle Ages when the breed was often referred to as a guard dog of property and farms. They were held in high regard. At the time there were no breeders as we know them today. The "Hovewart" was a farm dog that guarded isolated small holdings. It probably had specific physical and behavioral qualities but there was no known breed standard. "Der Sachsenspiegel" (1274), the oldest and most important German law book of the Middle Ages, makes reference to a dog that leads one to believe that the Hovawart was already serving man at that time. He was used to guard property, protect herds but also to fight large game. 
Selective breeding using only the strongest and healthiest dogs helped create a domestic animal very different from his ancestor, the heavy Nordic wolf. The tail was no longer carried low but high signifying a happy, freer dog. The ears were no longer pointed but floppy. All shades of grey were excluded in order to distinguish the dog from the wolf in battle.
It is said that the son of the tenant of the German castle "Ordensrittenburg" was saved by a Hovawart who dragged the child to a neighbouring castle despite his own wounds. No wonder that this child, Eike von Ripkow, spoke so highly of this breed when he wrote Germany's oldest law book, "Der Sachsenspiegel"! At the time dogs had to be of use to man. It is, therefore, not surprising that the Hovawart was held in high regard and protected by law. In a law book, "Der Schwabenspiegel" (1380) based on "Der Sachsenspiegel", not only is the Hovawart mentioned but a fine was incurred if the dog was stolen or destroyed: "For the theft of a single dog - a replacement of equal value or 3 shillings." . In 1473, the Hovawart was included in a list of the 5 noblest breeds. He was described as the ideal sleuth hound when chasing criminals. After the Middle Ages the Hovawart gradually disappeared, replaced by newer breeds.
It is probably a "Hofwart" that Durer depicts in his engraving "The Cavalier, Death and the Devil" (1513).
By the beginning of the twentieth century the Hovawart was practically non-existent as a breed. With a group of dog lovers the famous cynologue, K.F. Konig, decided to try to save the breed of this farm dog that was "a plain, strong and loyal dog" that did not poach and would guard property fearlessly. The characteristics that were sought were:
It is unlikely that this "Hofwart" had the long, silky coat of the present Hovawart, as no ancient farmer would have taken the trouble to comb or brush his dog regularly. K.F. Konig began his Hovawart breeding programme with farm dogs in the Harz, dogs that looked like the ancient breed - middle sized with drooping ears and a long coat. These dogs were present in all those parts of the world where they had freedom of movement and were able to interbreed. The programme crossed foundlings with dogs from definite breeds: the Hungarian Kuvasz, the Newfoundland, the German Shepherd, the Leonberger, the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Hunting Dog. In 1922 the first Hovawart puppy was officially registered in Germany. But K.F. Konig was looking for more than just another dog living up to a breed standard, more than just another breed competing in dog shows. The Hovawart's usefulness in police work and in the army allowed him to be recognized as a "working" dog. The ancient "Hovewart" had been known to execute different tasks extremely well and to have never been used for hunting. So why not create a "new" Hovawart, useful to man? In 1927 the first Hovawart entered the police force. The bitch, Zanzi, had all the characteristics of a working dog. In 1937 the German Kennel Club recognized the Hovawart as a breed. The Hovawart was nearly destroyed during World War II when he was used in the war effort to carry loads. By 1945 only a handful of dogs were still alive. In 1947 Otto Schramm and other enthusiasts created the Hovawart Breeding Association. By 1964 the FCI classed the Hovawart as a working dog and admitted it as the 7th breed in the German Working Dog class. Breeding programmes began all over Europe and the rest of the world. The International Hovawart Federation (IHF) was founded in 1984. Today it represents about 13 countries and its aim is to promote the breeding of the Hovawart, its conservation and improving the quality of the breed. Member countries include France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and the USA. (Not all countries where the Hovawart is bred are members of the IHF.) The first Hovawarts came to France in 1980. The French Hovawart Club was founded in 1988.
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