Hovawart vs Blue Lacy - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Hovawart vs Blue Lacy - Breed ComparisonBlue Lacy is originated from United States but Hovawart is originated from Germany. Blue Lacy may grow 17 cm / 6 inches shorter than Hovawart. Blue Lacy may weigh 28 kg / 61 pounds lesser than Hovawart. Both Blue Lacy and Hovawart has almost same life span. Blue Lacy may have less litter size than Hovawart. Both Blue Lacy and Hovawart requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Working dog
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United States
Germany
Height Male:
46 - 53 cm
18 - 21 inches
58 - 70 cm
22 - 28 inches
Height Female:
46 - 53 cm
18 - 21 inches
51 - 68 cm
20 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
16 - 23 kg
35 - 51 pounds
25 - 51 kg
55 - 113 pounds
Weight Female:
14 - 23 kg
30 - 51 pounds
22 - 49 kg
48 - 109 pounds
Life Span:
14 - 16 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
6 - 8
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Lacy Dog, Lacy Game Dog, Texas Blue Lacy
Hovie
Colors Available:
Grey, blue, black, cream, tri-coloured
gold and black, gold, blonde
Coat:
short and smooth
long dense
Shedding:
Minimal, Constant
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

History

blue lacyThe Lacy brothers came to Texas in 1858, and this breed is named after them. They wanted a strong, robust working dog. It is a working/herding dog breed that originated in Texas in the mid 19th century.

It is interesting to note that in June 2005, Governor Rick Perry brought about legislation adopting the Blue Lacy as the official Dog Breed of Texas. The breed is also registered by the National Lacy Dog Registry and the Animal Research Foundation.

Today the Blue Lacy is considered to be the perfect all-around dog, with the Lacy family history noting the breed to come from a mix of scent-hound, greyhound and coyote cross. There are theories around the scent hound used, with some believing it could have been an Italian Gray Hound, but whatever the case, the Lacy brothers established this breed under the guidelines required to develop a recognized breed.

hovawartThe 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.

Description

Lithe, Sleek and Agile to Look At

blue lacy puppy - descriptionThe medium-sized, well proportioned, muscular and lithe Blue Lacy stands at roughly 46–53cm. He has a coat which is smooth and short and in an attractive gun-metal gray color which can be classified as blue or almost black. Other shades are also available such as cream, yellow, reddish and you also get tri-colored Lacy’s.

Pure Blue Lacy’s have some white markings on their brisket. Whatever color you have, these clean-looking dogs with their low maintenance coats are referred to as Blue Lacy’s. Their brown eyes are bright and alert, they have long tails and their ears hang down.

A Wonderful All-Round Dog

The American Blue Lacy gives one the sense of speed, agility and endurance. He is intelligent, active and alert, being an all-round dog who can adapt to being among ranchers and cowboys and then become gentle with children and his family.

With socialization, he is also tolerant of other dogs. Because he is so intelligent he can be quickly trained, and training and socialization will be recommended for him to ensure he is the perfect all-rounder he was designed to be. His alertness makes him an excellent watch dog.

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

blue lacy dog - characteristicsYour Blue Lacy is such a low-maintenance, easy dog to have. Remember to have your puppy vaccinated from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. These vaccinations start from 6 - 8 weeks of age. Also, because different areas have different regulations surrounding the rabies injection, check with your vet about this one.

A socialized, trained Blue Lacy makes such an awesome pet but you have responsibilities towards him. You need to know precisely what is required to keep him healthy and happy.

This is a versatile working dog who is intelligent and alert but also sensitive to being mistreated. Treat him decently and in exchange you’ll have a loyal, devoted canine family member.

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

blue lacy puppies - health problemsThe Blue Lacy is generally a healthy breed, but just like with any other dog breed they will be prone to some health conditions. Blue Lacys can also suffer with the likes of hip or elbow dysplasia and hypothyroidism.

Hip Dysplasia

This is a disease of the hip where the ball and socket joint is malformed. Hip dysplasia is when the hip joints don’t develop normally. It needs to be watched as it can result in loss of function of the hip joints. The disease can often begin when the dog is still very young.

Hypothyroidism

Some breeds are genetically predisposed towards hypothyroidism, but environmental factors and certain medications can trigger autoimmune reactions. Not only that, a tight collar can also cause thyroid damage. The symptoms of hypothyroidism are weight gain, skin problems, dislike of the cold and even hair loss and then it’s time to get your pet thyroid-tested.

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

Exercise

blue lacy dogs - caringTypically of working breeds, the Blue Lacy is going to need a firm owner who provides guidance and leadership, and who is responsible with providing the Lacy with plenty of exercise. This dog was created for work, so they will be totally at home on a farm. If not, they will require long walks every day with lots of ball games too.

Grooming

Care for the Blue Lacy doesn’t take much effort. He isn’t much of a shedder and therefore has low grooming requirements. He’ll require being brushed twice a week to get rid of loose hairs. If you start early with this grooming routine, he looks forward to this ‘bonding’ session.

Routine maintenance will require nail clipping and teeth cleaning as plaque can build up and leave your pet with dental problems and gum disease. Ask your veterinarian about dental care because there are special dog-designed toothpastes and brushes. Also check for ticks and fleas in and around the ears of your dog.

Food

Your Blue Lacy is a high energy working dog so he will require a balanced diet to cater for his energy levels. He will certainly require some raw meat from time to time to avoid skin problems. Home prepared meals are also good and these can include rice, meat and vegetables.

Remember when in any kind of doubt, speak to your vet about dog food which meets the requirements of your dog, his age, his breed and his activity levels. Always have a bowl of clean, cool water available to him around the clock.

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. Blue Lacy vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  8. Blue Lacy vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Blue Lacy vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Blue Lacy vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Blue Lacy vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
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  13. Blue Lacy vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
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  23. Blue Lacy vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
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  26. Hovawart vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Hovawart vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Hovawart vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Hovawart vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Hovawart vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Hovawart vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Hovawart vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Hovawart vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Hovawart vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Hovawart vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Hovawart vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Hovawart vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Hovawart vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Hovawart vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Hovawart vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Hovawart vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Hovawart vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Hovawart vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Hovawart vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Hovawart vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Hovawart vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Hovawart vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Hovawart vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Hovawart vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Hovawart vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison