Hovawart vs Dogo Cubano - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Dogo Cubano is originated from Cuba but Hovawart is originated from Germany. Dogo Cubano may grow 15 cm / 5 inches shorter than Hovawart. Both Dogo Cubano and Hovawart are having almost same weight. Dogo Cubano may live 4 years less than Hovawart. Both Dogo Cubano and Hovawart has same litter size. Both Dogo Cubano and Hovawart requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
undefined
Cuba
Germany
Height Male:
48 - 55 cm
18 - 22 inches
58 - 70 cm
22 - 28 inches
Height Female:
48 - 55 cm
18 - 22 inches
51 - 68 cm
20 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
42 - 46 kg
92 - 102 pounds
25 - 51 kg
55 - 113 pounds
Weight Female:
42 - 46 kg
92 - 102 pounds
22 - 49 kg
48 - 109 pounds
Life Span:
8 - 10 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 8
6 - 8
Size:
Large
Large
Other Names:
Cuban Mastiff, Mastin de Cuba
Hovie
Colors Available:
brindle, Brown, fawn, tan
gold and black, gold, blonde
Coat:
Short and smooth
long dense
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Courageous, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Protective, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
No

History

The Cuban Mastiff which came from Cuba, was developed from breeds of Mastiffs, Bulldogs and cattle dogs, with the breed being thought to be extinct since the end of the 19th century.

The Dogo Cubano had a number of roles to fulfill in its day and they were used for guarding stock, for dog fighting and for chasing runaway slaves. After the abolishment of slavery, the large dog had no real role and it died out.

Known also as the Cuban Mastiff or Mastin de Cuba, there isn’t much accuracy as to its origins, with the most common story for their origin being that they are descendants of the Molossus.

The dogs were later introduced into Western Europe, becoming fairly common in England and Spain. The dog was also was also mentioned in the works of canine authors Stonehenge and George Wood.

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

The Dogo Cubano was generally similar to other Mastiffs and stood at rough 48 – 55cm in height and weighing in the region of 45kg.

He was a large dog, powerfully built, muscular and strong. Images of the dog show that it had strong, straight legs with a long tapering tail and medium-sized floppy ears that were sometimes cropped upwards and close to the head.

The dog breed came in a variety of colors such as brown, tan, fawn and brindle. The muzzle was broad and short and black. The dog had pronounced jowls with its face being fairly wrinkly.

Temperament:

This large dog was known for being a courageous, independent and aggressive dog. He became attached to his owner, showing protective characteristics .In those days the dog would have received simple training and certainly if such a large dog still existed today, it would have to receive training and socialization as well.

The Dogo Cubano was an intelligent dog and easily trainable, requiring an owner with a firm hand. Being an aggressive breed, the dog possibly wouldn’t have been the best companion for children. He also wouldn’t have got on too well with pets in the home as he was trained to be a fighter in his day. Independent and strong-willed, the dog would not have suited a novice dog owner.

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 Dogo Cubano was bred to be a guard dog as well as for dog fighting, but this large dog, with training and socialization, no doubt became a loyal and devoted family pet.

It was actually a social dog, being aggressive towards other dogs. He would be described as a dog better suited to a home with older children.

He was protective with his human family but not very active, being too big to be leaping around like other dog breeds. It is a pity that this large dog has disappeared as he had some good qualities.

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 Dogo Cubano was a generally healthy breed, but just like with most other dog breeds, they were also prone to some of the more common dog problems. The chances of him getting sick were slim though.

When the dog first originated, there were unlikely to have been health clearance certificates, but today, you’d want health clearances from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.

The reason for this is that hip dysplasia is a heritable condition, seen more often in large dogs, where the thigh bone doesn’t fit into the hip joint properly. The dog suffers with pain and discomfort and the condition can lead to lameness with the dog.

Gastric Torsion or Bloat is a life threatening condition that affects large dogs like the Dogo Cubano and those with deep chests. The stomach is distended with gas and it can twist.

The gas can’t escape and blood flow is hindered. The dog vomits, is lethargic and weak, and immediate veterinary help will be required.

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:

The Dogo Cubano was a large dog, so if he did become used to living in the city, he would have adapted better to life in the country.

He wasn’t a dog requiring too much exercise but he would have needed to go for walks. They were used as guard dogs long ago, and if he had been in existence today, you wouldn’t have been able to include him in your jogging and cycling as he was a dog that could easily overheat.

Diet:

Not all dogs require the same amount of food. Long ago the Dogo Cubano wouldn’t have had the same variety of dog foods available today. Maybe the dog in those days was fed the same kind of food that his owner ate.

Today, if these dogs were still around, they would require the best quality ‘large dog breed’ kibble.

The better the dog food, the more nourishing it is and the healthier the dog is. The Dog Cubano would likely have been a dog that drooled, leaving quite a bit of backwash in the water bowl, so it would have been important to wash out the drinking bowl and to regularly replace it with cool, fresh water.

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. Hovawart vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Hovawart vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Hovawart vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Hovawart vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Hovawart vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Hovawart vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Hovawart vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Hovawart vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Hovawart vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Hovawart vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Hovawart vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Hovawart vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Hovawart vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Hovawart vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Hovawart vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Hovawart vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Hovawart vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Hovawart vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Hovawart vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Hovawart vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Hovawart vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Hovawart vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Hovawart vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Hovawart vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Hovawart vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Dogo Cubano vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Dogo Cubano vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Dogo Cubano vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Dogo Cubano vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Dogo Cubano vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Dogo Cubano vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Dogo Cubano vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Dogo Cubano vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Dogo Cubano vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Dogo Cubano vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Dogo Cubano vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Dogo Cubano vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Dogo Cubano vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Dogo Cubano vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Dogo Cubano vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Dogo Cubano vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Dogo Cubano vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Dogo Cubano vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Dogo Cubano vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Dogo Cubano vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Dogo Cubano vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Dogo Cubano vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Dogo Cubano vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Dogo Cubano vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Dogo Cubano vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison