The Hovawart breed: analysis of various characteristics of dogs in a home environment in Italy

Lorella Giuliotti; Maria Novella Benvenuti; Alice Faoro; Daniela Nespolino; Fabio Macchioni; Francesca Cecchi

doi:10.4454/db.v6i2.119

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2020)

Papers

The Hovawart breed: analysis of various characteristics of dogs in a home environment in Italy

PDF

Lorella Giuliotti,
Maria Novella Benvenuti,
Alice Faoro,
Daniela Nespolino,
Fabio Macchioni,
Francesca Cecchi

more info

Lorella Giuliotti
University of Pisa

Maria Novella Benvenuti
University of Pisa

Fabio Macchioni
University of Pisa

Francesca Cecchi
University of Pisa

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4454/db.v6i2.119

Published 2020-10-07

Keywords

dog,
Hovawart,
behaviour,
questionnaire

Abstract

The aim of this survey was to investigate the characteristics of the Hovawart breed in a sample of dogs bred in Italy. A questionnaire was developed and piloted on Hovawart owners. The questionnaire included general information about the owners and the dogs, with more detailed questions on the behaviours exhibited by the dogs. One hundred questionnaires were received and processed, including 59 female and 41 male dogs. The results revealed that the main activities for Hovawart dogs were shows (57%), followed by rescue, utility, and defence. No dogs showed aggressive behaviour towards their owners, however 50% and 48% showed aggressive behaviour towards other animals due to competition or hierarchical reasons and towards unfamiliar people in self-defence. Only 28% of the dogs ever showed wariness, however a large number of owners did not refer to any nuisance behaviour in relation to their dog.

The majority of owners did not mention any health problems. Cancer and hip dysplasia were the problems most complained.

PDF

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Angelo Gazzano, Lucia Casini, Fabio Macchioni, Chiara Mariti, Paolo Baragli, Giovanna Preziuso, Maria Claudia Curadi, Lorella Giuliotti, Giacomo Riggio, Asahi Ogi, L-tryptophan supplementation increases serotonin blood levels in dogs fed a dissociated carbohydrate-based diet. , Dog behavior: Vol. 7 No. 3 (2021)
Francesca Cecchi, Giulia De Toni, Fabio Macchioni, A survey on the number of dog-induced injuries inflicted by pure-breed and mixed-breed dogs in Italy , Dog behavior: Vol. 7 No. 3 (2021)
Virginia Bellini, Gabriele Stagi, Duccio Berzi, Silvia Dalmasso, Fabio Macchioni, Angelo Gazzano, Francesca Cecchi, Behavioral responses to aptitudinal tests and GPS radio-collar monitoring in livestock mixed-breed dogs derived from crossbreeding with Maremma-Abruzzese Shepherd guardian dogs , Dog behavior: Vol. 8 No. 1 (2022)
Luca Ciurli, Lucia Casini, Francesca Cecchi, Paolo Baragli, Fabio Macchioni, Maria Claudia Curadi, Valentina Gazzano, Simona Capsoni, Angelo Gazzano, The Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome: epidemiology, pathophysiology and diagnosis , Dog behavior: Vol. 9 No. 2 (2023)
Francesca Cecchi, Fabio Macchioni, A survey of the main behavioural and natatorial issues observed in non-genetically selected dog breeds trained for water rescue activities , Dog behavior: Vol. 8 No. 2 (2022)
Luca Ciurli, Francesca Cecchi, Paolo Baragli, Fabio Macchioni, Maria Claudia Curadi, Valentina Gazzano, Simona Capsoni, Angelo Gazzano, The Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome: rating scales , Dog behavior: Vol. 9 No. 3 (2023)
Elena Atzori, Lorella Giuliotti, Maria Novella Benvenuti, Fabio Macchioni, Francesca Cecchi, Awareness of the MDR-1 mutation in owners of sheep herding breeds related to collie lineage , Dog behavior: Vol. 9 No. 3 (2023)