HOW DID IT ALL START…?
It really started with a loss of my old
black mastiff. I was flicking through some “dog book”
searching for a dog that would be smaller in comparison
with a mastiff; a little bit “furrier” if you will; with
a little bit better guard dog qualities and in general
not too complicated type of a dog. And t what surprise
came my way…! Suddenly my eye caught on the breed which
picture in fact did not fit the description written on
the pages I was consulting. The description of the breed
was so complete and read so well that the person could
actually marry the animal described not alone go and buy
it at any price. Enthused and determined I ran to friend
at the Kinological Society of Slovenia to discover if
there is a litter somewhere in Slovenia. She burst out
laughing saying that “there are a few in Austria , of
course the largest numbers are in Germany and we in Slovenia
do not have any…”. What a disappointment! And that there
are no examples of this “super dog” in Slovenia! Wrong!
Some of us put our heads together and in the name of Slovene
Kino logical Society wrote to our opposite numbers in
Germany saying that newly independent >Slovenia does
not have an example of this beautiful breed, and that
it would be really great if they would assist me as a
responsible and loving future owner find and obtain a
dog or a bitch (the color was not important). But instead
that the Germans would me moved to tears with this great
admiration of their breed they replied in their usual
Teutonic efficiency that I am number 153 in line waiting
for a pup. This would mean that I would have to wait three
(3) full years..!
Branko Lavrenčič with Ben |
What a disappointment! And so the lobbying
started via the German Newfoundland breeder who regularly
exhibited his dogs at the Slovenian shows. At one of the
shows we approached the gentleman for assistance and he
in fact did try hard – and may I say it was not easy.
The first litter where I would be able to obtain an animal
had an inbuilt genetic flaw. The next litter had only
two female pups which were already spoken for…In the third
litter in the North of Germany there were 6 dogs and 12
candidates and all were already assigned to prospective
owners. I was seeing my chances of becoming an owner as
rather slim.
And then suddenly in Wittenberg there
was one lonely black pup still available. After number
of intense long distance international telephone conversations
we agreed on the day and I went far up into Germany with
a friend to claim my new Hovawart pup. Small house in
a small street, large garden and the rather watchful owners
greeted us. And all of a sudden the big dog came running
from around the corner, jumps at me with its big paws
on my shoulders and licks my face with a great amount
of enthusiasm. This to the owners was the biggest compliment
their bitch Tilla could bestow on a total stranger. The
plus that I received from Tila was big enough I still
think so I finished with a small ten weeks old fluffy
looking offspring called Cliff.
Meta Berce with Clif and Ajša |
A while later when we became friends
with Tila’s owners they confided that they would not let
Cliff out of their hands if I would not appear to them
as the right material for a new Hovawart owner. My trip
of 2000 kilometers would be for naught. The hand over
was followed by an enormous amount of papers, contracts
and assurances that the dog will be looked after in the
proper way and accompanied by the whole family crying
and waving we drove of to Slovenia. My little, black bundle
of joy was curled up in my lap all the way with a rather
sad look on its little face. After the arrival to Slovenia
the telephone calls to Germany did not stop. There were
number of questions I needed the answers for and likewise
the breeders in Germany were keen to know how Cliff settle
in the new home. And the little black lump continued to
grow, with all the different traumas an owner has with
a growing up of a dog – from being a pup, to being a youngster
with its childish pranks and puberty blues but the bond
between us was growing by the minute. The dog impressed
a number of my friend and in the following three years
the Wittenberg breeder organized and supplied the transfer
of two more bitches and three males to Slovenia. Almost
at the same time a lovely blond bitch arrived to Slovenia
from the Czech Republic.
This was the beginning of the breeding
and litters, the breed became more widely recognized and
accepted and the numbers grew. A few years back we formed
as the result of the initiative by Mr.Branko Lavrenčič
a Section for Hovawart Breed as part of the Slovene Club
for Big Breeds and Molosses. The dream to do something
useful for the breed and its promotion in Slovenia was
a great motivator. And now we are each in our own way
and ability work towards the improvement of the original
dream. A large number of members are tirelessly working
and the last foru years had seen a 
number
of very pleasant and educational get together in Ajdovščina,
Ljubljana, Celje and Maribor. The Club had grown and is
continuously assisting and advising the owners, breeders
and interested parties about the breed. Our mentor Mr.
Branko Lavrenčic put together on the internet pages a
last collection of advices and informative snippets which
are of great use to all of us.
There are new challenges ahead of us.
One at least is the new web site layout in front of you,
we would like to incorporate some new points in the breeders
directory and manual with the aim of improving the Slovenian
breeders approach to the breeding of Hovawarth Breed to
became even healthier, better and more typical of the
breed. We are keen to translate a German manual on Hovawart
Breed into Slovene language. In September 2004 the City
of Maribor will host as a part of International Dog Show
there a special showing of Hovawart Breed – with a Judge
from Germany.
In short we are not running out of energy
and ideas. Many of us are friends for a long time now,
some are newcomers to the fold however my feeling is that
we are a bunch of people who attract good people with
beautiful animals (not just judging by the dog shows results).
There is the common thread that binds us: the love of
dogs. And if we will continue to meet and if we will continue
to place the emphasis on the common wellbeing of the man
and his dog then we will be around successfully for many
more seasons with our four legged companions.
I welcome you to join with wish that
we may grow further in the future.
Mrs. Meta Berce
The President
