My name is Anna Pieczyńska. Since 1994 I've been the owner of the most wonderful breed, which is the Hovawart. At the moment, I have three of them, but I still have deep need and hope that one more 'hovi' will soon join my ranks.;-)))
My experience with shows, and the training of my dogs, began out of pure curiosity and it wasn`t to be left at just that. My first Hovawart - AGGY - is one of the best Hovawarts in Europe and, I suppose, the most titled. AGGY achieved something that none of Hovawarts from a non-German-speaking country could ever hope to do, namely he won the title of VDH - EUROPEAN WINNER AND 'BEST OF BREED', in the biggest show competition in the breed homeland, that is in Dortmund, Germany. It was judged by a prominent Swiss woman judge and at the time when she was awarding AGGY the title of 'Best of Breed', she said: "I imagine the Hovawart being like this!" None of the Hovawarts that come from non-German-speaking countries has ever achieved this, that`s why I`m so proud of him! Apart from this, AGGY has many others titles from 10 European countries and what`s more important - a double German Championship and International IHF breeding licence! But as regards to AGGY it`s not only the titles ...
AGGY taught me how to get to know and understand the Hovawart, which drew me deeper into shows and training. We've been through a lot together, in spite of the envy of others... It`s thanks to AGGY that I`ve got to know Hovawarts in other European countries and learnt how to judge them for the purposes of breeding. But it`s not the most important thing, the most important is AGGY, the most wonderful doggie ever, loving, adorable and as proud as a king. My first love ;-)))
In 1998, a new recruit joined AGGY, the first of a select few in Poland, a black Hovawart - male from very well known, recognized and titled German kennel. CONNY`s pedigree is a spectrum of the top of the German line - Hovawarts from the last 20 years. Both of his parents are German Club Winners and working dogs! Such a connection has never happened! Thanks to CONNY, I`ve explored the beauty of the working Hovawart. He`s the dog I`ve always dreamt about and the one who fulfiled all my expectations. One who's always ready for co-operation and devoted to pain, for which I love him more than anything! CONNY is always getting new titles, but I`m the most proud of his offspring`s achievements, especially the mentality he hands down to them. He`s also the only Hovawart that doesn`t live in Germany who successfully passed all breeding tests (ZTP) of RZV German Club. Despite his young age, CONNY has already sired grandkids in many countries.
The youngest of the three is DOTTIR, often called 'the Small One', although she`s not so "small" any more ;-) DOTTIR is AGGY`s daughter brought from Norway. Enormous physique, a rascal and sweet lassie, she has won a very high position in the flock, thanks to her strong character, unique energy and openness. If I have any luck, maybe it will be her who begins a new course of my life, i.e. conscious and deliberate Hovis breeding. Meanwhile, DOTTI is a lovely tot, which before her lies everything. Meanwhile, she's attending an obedience course, she will begin shows soon, and the rest ... time will tell. DOTTIR lives permanently with my friend Justyn, where thanks to living in harmony with Irish Setters, she's slowly becoming a Gordon Setter ;-)))
The next reason for being proud of my dogs, is breeding them in well known kennels all over Europe. My boys are also able to boast successful offspring in Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia and Sweden!
I`m also proud of the fact that the Hovawarts have started to work in 'real world' jobs. We already have one of our kids in the Red Cross, some in the fire-brigade and up to now, two females that work in France as guide dogs for the blind! Our dogs prove to be excellent therapy dogs as well. I`m thankful to all owners for their willingness in working with hovis and congratulate them on their great dogs.
I myself, am engaged in both showing and breeding Hovawarts. However, the titles from the shows are not the only thing in the world, the most important thing is mentality and character of my dogs, that`s why I`m trying to train them systematically (because a Hovi is a working breed after all, isn`t it?!!!) and work with them in my free time.
Some more words about my youngsters. My dogs have full rights as members of the family. I don`t have kennels and boxes, my dogs can walk freely about the whole property. They sleep in the house with me. All my free time, I give to them, because they deserve that. Owing to the fact that I live in a suburb of Warsaw, we walk to our forest or cycle every day. They can run and play there as much as they want. It`s because of this big dose of activity, that my dogs are unrivalled in gait. In summer time, they take baths and swim in a clean lake nearby, where CONNY has discovered his Newfoundland blood ;-))) and only by force he gets out of the water ;-))) And owing the fact of living in a rather big city, my dogs have regular contact with other people, animals and all other daily situations - they`re not wild and are able to behave in all situations, especially situations new to them.
I`m also trying to breed my dogs within the guidelines of German regulations, where the selection of native breed is very strict. All signs of not being true within breed standards are rejected at once, so to have a breeding dog, it has to be HD free (only A1 and A2 are acceptable), it has to pass various mental aptitude tests and it`s much-desired to have undergone working exams. This all leads to breed progress and to the result of having the best possible and most mentally fit dogs, as it is in Germany. The best Hovawarts live in their homeland. My breeding goals hope to counter "breeders" (especially Polish ones), who have no desire to live up to those high standards. My main goal in the propagation of the Hovawart breed is above all, paying attention to its health and mentality inside and out. Hovawarts are working breed after all, and not a show one! Health is the most important thing, knows everyone that. I`ll always promote healthy generation dogs, an illness or flaw in their lines would never find any acceptance in my eyes. And it goes beyond HD, but also includes other diseases that are connected with the breed. Mentality is the second priority after health. In breeding, I`m interested only in exceptionally mentally fit dogs, for which training is the best amusement and not a necessary duty. Dogs with passion, character, courageousness and self-confidence, are the attributes I`m looking for. In breeding, I never go by the dog`s appearance, especially based on a photo. That`s not important. It happens very often that dogs not pretty on the outside produce extraordinary offspring and make good show dogs, while the converse is often true for handsome dogs. In breeding the most important thing is knowledge. Knowledge of pedigrees, origin and lines of the dogs. Only thanks to this knowledge are we able to wisely plan the dogs` combinations, so they cause their new owners only pleasure, and not worries. I am strongly and deeply opposed to any kind of inbreeding I`m trying always to avoid it. The variety of the genepool is the basis of healthy breeding. Finishing this exposition, I would like to point out that all these breeding standards I have learnt in Germany, especially in RZV Hovawart Club, for which I`m very thankful ;-)
Due to my beliefs, I`ve decided to follow German breeding rules. My boys won`t breed any more in Poland, only abroad and of course only with 'HD - free' females who have passed mentality tests.
Since the year 2003, I began to organize, great Hovawarts meetings, in order to discuss and develop specialized mentality tests only for Hovawarts in conjunction with judges abroad. Such meetings also have a social task - the integration of all Hovawart owners ;-)
I kindly invite you to visit some galleries, although they`re only still in the Polish version, where you can find many photos from our hovawart meetings. Till now we had 3 big rallies: first one in Kownatki, second one in Księże Młyny and training`s week in Sosnówka (gallery Sosnówka).
Since the year 2004 I carry out professional puppy tests for hovawarts, for each breeder, who is interested in his pups. Such test is a grate thing, because it gives the view of the whole litter and of each pup. Already in the 8th week you can ascertain which pup is a dominant one and which not, which is of full energy and which is rather calm, which is suitable for sport training and which one fulfils better as family dog. Thanks to tests it`s simplier to match the dog to his future owner.
On my website I will try to show you the real, correct image of the Hovawart, not only in Poland, but above all in Germany. Thanks to my dogs it still increases the circle of my Hovi friends around the whole world. I try to be at 4-5 German shows times a year, and dutifully attend their Club Show. Only there I`m able to learn new trends, meet my friends and just talk with people from all over Europe about our Hovawarts.
My website is currently being completed, so visit me often! I invite you to see many nice photos of AGGY`s and CONNY`s offspring and galleries. Hovawarts from different countries can be found in the division of CONNY`s and DOTTIR`s family and Hovawarts in Europe.
Last of all I would like to apologize for pushing the pen so long, but I always have much to say when it comes to my beloved Hovawarts ;-))
If you have any questions, would like to talk about Hovis, buy a puppy (always from home kennels) or come to breed your female with my males - feel free to WRITE or CALL ME!
And here I am!