Funny you mention Hovawart, it was actually a breed I considered, along with rottie/dane/em when I began my puppy quest looking for breeders.
The reason I did not proceed further-- after doing my research-- is because hovawarts are a very energetic breed.
A mellow, & low reactive hovawart just isn't going to happen for the most part. I was specifically looking for a breed that leans more towards mellow.
A retriever & a hovawart, in the golden color look so similar, but hovawart is a little heftier. I was looking at the black and tan hovawarts--that was my personal preference, I think hovawarts are just beautiful, & if I didn't have health issues that lessen my energy, I'd have totally gone for it.
Based on Tessa's temperament, which has been consistent across the board from day 1, I don't think hovawart is in the mix. She's just wayyyy tooo mellow & low reactive. Tessa simply will not waste the slightest amount of energy LOL, she will wait & see, & then she will wait & see some more. "Get up" was the HARDEST command to teach her.
As far as the Wisdom panel, & all of the drama that surrounded my test, & the fact that the 1st test came back as "maltese mix" & Mars using the wrong name when addressing me, & had wrong dog name, I still feel the entire test was bunk. They did send me another test, but my gut tells me they just will use the ID # on my 1st test to identify me, & give me the same results as the 1st test---Meaning, they will not actually run the 2nd test. This was the distinct impression I got after speaking with Angela Huges, the DVM/geneticist. She did not say this exactly--what she DID stress, multiple times, was that I was going to get the same exact results with the 2nd test, no matter what-- even though she admitted the maltese was a mistake on their part, but blamed it on a computer error.
What this meant to me was that they'll just identify me/flag my new test kit id#.
This is one of the reasons I have not sent the new test kit in, I just don't trust them due to the issues surrounding my 1st test.
I am looking for a company for testing that is NOT affiliated with Mars, but Mars purchased just about every one of those companies, & they keep the DNA in their data banks--if your pooch was tested previously--they DO NOT retest, apparently you will get a notice telling you that your pooch was already in their data bank & they will give you the same results as the original test--which I think is a load of crap.
I am also considering doing a DNA test in a different country--despite slight differences in breed, but I'd have to order the kit to that adr, have them ship to me, me do the test, ship back to them...
Could Tessa be 1/2 retriever--yes, & I say this because she retireves & loves to retrieve in water --My last girl was rottie/shepherd/dane & she also loved retrieving in water & swimming in general, just as much as Tessa. Aside from retrieving, she doesn't have much retriever personality, & she certainly doesn't train like a retriever.
