My name is Maria Ekman and I live with my family in Huddinge just south of Stockholm.
I have had Hovawart since 1978. From 1987 until January 2005 I have been in the kennel Gårdvaren. It has been a great joy and have given me abundant experience to start from the beginning to build a successful kennel. Beginning in 2005, I continue to breed on my own in Chefkas kennel.

Dogs born under my breed work have been successful in the working class, obedience, scent work, and as military service dogs. For show exhibitions the successes have been great, see the Results section of the website for our accomplishments. My goal is to continue a great breeding program, to continue looking for the best dogs in breed all over the world; and to import and even inseminate when necessary.

I have a number of dogs living at home as fully incorporated family members. The large number is due to the fact that I don't transfer older females no longer in breed to different homes. They deserve and shall continue to live a good life in my home. The dynamics in the flock with the old and young females is amazing to see! I will never have my dogs in kennel houses or
exercise yards. My opinion is that this breed is most happy being together with their humans on a daily basis.

I have imported a lot of dogs and mated a lot abroad to increase the width of my breeding program. I am really careful to breed to dogs with homogeneous types both physically and mentally. I don't prefer any color over another in my breed; the confirmation and temperament of the dog is the most important result.

I have always been interested of MUH/MH (mentality test). As early as 1989; offsprings of my breed was tested. This test is a distinguised tool for my breed; when used in the right way. Up to now 62% of the puppies borned in my home is tested. To get as many to HD-x-ray their dogs is also very important. When the purchasers of my puppies is qualifying their dogs; it feels like "winning the price each time".

In the year of 2002 my first Rottweiler litter was born; I had it with a friend. We had imported frozen sperm from Australia.

A lot of dogs born in my home have been exported to other Nordic countries; as well as Hungary, Taiwan and the USA. Thru traveling to other countries I keep myself well informed of the development of the breed. It is also a good opportunity to keep in touch with all the friends and acquaintances I have met over time.

I am of course a member of Svenska Kennelklubben and Svenska Brukshundsklubben (the swedish dog associations). I am also a member of Svenska Rottweilerklubben, Svenska Hovawartklubben and Tyska Hovawartklubben (the swedish and german breeding associations). I do everything I can to get the best possible information about the breed.