The Drever Dog Breed

The drever dog breed is of Swedish origin, widespread mainly in Scandinavia and northern European countries. In the rest of the world it is almost unknown. The origins of the drever, called schwedische dachsbrake in the original Swedish language, are not very clear. Very little is known about this dog before 1900.

There are several hypotheses; one of them is that the ancestors of this hound had already been present in Sweden for many centuries. Another maintains that this breed is much more recent, around 1900, when hounds with low limbs were crossed, originating in Central Europe and in particular the German dechsbrake and the Westphalian dechsbrake.

Some experts speculate that these dogs, introduced into Sweden at the end of the 19th century, were crossed with other native dogs of the same morphological characteristics, giving rise to the modern drever. In practice, however, it is the Swedish version of the dachshund.

It is a breed that withstands the cold very well, moving fast and very nonchalant in the snow. In its country of origin it is used as a hunting dog for wild boar and roe deer.

Due to its size and character, it is now also considered an excellent family dog, although it needs a lot of movement to release its natural energy as a hunting dog.

Character of the drever dog breed

The drever is a very intelligent breed and very affectionate with its owner and family. It is loyal and devoted, docile to commands and suitable for the company of children. However, hunting is its greatest need, so it would be a good idea for this dog to be adopted by a hunter, so that it can give full vent to its instincts. He is not suited to flat living, and he likes the outdoors very much. The cold is not a problem for him, having been used to the cold Scandinavian winters for generations.

If the owner is not a hunter, he must at least be sporty and non-sedentary, as this dog needs his daily dose of exercise and stimulation. The ideal for him is a garden where he can be outdoors most of the day, but be careful that it is well enclosed, his predatory instinct is very strong and he may run off after some prey.

It is a very good hound, it is quick and has an extraordinary sense of smell, so it proves its worth when hunting roe deer, fox, wild boar, which it chases and manages to push into the hunter's rifle range. He is so aggressive towards these animals, which are often bigger than him, that he manages to intimidate them with his speed and his gritty bark.

His favourite game is the search for some prey, even small prey, to catch just for fun. This is why it is not suitable for cohabitation with animals other than dogs. The others tend to see them as prey. With dogs, on the other hand, it is much easier to socialise him as he usually hunts in packs.

As far as his training is concerned, you have to use a little wrist, because he is a stubborn dog who tends to do his own thing. It is therefore necessary to have a minimum of authority to make it obey us. It also tends to be very sociable with strangers, so it is not a good guard dog.

Appearance of the drever dog breed

The drever is a small to medium-sized dog. The height at withers for a male is at most 40 centimetres and a weight of 14 to 16 kilograms, the female usually a little less.

Although he is short and long, he has a well-proportioned physique, but is not at all awkward, in fact he walks tall, proudly, despite his petite appearance. His body is robust and massive, with well-developed muscles, and he gives the impression of being very agile. Its legs are very short, and this characteristic allows it to hunt in impervious terrain and to squeeze and dig in very small spaces.

The limbs, however, are very strong, straight and parallel, the hind legs with wide, muscular thighs. The tail is big and long and carried pendant when at rest and sabre-like when the dog is active.

The head is large and rather broad in proportion to the body. It is quite elongated and tapers towards the truffle. The skull is slightly convex. The truffle is large and usually black. The eyes are very expressive, with a clear and lively look, usually dark in colour and round in shape. The ears are pendulous, wide, with rounded tips and low hanging.

The coat is rough, straight and well adhered to the body. It does not have the usual height throughout the body, usually being shorter on the head, ears and lower parts of the limbs. On the neck, back and behind the thighs it is somewhat longer. As far as coat colours are concerned, they come in all colours, usually have clearly visible white markings on all sides, and a full collar around the neck, and white areas on the limbs, feet and tip of the tail.

Health and care of the drever dog breed

The drever is a dog with excellent health and does not have any major problems typical of the breed. It can suffer from otitis and hunting injuries, as it is very aggressive with prey. It has an average life span of about 13 years. It is very resistant to cold and snow, so it can also live outdoors, but it does not tolerate a lot of heat, so in summer its activities should not expose it too much to heat, as it is susceptible to heat stroke.

It has no tendency to put on weight, so a balanced diet and, above all, plenty of exercise is sufficient. As for coat care, just brush him a couple of times a week and check him when he returns from hunting.