History of the Drever

The Drever is to Sweden what the Labrador Retriever is to the United States. Even with its popularity, this Swedish dog breed is rarely seen out of its native country. Developed from the Weshpalian Dachsbracke and later crossbred with the German Dachshund and other Swedish hunting dogs, the Drever is a low-setting hunting dog that possesses a keen nose for fox, rabbits, and deer, most importantly the roe deer. Less than a century old, the Drever was named in 1947 for the Swedish word "drev" which translates to "hunt".

Characteristics of the Drever

The Drever is a moderately sized dog that averages 30 to 35 pounds in weight with males typically weighing more than females. Shoulder height averages 11 to 16 inches. The body has a rectangular (elongated) appearance similar to that of Dachshunds yet the legs are not bowed as seen in the Dachshund. This is a strong and well-built breed of dog which can be seen throughout its muscular build. The face is long and the eyes are closely set and appear bright and expressive.

The coat of the Drever is quite smooth yet thick. All color types are accepted excluding all white and liver. White markings should be highly evident along the sides, on the rear, and on the front area of the body. Common colors include black and tan, fawn, and black in combination with the aforementioned white markings. The body sets low to the ground making this breed ideal for tracking and moving game towards a hunter.

Care for the Drever

Drevers only require general care and grooming and do not have any special needs. Their short coat only needs regular combing to remove loose hairs and bathed only as needed. This is the type of dog that needs adequate training and exercise to minimize the chances of negative behaviors. Without fulfilling this dog's needs, it may tend to exhibit bad manners from the pent up energy. In essence, this is a highly active breed that requires plenty of exercise and stimulation.

This breed was first recognized by the Swedish Kennel Club in 1949 and later by the Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club (FCI) in 1953. Currently, the Drever is only recognized by the FCI, CKC, NKC, CKC, APRI, and ACR. Kennel clubs in the United States and Britain do not recognize the Drever breed.

Nicknamed the "hunting machine", most Drevers are used as hunting animals but are also kept as a companion dog. Drever owners have described this breed as attentive, composed, and quite responsive to human interaction but can be stubborn if not provided with proper training. The Drever has become a popular show and hunting dog in Sweden and with its intelligence and devotion, this breed will certainly remain a prevalent force in its resident land.

References:

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds, by Joan Palmer, copyright 1994.

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