Drever - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Origin
The Drever was developed from a short legged german dog breed called Westphalian Dachsbracke, which was amazing at tracking deer. This dog was first brought to Sweden in 1910 and they became quite popular among Swedish hunters in 1930s. The Dachsbracke was crossbred with some other hounds so it can easier adapt to Swedish weather and terrain. The new dog dog that was developed from the Dachsbracke and that was slightly larger became the Drever.​

2) Name
The name Drever was chosen in 1947 and it is derived from a Swedish word „drev“, which is reffering to a type of a hunt where the dogs drive the game towards the hunter. The dog is also known under another name, which is Swedish Dachsbracke.

3) Hunter
Even today, the Drever is mostly kept as a hunting dog breed, rather than just as a companion dog. The Drever is excellent at tracking the game and than driving it towards the hunter. The traditional purpose is hunting deers, but the Drever has been bred to hunt all sizes of game, including hares or foxes. These dogs are enthusiastic workers and they can hunt for hours. The Drever has a very strong tracking instinct.

4) Companion
When the Drever is not on the hunt, they make affectionate companion dogs. This is keen, loyal and even tempered. Just like almost all the hounds, the Drever is independent and know how to be stubborn. Because of that, they need a lot of patience and consistency during the obedience training, you should be prepared for that. The Drever can also happily live with other dogs, but other pets might be problematic, because of the Drevers high prey drive. They are also known for being good playful partners for kids, but the kid should be old enough to know how to treat dogs properly.

5) Coat
The Drever has a thick coat which is harsh, straight and close fitting to the body. The fur on the neck, back of thighs and back can be sligthly longer, but overall, the coat is short. Commonly, the Drever can be found in brindle, fawn, red, and tri-color with or without white or sable markings.

6) Size
The Drever is a dog with short legs, long body and drop hanging ears, which are typical for majority of hounds. The average height is between 30-38 cm, which is 12-15 inch and weight is usually between 35-40 pounds, which is 15-18 kg. The females tend to be slightly smaller than males.

7) Exercise
Despite the short legs and stature, the Drever has pretty high energy level with excellent stamina and they definitely need daily proper outdoor exercise to stay healthy and happy. Without enough physical exercise, they can develop some unwanted behaviour, such as excessive barking or digging. They will love longer walks or some active playtime.

8) Rarity
The Drever is quite rare dog breed and it would be very hard to find them outside Scandinavia. On the contrary, they are very popular in Sweden and they are one of the most popular dogs in Sweden.

9) Maintenance
The Drevers coat is generally pretty easy to groom. Even without any grooming, the coat will stay in good condition. But they do shed and if you want to minimize the shedding, you should brush them regularly. These dogs also do not need frequent bathing, only when its really necessary. Just like with all dogs, you should regularly check the ears, eyes, nails and teeth and clean them or clip them if needed.

10) Health
The Drever is usually pretty healhty dog breed, but just like all dogs, they can be prone to some health issues, namely intervertebral disc disease, otitis externa, gaining weight or entropion. These dogs have a great long lifespan, which is between 13-15 years.