Drever
A sturdy, short-legged Swedish deer hound, calm and friendly at home with a determined nose outdoors.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 32–40 cm · Females 30–38 cm
- Weight
- 14–16 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Exercise
- 60–120 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Smooth, short
- Colours
- Tricolour, Red, Fawn, Black, White
- Bred for
- Hunting by scent, Companionship
- Country of origin
- Sweden
- FCI
- Group 6, no. 130 · Scent hounds
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 4/5 – High |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 4/5 – High |
| Energy | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Suits apartment living | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Adaptability | 4/5 – High |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a calm, compact hound
- enjoy tracking and nature walks
- live in a cooler climate
Think twice if you …
- need a dog to be off lead often
- have small pets
- want a quiet dog
Care
Temperament
Calm, friendly and alert, with a strong-willed and persistent hunting character.
Exercise
Needs about an hour or more of exercise daily; scent work and tracking are perfect outlets.
Grooming
A weekly brush is enough for the short coat; keep nails and ears in check.
Training
Friendly and food-motivated, but independent; patience and consistent recall work are needed.
Health
Like other long-backed hounds it can develop disc problems, and hip dysplasia and some eye conditions are reported. Spine, hip and eye checks are sensible, so ask the breeder for results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Spine
- Hips (HD)
- Eye examination
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Drever was developed in Sweden in the early 20th century from Westphalian Dachsbrackes imported from Germany. Hunters valued it for driving roe deer slowly towards the guns, which kept the deer calm, and it is still one of the more common hunting breeds in Sweden.
It is a low, muscular hound, usually with white markings on any colour. At home it is calm, friendly and adaptable, and many live as family dogs. Outside it is determined and vocal, and its nose easily takes over. It needs regular walks with time to sniff and a securely fenced garden.
Did you know?
The name Drever was chosen in 1947 and comes from the Swedish 'drev', a hunt in which hounds drive game.