At a glance the quick version
Coat and looks how to spot one
short, harsh, close-lying
A low-slung, sturdy hound whose body is clearly longer than it is tall, with solid muscle and a nimble look. The coat is coarse and straight, lying flat to the body, a little longer along the neck, back and hindquarters and with a slight brush under the tail.13
Personality what they are like
A steady, good-natured hound that stays calm and is neither timid nor pushy. On a trail it is focused and determined, and it was bred to work patiently with hunters rather than rush game.13
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Built for long days tracking game at a steady pace, so it needs daily walks plus regular chances to follow scent, ideally through tracking games or scent work.12
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The short, harsh coat needs little more than a weekly brush and a check of the ears and feet after outdoor work.13
Home where they are happiest
Most at home in a household with access to woods or countryside; a securely fenced garden is sensible because it follows its nose.2
Company who they like around
Friendly with people and used to working closely with a handler; happiest with plenty of company and a job to do.13
The story where it all began
Short-legged German hounds of the Westphalian Dachsbracke type came to Sweden around 1910 and were soon valued for tracking deer. The taller Swedish line was given the name Drever in 1947, and the breed gained official Swedish recognition in the following years.123
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
The name was picked through a Swedish newspaper naming contest in 1947.2
- 2
'Drever' comes from the Swedish word 'drev', a hunting style in which the dog drives game slowly toward waiting hunters.2
- 3
Its unhurried pace makes it well suited to moving game through deep snow in the Nordic countryside.2
- 4
Although it is a Swedish breed, it is also a popular hunting companion for deer hunters in northern Norway and Finland.2
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard no. 130, Group 6 (Scenthounds and related breeds), Section 1.3 Small-sized Hounds, with working trial; standard dated 27.07.2021.1
- Svenska Kennelklubben (Swedish Kennel Club)
- Recognised as a Swedish breed in the late 1940s/1950s (Wikipedia gives 1947; the FCI standard gives official recognition in 1953).1
- UKC
- Scenthound Group, recognised 1 January 1996.3
- Canadian Kennel Club
- Recognised in 1956.2
- AKC
- Foundation Stock Service (recording stage, not fully recognised).2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Drever. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery 3 weeks
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery day
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 10every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI Standard No. 130 Drever fci.beused for classification, history, size, coat, colours, temperament
- Drever - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for history, name origin, recognition, fun facts
- UKC Drever breed standard ukcdogs.comused for recognition, size, coat, temperament
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.