¶Table of Contents
¶Quick Facts
The Danish Swedish Farmdog is a small but sturdy and active farm and companion dog from Denmark and Sweden. The FCI places the breed in Group 2 as a pinscher-type dog. It is therefore not a terrier, although it was previously called the Scanian Terrier.
- Height at the withers: 34–37 cm for males and 32–35 cm for females, with a permitted variation of 2 cm either way.
- Original purpose: to raise the alarm, catch rats and live closely with the people on the farm.
- Temperament according to the breed standard: alert, lively and attentive.
- Coat: short, harsh and smooth, with white as the dominant colour.
- Best suited to: a person or family who wants to teach everyday skills, provide both physical activity and scent work, and help the dog to settle.
The breed standard gives no official weight. Figures found on different websites should therefore be treated as guidelines, not as a range into which every adult Danish Swedish Farmdog must fit. When choosing a puppy, the parents’ size, body condition and soundness are more useful than a single weight range.
¶Appearance & Coat
The Danish Swedish Farmdog should be small, compact and substantial, not fine or elegant. The body is slightly rectangular: the ratio of height at the withers to body length is 9:10. The breed matures physically at a late stage, and full muscle mass and body substance may not develop until the dog is three to four years old.
The head is relatively small and triangular. The ears may be rose-shaped or folded forwards; pricked ears are not part of the breed ideal. The tail may be naturally long or a congenital bobtail of varying length. A congenital bobtail is a natural variation and should not be confused with a docked tail.
The coat is harsh, short and smooth and has no undercoat. White should predominate, with patches of one or more colours: black, tan, yellow, liver, agouti or various shades of fawn. Patches should also be present on the head, and flecking in the white is permitted. Appearance can therefore vary considerably without the dogs belonging to different varieties of the breed.
The coat needs little care, although shedding can be noticeable. Brush out loose hair as required, particularly during periods of heavier shedding, and bathe the dog when it is actually dirty. Check the skin, ears, paws and claws at the same time. Introduce the puppy gradually to tooth brushing and other handling. Calm, reward-based handling practice makes both routine care and veterinary visits easier.
¶Temperament & Personality
The Danish Swedish Farmdog is usually quick, curious and people-oriented, but the breed name is no guarantee of an easy-going family dog. The standard describes the breed as alert, lively and attentive. In daily life, this often means being ready to join in, reacting to movement and letting people know when something is happening nearby.
The farm watchdog role is still apparent in many individuals. Many will bark to alert when someone arrives, but how readily barking starts and how quickly the dog becomes quiet varies. In a home where sound carries easily, it is sensible to find out how the parents and adult relatives react to doors, communal stairwells and visitors. This is more informative than assuming that the breed is always quiet or always vocal.
In the Swedish Kennel Club’s older BPH behavioural assessment summary, the breed appears mainly confident and relatively energetic. At the same time, curiosity, playfulness and interest in unfamiliar people vary clearly. BPH describes a dog’s reactions; it is not a test that the dog passes or fails. Read the individual dog’s assessment record and ask how the parents behave in everyday life.
The breed’s background as a rat catcher makes interest in small, fast-moving animals relevant. This does not mean that every Farmdog chases everything it sees, but a prospective owner should expect to teach interruption cues and recall. Rabbits, guinea pigs and other small pets need secure areas that the dog cannot access.
¶Training & Exercise
The Danish Swedish Farmdog needs regular physical and mental activity, but there is no correct hourly rule that suits every dog. Age, health, intensity, environment and recovery determine what a good day looks like. An adult dog can have a mixture of walks, free movement in a safe place, scent work, play and short sessions of everyday training. Puppies need gradually increasing experiences and plenty of rest, not a miniature version of an adult programme.
Watch the dog’s behaviour rather than the clock. An appropriate amount leaves a dog able to settle at home, recover after activity and still move freely the next day. Persistent restlessness may mean that daily life lacks meaningful tasks, but more high-speed activity is not always the answer. Sometimes the dog needs more scent work, clearer routines or help to settle.
Prioritise skills that help a quick and attentive dog function in daily life:
- recall and voluntary check-ins when wildlife or other distractions appear
- being able to stop chasing, digging and intense play
- calm behaviour at doors, windows and when visitors arrive
- being able to rest while people move around the home
- loose-lead walking and responsiveness in busy environments
- comfortable handling of paws, mouth, ears and body
Train progressively with positive, reward-based methods and adjust the difficulty to the individual. The breed often learns quickly, which also means that barking, pulling or overexcitement can become established if it repeatedly leads to what the dog wants. Agility, rally obedience, tracking, nosework and other dog sports may suit the breed, but no particular activity is essential. What matters is a sustainable combination of cooperation, scent work, movement and recovery.
¶Health
The Danish Swedish Farmdog is generally regarded as a healthy breed, but the description “healthy breed” is no substitute for checking the specific litter. Ask for registered results, dates and information about close relatives. The name of a test or a statement that the parents are health tested says too little without the actual results.
Hip dysplasia, HD, is an area in which old and current information is easily confused. The breed currently has a Swedish Kennel Club health programme at Level 1. This means that HD results can be recorded centrally, but radiography is not required for the puppies to be registered. According to the breed club, dogs with HD grade D or E or with clinical symptoms should not be used for breeding. An official result and, where available, an HD index still provide useful information about the hips specifically; they are not a certificate of the dog’s overall health.
For patellar luxation, the breed club’s current recommendations state that a dog affected by the condition or operated on for it should not be used for breeding. The recommendation does not, however, mean that all parents must have an official patella result. Ask both about examinations and about knee problems in the parents, siblings and previous offspring.
Primary lens luxation, PLL, is a serious eye disease associated with a mutation in the ADAMTS17 gene, and a validated DNA test is available for the breed. The breed club particularly recommends testing where there are carriers or untested close relatives in the line without a DNA-tested clear dog in between. According to the recommendation, a carrier may only be mated to a DNA-tested clear dog or one that is clear by descent, also known as hereditarily clear. A clear PLL result applies to this mutation; it does not rule out other eye problems or other diseases.
Before buying, it is reasonable to check:
- the parents’ identities and actual HD results, if they have been radiographed
- any patella examinations and the known family history
- PLL status and how the result fits with that of the other parent
- diseases, lameness, dental problems and temperament in close relatives
- that the breeder can explain both the strengths and uncertainties of the mating
¶History & Origins
The Danish Swedish Farmdog is an old Scandinavian farm dog type but a comparatively recently recognised breed. Similar dogs lived on farms in Denmark and southern Sweden for a long time, where they controlled rats, raised the alarm when someone arrived and served as companions. Exactly how the type developed is not known. Links with pinschers and British white hunting terriers have been discussed, but should not be presented as a certain pedigree.
Before recognition, names including Scanian Terrier were used. At a Swedish survey in 1986, 107 dogs were brought together, contributing to the conclusion that the type was sufficiently consistent while also retaining useful genetic variation. Sweden and Denmark jointly recognised the breed in 1987 under the name Danish Swedish Farmdog.
The FCI granted the breed provisional international recognition in 2008 and definitive recognition in 2019. It was placed in Group 2 as a pinscher-type dog, not in the terrier group. Most are companion dogs today, but the urge to alert, interest in small rodents and strong desire to work make the breed’s history relevant even in a modern home.
¶Living with the Breed
The Danish Swedish Farmdog is best suited to a home where companionship, activity and everyday training are a natural part of life. It can suit a first-time owner, but its compact size does not make the breed undemanding. The owner needs to appreciate a quick dog, be able to prevent chasing and alert barking, and be prepared to train calmness as carefully as energetic activities.
Interactions with children should always be supervised by an adult. The dog needs a resting place where it will not be disturbed, and children should not bother it when it is eating, sleeping or trying to move away. Assess the parents’ behaviour and the individual dog’s ability to break off play; the phrase “child-friendly breed” is not a guarantee of safety.
A Farmdog can live with a cat, but the outcome depends on the individuals and the introduction. Prevent the dog from chasing the cat, give the cat high places and clear escape routes, and keep the first meetings short and controlled. Small animals such as rabbits and rodents should be kept physically separate even if the dog appears calm under supervision.
Flat living can work if the dog gets outside, has opportunities to use its nose and learns not to alert at every sound in the building. A garden does not replace activity, and a large home does not solve being left alone. Begin alone-time training with very short periods when the dog is secure and calm, increase the time only when it can genuinely relax, and arrange other care if daily life requires longer absences than the dog can manage.
If possible, meet both parents or other adult relatives before deciding. Observe how they greet people, recover after a surprise, react to small animals and sounds, and settle after activity. That information, together with verifiable health data and a breeder who knows their lines, says more about daily life than general promises that the breed suits everyone.
¶Characteristics
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Breed Type | Purebred |
| Aggressiveness | 3/5 |
| Child Friendly | 5/5 |
| Energy | 4/5 |
| Hair Shedding | 3/5 |
| Health | 4/5 |
| Intelligence | 3/5 |
| Grooming Needs | 3/5 |
| Learning Ability | 4/5 |
| Barking Level | 3/5 |
| Height | 32 – 37 cm |
| Weight | 6 – 10 kg |
| Life Expectancy | 10 – 14 years |
¶Danish Swedish Farmdog price
Here you can see typical asking prices for Danish Swedish Farmdog in Sweden over the last 12 months.
The calculation is based on valid Get a Pet listings from the last 12 months, including active and expired listings. These are asking prices, not confirmed sale prices.
¶Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of temperament does the Danish Swedish Farmdog have in a family home?
This breed is typically cheerful, people focused and adaptable, with a strong desire to be involved in family life. They are playful and affectionate with their own people, but can be reserved or watchful with strangers. Early socialization is important so their natural alertness does not turn into excessive suspicion or barking.
How much exercise does a Danish Swedish Farmdog really need each day?
Despite their small size, they were bred as working farm dogs and usually need at least 60 to 90 minutes of physical activity daily. This should include brisk walks and some off leash running or structured games such as fetch or scent work. Without enough mental and physical outlet they can become restless, vocal or prone to nuisance behaviors.
Is the Danish Swedish Farmdog a good choice for apartment living?
They can adapt to apartment life if their exercise and mental stimulation needs are met very consistently. Their moderate size and short coat are suitable for smaller spaces, but their alert nature can translate into frequent barking at hallway or street noises. Good soundproofing, daily outings and training a reliable “quiet” cue are especially important in this setting.
How does the Danish Swedish Farmdog compare to a Jack Russell Terrier or Rat Terrier?
All three are active, clever working dogs, but the Danish Swedish Farmdog is generally a bit more easygoing and less intensely driven than many Jack Russells. It was used as an all purpose farm helper and ratter, which tends to give it a slightly more balanced, biddable temperament than some high powered terrier lines. Energy levels are still high, so prospective owners should not expect a laid back lapdog.
What common health issues occur in Danish Swedish Farmdogs?
Overall this is considered a relatively healthy breed, but there are some concerns owners should monitor. The most notable are patellar luxation, hip dysplasia and certain eye conditions such as cataracts. Regular orthopedic and eye checks, breeding from health tested parents and keeping the dog lean can help reduce risk and catch problems early.
Are Danish Swedish Farmdogs prone to barking or being noisy watchdogs?
They were traditionally used as watchdogs on farms, so many individuals are naturally vocal and quick to alert to new sounds. With structured training, social exposure to normal household noises and clear routines, their barking can usually be kept to a manageable level. Without guidance, they can become nuisance barkers, especially in busy neighborhoods or shared housing.
What type of grooming does a Danish Swedish Farmdog require?
The short, tight coat is low maintenance and typically only needs weekly brushing to remove loose hair and surface dirt. They do shed year round, with heavier shedding during seasonal changes. Regular nail trimming, ear checks and dental care are more important than elaborate coat work for this breed.
Is the Danish Swedish Farmdog safe with small pets like cats or rodents?
They were historically used for rat control, so many individuals have a strong prey drive toward small, fast moving animals. Some can live peacefully with cats if raised together and carefully managed, but should never be trusted unsupervised with small mammals such as rabbits or pet rodents. Even with good training, instincts can override learned behavior in the wrong situation.
How trainable is the Danish Swedish Farmdog for first time dog owners?
The breed is intelligent, food motivated and generally eager to work with people, which can make training rewarding. At the same time, it retains some terrier like independence and may test boundaries, especially in adolescence. Consistent rules, short positive sessions and varied activities such as agility or scent work help keep them engaged and responsive.
What kind of home environment suits a Danish Swedish Farmdog best?
They thrive in active households where they can participate in daily routines, outdoor activities and interactive play. A securely fenced yard is very helpful, although not mandatory if they receive structured exercise and enrichment. They are usually happiest when they have a clear job, close contact with their people and firm but fair leadership.¶Comparisons with other breeds
Compare Danish Swedish Farmdog with other breeds and see the differences in temperament, activity level, and care to make a confident choice. Show all comparisons
¶Find Danish Swedish Farmdog for sale in Sverige
- Danish Swedish Farmdog in Uppsala
- Danish Swedish Farmdog in Halmstad
- Danish Swedish Farmdog in Kristianstad
