¶Table of Contents
¶Quick Facts
The Drever is a low-set Swedish driving hound used mainly for hare, fox, roe deer and other deer. It combines a powerful hunting instinct and independent work in the forest with a calm basic temperament. The breed is best suited to a hunter, or to a home that can provide genuine scent work and manage its voice and interest in following tracks in everyday life.
- Purpose: an all-round driving hound that finds game, follows the track and gives tongue. Track accuracy, an appropriate pace and the ability to end a long chase are important working qualities.
- Size: males should stand 32–38 centimetres at the withers, with 35 centimetres ideal. Females should stand 30–36 centimetres, with 33 centimetres ideal.
- Temperament: the breed standard describes the Drever as attentive and calm. Aggression, nervousness and shyness are not part of the desired breed temperament.
- Activity: strong working drive and great stamina. Lead walks are rarely enough as the dog's only activity.
- Coat: a coarse, straight, close-lying coat that is relatively easy to care for.
- Key health concern: hunting-associated pulmonary oedema, sometimes called hunting oedema, is the breed's clearest documented specific health problem.
A Drever can be a lovely member of the family, but it is not an uncomplicated companion dog. Anyone wanting a dog that is often off lead, seldom works with its nose and remains quiet in a block of flats should consider another breed.
¶Appearance & Coat
The Drever should be long-bodied and low-set, yet strong, muscular and agile. It is built to work in rough country, not to look excessively long or heavy. Ground clearance should be about 40 per cent of height at the withers, and movement should be even, parallel and ground-covering.
The breed standard specifies height but no ideal weight. A number on the scales therefore matters less than the whole dog: the ribs should be easy to feel, a waist should be visible and the dog should carry enough muscle for its work. When choosing a puppy, free movement, well-constructed forelegs and adequate ground clearance are more useful than a promised adult weight.
The coat is coarse, straight and close-lying. It is shorter on the head, ears and lower legs, and slightly longer on the neck, back and rear of the thighs. The underside of the tail is bushy without feathering. All colours with white markings are permitted except predominantly white, merle and liver. The white markings should be visible from several angles.
Coat care is simple, but a working dog needs more than brushing. Remove loose hair as required and bathe the dog when it is dirty, rather than to a fixed timetable. After hunting or moving through dense cover, check the paws, nails, skin, eyes and ears for wounds, debris and ticks. Keep the nails short enough not to interfere with the way the paw meets the ground.
¶Temperament & Personality
The Drever should be calm and attentive, but it has also been bred to make decisions at a distance from its handler. What looks like stubbornness at home is often the independence needed in the forest. Once the dog finds an interesting game scent, everything else can quickly become less important than the track.
With the right routine, a Drever can switch between intense outdoor work and settling at home. This does not guarantee that every individual will be quiet, easy to direct or sociable with everyone. Genetics, experience, training and the balance between activity and rest all matter.
The same basic rule applies around children as with any dog: an adult should be present and the dog must have a quiet resting place where it will not be disturbed. A calm breed temperament is no substitute for supervision, and children should not be responsible for a dog that may lunge after a scent on a walk.
Whether a Drever can live with other dogs, cats and small animals depends on the individual. It may learn to live with a cat, particularly after early, calm introductions, but its hunting instinct means that success should never be promised. Prevent the dog from chasing the cat from the first meeting, give the cat its own safe areas and do not leave them together unattended until you know how they behave with one another. Small pets need a secure space the dog cannot reach.
The voice is a working tool: a hunter follows the chase by listening to the dog. This does not mean that every Drever barks a great deal indoors, but noise must be considered before buying, especially in a flat. Repeated barking or howling when left alone should be treated as a sign that the arrangement needs to change, not as an unavoidable breed trait.
¶Training & Exercise
Drevers respond best to clear routines, high-value rewards and difficulty that increases a little at a time. Harsh corrections do not create a safer hunting dog. Reward-based training that takes account of the breed's motivation provides a better foundation for trust and co-operation.
Start recall training in a place with no distractions. Reward promptly, often release the dog to sniff again, and move on to a long line before adding greater difficulty. Recall then does not always mean that the fun is over. A well-trained recall reduces risk, but it does not make hunting instinct harmless. In areas rich in game, a long line, secure enclosure or carefully planned hunting routine is often safer than testing whether obedience will hold.
No exact time rule suits every Drever. A sound daily routine includes physical activity, scent work, short training sessions and recovery. Adjust the amount to the dog's age, fitness, hunting season and individual needs. Build stamina gradually before the season instead of asking an unfit dog to go straight from quiet weeks to a long day in the field.
Activities that make good use of the breed's abilities include:
- game tracking or following a human-laid track with a clear start and finish;
- search exercises in which the dog works methodically with its nose;
- walks over varied ground with time to investigate scents;
- hunting trials and hunting training under knowledgeable guidance for a dog intended to work in the field.
Hunting is more than exercise. A Drever should search, put up and accurately drive hare, fox, roe deer or other deer, giving audible tongue and co-operating well enough for the hunt to remain manageable. For a non-hunting owner, the task is therefore greater than adding one extra-long walk: the dog needs regular, structured work that uses its nose, stamina and problem-solving ability.
¶Health
The Drever is generally regarded as a healthy breed, but hunting-associated pulmonary oedema is a specific problem that every prospective and current owner should understand. It causes acute breathing difficulty during or after hunting. It is a form of non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, and the precise underlying mechanism remains unknown.
Warning signs include coughing, abnormally fast or laboured breathing and tiredness out of proportion to the work. An affected dog may struggle to lie down, sit with its head and neck extended or stop giving tongue during a chase. Stop the exertion and contact a vet if a dog develops these signs. Do not wait for another hunting day to see whether it happens again.
Heredity contributes to risk, and the Swedish Drever Club's breeding strategy contains specific guidance intended to reduce pulmonary oedema. Ask the breeder to show how cases on both the dam's and sire's sides have been assessed and how the planned mating appears in DreverData. Also ask how close relatives perform during hunting; normal breathing and recovery after work are important information.
Do not judge a Drever breeder by a generic list of hip, elbow and eye tests borrowed from other breeds. Use current advice for the Drever. Check the parents' identity, hunting and show results, temperament, health history and relatedness in the Swedish Kennel Club and breed-club records. Ask for frank answers about problems that do not have a simple test as well.
Good everyday care still matters. Keep the dog lean and well muscled, build fitness gradually and allow time to cool down after hard work. Check the dog after hunting and seek veterinary care for injury, pain, abnormal movement or altered breathing. A firm promise of a particular lifespan is less useful than documented health in the family and a breeder who is open about it.
¶History & Origins
The Drever is Swedish as a recognised breed but has continental roots. Westphalian Dachsbracke dogs were imported into southern Sweden during the 1910s, and the first was registered by the Swedish Kennel Club in 1913. The underlying Dachsbracke type had been developed in areas including southern Germany, Tyrol and Switzerland during the nineteenth century.
In Sweden, hunters valued the low-set dog's way of driving roe deer and, later, hare, fox and other deer. The Swedish Dachsbracke Club was formed in 1944. In 1947, the Swedish variant was given the name Drever and the club became the Swedish Drever Club. The Swedish Kennel Club recognised the Drever as a Swedish breed in 1953.
The breed has continued to be selected as a working hunting dog. This explains both its robust construction and its strong hunting instinct today. The Drever's identity rests not only on appearance, but on its ability to follow a track accurately in Swedish country, give clear tongue and maintain a pace suited to driving game.
¶Living with the Breed
The Drever is most at home when hunting or regular tracking work is a planned part of life, rather than something that may be tried later. It can live in a house or a flat, but the type of home does not meet the breed's needs by itself. A flat-dweller must arrange daily work outdoors and prevent nuisance noise; a householder still needs to train the dog and secure gates and boundaries.
Make this practical check before buying:
- Work: who will provide regular scent work and physical training outside the hunting season?
- Safety: can you use a long line, secure enclosures and reliable routines around doors, cars and hunting land?
- Noise: can your home cope with a powerful voice, and is there a plan if the dog starts barking through stress or lack of activity?
- Time alone: is there time to teach this gradually and arrange help if the dog cannot cope with the working-day routine? A Drever should not be expected to spend an entire working day alone.
- Children and pets: can children be supervised by an adult, and can cats or small pets have safe areas of their own?
- Breeder: can the breeder explain working ability, temperament, pulmonary oedema in the family and the reasoning behind the mating without making promises that nobody can keep?
A Drever can be a first dog, but only for someone willing to learn how a driving hound works and to seek support from the breeder, breed club or an experienced trainer. For a hunter who values an independent dog with a calm basic temperament, it can be both a skilled hunting partner and a close family member. For someone seeking an easily directed companion dog, the Drever is rarely the best match.
¶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 | 4/5 |
| Height | 30 – 38 cm |
| Weight | 14 – 16 kg |
| Life Expectancy | 12 – 16 years |
¶Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of temperament does a Drever typically have, especially around children and family?
This breed is usually friendly, steady and people oriented, with a strong bond to its family. Many do well with respectful children because they are patient and not overly fragile, but they can be independent due to their hunting background. Early socialization helps prevent shyness or excessive suspicion around strangers.
Is a Drever a good choice for first-time dog owners?
It can work for a committed first-time owner who is ready for an active scent hound with a strong nose and some stubbornness. Training requires consistency and patience rather than harsh methods. Those who want an off leash, instantly obedient dog may find this breed challenging, especially in areas with wildlife scents.
How much exercise does a Drever really need each day?
Despite its short legs, it is an energetic working hound that benefits from at least 60 to 90 minutes of varied activity daily. Long, purposeful walks and scent games are especially important. Without enough mental and physical work, it may become noisy, frustrated or prone to wandering in search of smells.
Can a Drever live happily in an apartment or small home?
Apartment living can work if daily exercise needs are met and there is regular access to safe outdoor spaces. The breed tends to bark to alert or when excited, which can be an issue in close quarters. Good sound management, training and an understanding of the dog’s hunting instincts are essential.
How strong is the hunting and tracking instinct in Drevers, and can they be trusted off leash?
Hunting drive is usually very strong because the breed was developed for scent driven tracking of deer and other game. Many individuals will follow a scent and ignore recall, especially in wooded or rural areas. Off leash freedom is safest only in securely fenced spaces or after extensive recall training, and some may never be fully reliable.
What health problems are Drevers most prone to, and how long do they typically live?
They are generally robust and long lived, often reaching 12 to 14 years or more. The long back and short legs can predispose some to spinal or joint issues, so keeping them lean and avoiding excessive jumping is important. Responsible breeders screen for inherited eye problems and other structural concerns.
Does the Drever’s long-backed, short-legged build require any special care?
Their body shape means you should avoid repeated stair climbing, high jumps and rough play that twists the spine. Maintaining a healthy weight is critical to reduce stress on the back and joints. A supportive bed and careful handling, especially when lifting, help protect the spine over the long term.
How much grooming does a Drever need and do they shed a lot?
The short, dense coat is relatively low maintenance and usually needs only weekly brushing to remove loose hair and dirt. They are moderate shedders, with increased shedding in seasonal changes. Regular ear checks are important because dropped ears combined with outdoor activity can increase the risk of ear infections.
Are Drevers noisy, and how can owners manage their barking and howling?
As a hunting and tracking hound, this breed has a natural tendency to voice its excitement and alert to changes around the home. Early training to respond to a quiet cue and providing enough exercise can greatly reduce nuisance barking. Mental enrichment, such as scent work, also helps satisfy instincts so vocalizing is more controlled.
How well do Drevers get along with other dogs and household pets?
They generally get along well with other dogs, especially if raised with them, since they were developed to work in cooperation with hunters and sometimes other hounds. With small pets, care is needed because of their strong prey drive. Individual tolerance varies, so careful introductions and supervision around cats or small animals are recommended.¶Comparisons with other breeds
Compare Drever with other breeds and see the differences in temperament, activity level, and care to make a confident choice. Show all comparisons
