Drever

Bred in Sweden to drive deer and hare towards a hunter waiting with a gun, the Drever is a short-legged scenthound built for a slow, steady pace rather than speed. Its low-slung frame keeps its nose close to the ground scent, and a loud, musical voice lets the hunter follow the chase from a distance. Away from fieldwork, the breed settles into a calm, sociable companion that is easy to have around the house.

The body sits low but is sturdy and rectangular, built for stamina over long tracking sessions rather than a sprint. It is friendly with people of every age and seldom turns aggressive, though the tracking instinct runs deep, and a fresh scent on the ground can pull its attention away in a moment.

In Sweden and the neighbouring Nordic countries, the Drever remains a familiar hunting companion, while in India it is essentially unknown outside a handful of import cases. A household that can provide daily activity and a regular outlet for its nose will see the breed at its best.

Who the Drever suits

The Drever suits active owners who can commit to long daily walks and have a securely fenced garden or yard. It thrives in households connected to hunting or tracking sports, and it gets along well with children and other dogs. Its carrying voice and single-minded scent drive make it a poor match for a flat in a crowded housing society, or for an owner who cannot hold a determined nose in check on walks.

The Drever's roots go back to short-legged scenthounds brought into Sweden from continental Europe in the early twentieth century. Hunters wanted a hound low enough to work deer and hare at an unhurried pace, driving the game towards the gun rather than running it down. Crossing imported dachshund-type hounds with local Swedish scenthounds produced the foundation stock for what became the Drever.

For a few decades, these dogs were simply grouped with other short-legged Swedish hounds under one broad label. As the type grew more distinct, breeders in Sweden worked steadily to fix its size, proportions and working style so it could be recognised as a breed in its own right.

A public naming competition held in Sweden in 1947 gave the breed its name, Drever, taken from the Swedish word for driving game and describing the breed's central task in the field. Formal recognition within Sweden followed soon after.

The Drever continues to be widely used for hunting in Sweden, with smaller numbers kept in other Nordic countries and North America. The Kennel Club of India does not currently recognise the breed, and a prospective Indian owner is unlikely to find a breeder locally. Outside hunting circles it has never become a common companion animal, which has kept its working character largely intact.

The Drever carries a long, low body on short, strong legs, built rectangular rather than compact, which gives it reach and stamina at a steady working pace rather than a burst of speed. The head is fairly long with a well-defined stop, the ears are set moderately high, medium in length, and hang flat against the cheeks. The tail is fairly long and may be held level, or slightly raised, when the dog is working a trail.

Coat and colours

The coat lies short, dense and flat against the body, with slightly longer hair on the neck, the back of the thighs and the underside of the tail. The breed standard permits any colour, but white markings must always be present and clearly visible, since this helps a hunter spot the dog in thick cover. Tricolour, and red or fawn with white, are the patterns seen most often. White usually shows up on the muzzle, neck, chest, feet and tip of the tail. The short coat asks for very little upkeep to stay neat, a practical trait in India's hot, humid climate, where a heavier coat would need far more work.

Each club words the Drever standard its own way, so the figures below are listed per club: CKC, FCI, UKC.

Size

• Height at the withers, male: CKC 31.8-40.8 cm; FCI 32-38 cm; UKC 31.8-38.1 cm
• Height at the withers, female: CKC 30.5-38 cm; FCI 30-36 cm; UKC 29.2-35.6 cm
• Skull to muzzle: FCI 1; UKC 1

Sizes that count against it

• Height at the withers, male: Disqualifying: FCI over 38 cm, FCI under 32 cm, UKC over 38.1 cm, UKC under 31.8 cm
• Height at the withers, female: Disqualifying: FCI over 36 cm, FCI under 30 cm, UKC over 35.6 cm, UKC under 29.2 cm

Build and forms

At least one club accepts each of these:

• Stop: Slight
• Bite: Scissors bite, Level bite
• Dentition: Full dentition, Missing teeth
• Ear carriage: Drop (pendant)
• Ear set: Low, Medium
• Neck length: Long
• Dewlap: None (clean throat)
• Topline: Level
• Tail length: Long
• Tail carriage: Low (hanging), Raised (gay)

Forms the clubs penalise

A fault or a disqualification is a judgment under a show standard. It can affect placings and, at some clubs, registration.

• Disqualifying: Bite: Overshot (FCI, UKC); Bite: Undershot (FCI, UKC); Tail shape: Kinked (FCI, UKC)
• Fault: Topline: Swayback (FCI, UKC); Topline: Roach (arched) (FCI, UKC)

Cropping, docking and other procedures

• Dewclaw removal: Alternate (CKC)

This is each club's stance in the show ring, not the law. The law on these procedures differs by country.

Markings

Each club's ruling on the breed's named marks:

• Blaze: Standard (FCI)
• Collar: Standard (FCI)
• Socks: Standard (CKC, FCI)
• White tail tip: Standard (CKC, FCI)
• White markings: Alternate (UKC)

See every point side by side: compare the clubs.

Rulings come from each club's published breed standard, and clubs revise their standards. Before a show or a registration, check the current text with the club.

Clubs compared for the Drever: AKC, FCI, UKC. All of them accept Black, White, Tan, Red, Fawn.

Patterns listed as standard for the Drever: Bicolour, Tricolour, Brindle, Sable, Reverse brindle.

Where the clubs split

At least one club accepts each of these, and at least one other penalises or refuses it.

• Liver: Standard (UKC); Disqualifying (FCI)

Colours penalised in the show ring

A fault or a disqualification is a judgment under a show standard. It can affect placings and, at some clubs, registration.

• Disqualifying: Solid (UKC), Merle (FCI), Albino (UKC), Liver (FCI)

Beyond the main colour

Standards rule on more than the main colour. These are listed as standard:

• Eyes: Dark brown
• Nose: Black

Rulings come from each club's published breed standard, and clubs revise their standards. Before a show or a registration, check the current text with the club.

The Drever has an even, cheerful temperament. It is affectionate with family members and generally welcoming towards strangers, with little tendency to shyness or aggression. It is patient and tolerant around children, and usually accepts other dogs without fuss, a trait that traces back to its history of working in packs during a hunt.

The breed stays alert and is quick to announce visitors or unfamiliar sounds. This makes it a capable watchdog without turning aggressive. Its hunting background shows up in a powerful scent drive: once a fresh trail catches its attention, the dog can follow it with single-minded focus. The Drever also has a loud, carrying voice that comes out readily on a trail, and sometimes indoors too, something flat owners in particular should weigh up before bringing one home.

Cats and small pets can trigger the chase instinct, so early introductions under supervision are worth the effort. Given enough activity and company, the Drever turns into a calm, affectionate companion around the house.

Grooming

• Brush the short coat once a week to clear loose hair and keep it tidy
• Bathe only when the dog is visibly dirty, since washing too often is not needed
• Check the hanging ears weekly and clean them, since infections take hold quickly in humid weather
• Trim the nails every few weeks and inspect the paws after time outdoors, especially after the monsoon rains
• Brush the teeth several times a week to support dental health

Exercise

• Set aside at least an hour of activity daily, ideally in the cooler part of the morning or evening, split between walks and play
• Keep the dog on a lead or inside a fenced area, since a scent can pull it away within seconds
• Give the dog scent games, tracking work, or organised hunting activity to keep its nose occupied
• Add mental tasks such as search games to keep boredom at bay

Environment

The Drever settles well into most homes that have a yard, provided it gets its daily dose of exercise. A secure fence matters, since the breed will follow a trail for a considerable distance without a backward glance. Its loud voice carries, so it suits an independent house with some distance from neighbours far better than a flat in a crowded housing society. The short coat gives little protection in genuinely cold weather, so during winter in the hills or the northern plains, shelter and supervision matter on long outings.

Grooming a Drever comes down to its coat, so start there.

• Coat layers: Double coat
• Coat texture: Smooth
• Coat length: Short
• Shedding: Seasonal shedding

What this coat asks of you

• A double coat has a soft undercoat beneath longer guard hairs. Brush right down to the undercoat, because that is the layer that packs down and traps loose hair.
• A smooth coat lies flat and is the easiest kind to keep. A soft brush or a grooming mitt lifts dust and loose hair.
• Short hair rarely tangles but it still sheds, so regular brushing keeps the loose hair down.
• Seasonal shedding arrives in bursts when the coat changes, and brushing more often during those weeks keeps it manageable.

What to tell a groomer

Mention these when you book. The coat notes on this page explain each one.

• Do not shave
• Needs seasonal de-shedding

A groomer who knows the breed can adapt all of this to the individual animal. Sore skin, mats pressed against the skin or a sudden change in the coat are worth showing to a vet.

A complete, balanced dog food suited to the Drever's size, age and activity level works well for this breed. Dogs used for active hunting or fieldwork need more calories during the working season, while a less active pet needs a smaller portion to avoid putting on weight. Given the breed's long back and short legs, any extra weight adds real strain to the spine and joints, so portion control matters. Fresh drinking water should be available at all times, particularly through the hot Indian summer.

Treats and supplements

Give treats in moderation and count them within the day's total calories, since this breed puts on weight easily. A Drever on a complete diet generally needs no extra supplements. A vet may recommend joint support for older dogs on account of the long-backed build, but any supplement should be added only on professional advice.

The Drever is, on the whole, a healthy and hardy breed with a typical lifespan of 12 to 15 years. Its working background and modest popularity have kept the gene pool sound. The main concerns trace back to its body shape and its ears rather than to any widespread inherited disease. Regular veterinary check-ups and sensible weight management go a long way towards a long, active life.

Preventive care

• Keep up with routine vaccinations and parasite control, including tick and flea prevention through the monsoon and summer months
• Maintain a healthy body weight to protect the back and joints
• Clean and check the ears every week
• Brush the teeth regularly and book dental check-ups
• Schedule a yearly veterinary exam, with more frequent visits for a senior dog

The Drever is intelligent and keen to please, but its scenthound independence means it can tune out commands the moment an interesting trail crosses its path. Training works best when it begins early and stays consistent. Short, varied sessions hold the dog's attention far better than long, repetitive drilling. A reliable recall is the hardest lesson to teach, and also the most important one, since the breed will follow a scent over a real distance; for this reason, most off-lead work should happen in secure areas until the recall is dependable.

Basics

1. Start socialisation in puppyhood with people, dogs, and everyday sights and sounds
2. Teach name response and attention before moving on to harder commands
3. Build sit, down and stay using food rewards and short, frequent repetitions
4. Practise recall daily, starting in a fenced area and using high-value treats
5. Introduce a release word and lead manners to manage pulling towards an interesting scent
6. Channel the nose into tracking or scent games as a structured, purposeful outlet

Drevers generally reach sexual maturity between six and twelve months, though responsible breeders wait until a bitch is physically and mentally mature, usually around two years of age, before allowing a mating. Health screening before breeding helps cut the risk of passing on problems, with particular attention to back and joint soundness given the breed's long build.

Gestation runs to about 63 days from conception. Litters typically number four to six puppies, and most whelpings proceed without complication, though a vet should be on call regardless. The mother raises the puppies, with normal weaning happening around four to seven weeks. Early handling and gentle exposure to everyday household life help the puppies grow into the steady, friendly temperament the breed is known for. Puppies usually go to their new homes from about eight weeks of age, and in India, a prospective owner should confirm health clearances and, where possible, register the litter, since the breed has no established presence with the Kennel Club of India.

How to register a Drever in India

Municipal corporations in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and numerous other cities require dogs to be registered or licensed under their by-laws, and a United Pet Club profile complements whichever rules apply where you live. The profile holds your contact information against your Drever for its entire life, at no charge whatsoever. Registering your dog requires only a few minutes.

A microchip without a registration is merely a number under the skin. File your Drever's fifteen digit number with United Pet Club and it becomes a working address: free for life, open to every chip brand, and searchable from any clinic or shelter in the country or abroad. Microchip registration first, the free account alongside.