Breed Standard
Head: Relatively large and long. Slightly pronounced stop. Straight or slightly curved nosebridge. Strong, very angular muzzle. Large nose.
Ears: Medium in length, wide with rounded tips, hanging flat against head.
Eyes: Dark brown. Thin lids.
Body: Can be inscribed inside a rectangle. Long, fairly strong neck without dewlap. Well-developed chest. Base of sternum below elbows. Powerful, relatively short loin. Slight tuck-up. Straight, strong back. Broad, strong, slightly sloping croup.
Tail: Long, thick at the base, carried hanging down.
Hair: Dense, straight. Relatively short on the head, lower legs, and underside of the tail. Longer on the neck, back, and backs of the thighs. Forming a brush at the tip of the tail.
Coat: All colors allowed but white markings highly visible on all sides are required. White flare and collar very desirable, as are white markings on the tip of the tail and feet. Colors must be pure.
Size: Dog: 32 to 40 cm. (12.5-15.5 in).Bitch: 30 to 38 cm. (11.8-15 in).
Weight: approx.15 kg (33lb).
History
The Drever is a Swedish breed originating with the Westphalian Dachsbracke (a small hound for tracking deer), brought from Germany to Sweden around 1910, and crossbred with other hounds to adjust "to Swedish terrain and game." By the 1940s there were two distinctive sizes of the Dachsbracke, and a newspaper contest was held in 1947 to choose the new name for the slightly larger variety; Drever was chosen, from the Swedish word drev, referring to a type of hunt where the dogs drive the game towards the hunter. The Drever was then recognised by the Swedish Kennel Club as a separate breed in 1947. The breed is recognised internationally by the Federation Cynologique Internationale, in Group 6 Scenthounds and related breeds, Section 1.3, Small-sized Hounds.
The Drever was recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club in 1956 in the Hound Group, and in 1996 by the United Kennel Club in its Scenthound Group. The breed is also recognized by a long list of minor registries, rare breed groups, hunting clubs, and internet registry businesses, and is promoted in North America as a rare breed pet. It is not currently recognized by The Kennel Club (UK), the Australian National Kennel Council or the New Zealand Kennel Club, or the American Kennel Club.
Behavior
Tenacious, courageous, and alert, the Drever has an exceptional nose and a loud voice. He hunts alone or in packs for hare, fox, and even wild boar. He makes a pleasant companion and needs a firm owner.
Function
Most breeds with similar physical traits are bred for a single purpose, but the Drever has been bred to hunt all sizes of game, both hares and roe deer, and is also used to hunt fox and red deer. The Drever has a lot of stamina, and has become a popular hunting hound for deer hunters in northern Norway, Sweden, and Finland as a change in legislation allowed the use of drevers in deer hunting. Roe deer are nervous quarry, and the hounds which are used to hunt them must move slowly, especially in areas where heavy snow can be expected in late autumn. This is given as the reason for breeding of a dog with a medium-sized body but short legs.
The Drever in Sweden is usually kept as a hunting hound and is not usually found as a pet.
Health
Specific health problems or claims of extraordinary health have not been documented for this breed. According to the breed standard, the Drever should be alert and self-possessed, with an affable, even temperament, and should not be aggressive or shy.
