Drever

The Drever is a short-legged Swedish scent hound bred to drive deer slowly towards a waiting hunter rather than to run them down.

History

It descends from the German Westphalian Dachsbracke, imported to Sweden in the early twentieth century and developed there into a slightly larger dog. The short legs are the working principle: a hound this size moves deer at a walk, keeping them calm and within range, where a fast hound would scatter them. It was named by a Swedish magazine competition in 1947 and is one of Sweden's most common hunting dogs.

Temperament

The breed is known for being even-tempered, friendly and persistent, sociable with people and other dogs and thoroughly committed to a scent line.

Care and training

It needs substantial exercise and secure ground; recall competes with the nose. Weight control matters on a long back. The short coat is easy.

Health

Generally robust, with disc problems from the build and ear infections among the known concerns. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.