Apartment fit
Apartment life is possible only with real exercise, scent work, and barking management. Size alone does not make the Drever easy indoors.
HoundSmall
Sweden
SwedenDrever
Weight
30-35 lb
Height
12-15 in
Lifespan
12-14 yrs
Coat
Harsh Short
The Drever is a low Swedish scent hound bred to drive deer and other game, with a short weather-resistant coat and a persistent, even-tempered nature.
Swedish low-legged scent houndBred to drive deer and other gameShort harsh coat with required white markingsPersistent, vocal, and scent-focused outdoors
Breed Names
Official, native, and commonly used variants
No widely used alternate names are recorded for this breed.
PersistentEven-TemperedAffectionateScent-DrivenAlert
Weight
30-35 lb
Height
12-15 in
Lifespan
12-14 yrs
Coat
Harsh Short
At A Glance
Daily living snapshot
A quick read on energy, upkeep, and what day-to-day life with this breed usually feels like.
Energy
High
Barking
High
Drooling
Low
Shedding
Moderate
Grooming
1/5
First-time owner
No
Overview
The Drever is a Swedish scent hound developed from the Westphalian Dachsbracke type and selected for slow, steady game driving in Scandinavian terrain. It is long-bodied, low on leg, and built for stamina rather than speed.
At home, the Drever is often even-tempered, affectionate, and social, but outdoors it is a determined hunting hound. It follows scent with focus, uses its voice while trailing, and should not be trusted off leash in open areas without serious training and safe boundaries.
The coat is short, harsh, and close, with all colors allowed as long as white markings are present; solid white and liver brown are not accepted in the FCI standard. Owners should plan for nose work, recall practice, secure walks, ear checks, and weight control to protect the long body.
Temperament & Personality
PersistentEven-TemperedAffectionateScent-DrivenAlert
This breed tends to suit homes looking for a persistent, even-tempered, affectionate companion, with daily rhythms shaped by high energy, high barking, and low drooling.
Coat type
Harsh
Coat length
Short
Shedding
Moderate
Colors
Any Color with White Markings, Tricolor, Red and White, Black and White, Fawn and White
Lifestyle Compatibility
Family Friendly4/5
Good with Kids4/5
Good with Dogs4/5
Good with Strangers3/5
Apartment Friendly3/5
Exercise Needs4/5
Grooming Needs1/5
Trainability3/5
Good fit if you want
- A family-friendly companion
- Room for routine exercise
- Confidence handling structure and training
Plan ahead for
- 4/5 exercise needs
- moderate shedding and coat upkeep
- high barking in daily life
Owner Fit & Everyday Behavior
Best for
- hound owners who enjoy scent work
- active homes with secure walking routines
- families comfortable with hound voice
- owners who can keep a low long dog lean
Not ideal for
- owners wanting a quiet apartment dog
- homes expecting reliable off-leash freedom
- people unwilling to manage scent drive
- households with unmanaged small pets
Common challenges
- hound vocalization
- recall around scent
- weight control
- ear care
- secure containment
Barking & behavior
Expect trail voice and alert barking. Reward quiet pauses and give the dog appropriate scent outlets.
Training style
Use food rewards, long-line work, and patient repetition. Drevers follow scent first, so management matters.
Grooming & shedding
Brush the short harsh coat, clean ears, trim nails, and check paws after outdoor work.
Care Guide
Exercise
Drevers need daily exercise plus scent work. Long sniffing walks, tracking games, secure field time, and recall practice suit the breed better than short leash walks only.
Grooming
The short harsh coat is easy to brush. Check ears, nails, teeth, paw pads, and skin after hunting or brushy walks, and keep the dog lean to protect the long back.
Training
Use patient reward-based training and hound management. Recall, quiet breaks, leash manners, and safe containment are important because scent can override casual obedience.
Nutrition
Feed measured meals for a lean, muscular body. Extra weight is hard on a low long hound and can reduce stamina and back comfort.
Behavior & Environment
Energy level
High
Barking level
High
Drooling level
Low
Watchdog ability
3/5
Guard dog ability
1/5
Climate tolerance
Cold weather4/5
Heat tolerance3/5
Health Considerations
Common concerns to discuss with your vet and breeder.
ObesityEar infectionsBack strainPaw or nail injuriesHunting-related injuries
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Drever a good apartment dog?
It can work only if barking, scent work, and exercise are managed. The Drever is small, but it is a vocal hunting hound, not a quiet lap dog.
Does the Drever bark a lot?
Yes, it can be vocal. Drevers were bred to use voice while trailing game, so owners should expect hound sound and train quiet breaks early.
Is the Drever good for first-time owners?
It is usually better for owners who understand scent hounds. A first-time owner needs guidance on recall, barking, secure walks, and weight control.
How much exercise does the Drever need?
Most need high daily activity for their size, especially sniffing and tracking work. Walks should be more than quick potty breaks.
Is the Drever good with kids and other dogs?
Drevers are often social and affectionate when raised well, but children should be taught respectful handling and small pets need caution because of hunting drive.
Does the Drever shed a lot?
Shedding is moderate. The short coat is easy to brush, but ears, feet, and body condition need regular attention.
What is the biggest challenge of owning the Drever?
The main challenge is managing a determined vocal scent hound: recall, containment, barking, and nose work all matter.
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