Danish Swedish Farmdog

15-25 lbs
12-15"
Sweden & Denmark
Dansk-Svensk Gårdshund, Danish Pinscher, Old Danish Fox Terrier, Scanian Terrier

The Danish Swedish Farmdog is an old breed that has undergone many changes throughout their history. They were extremely popular on farms throughout Denmark and southern Sweden. This small dog is lively and intelligent. They have an expressive personality that endears them to the hearts of many. Expect to give the Danish Swedish Farmdog a job to complete, otherwise, they could easily become destructive or simply a nuisance while you are trying to work around the home. Even though they are a somewhat high energy dog, they are also able to lounge around the home once they have completed their tasks for the day. They excel at several different dog sports including agility, lure course, flyball, tracking, and nose work. 

purpose Purpose
All-Around Farm Dog
history Date of Origin
1700s
ancestry Ancestry
Unknown

Danish Swedish Farmdog Health

Average Size
Male Danish Swedish Farmdog size stats
Height: 13-15 inches Weight: 15-25 lbs
Female Danish Swedish Farmdog size stats
Height: 12-15 inches Weight: 15-25 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Usually A Very Healthy Breed
Minor Concerns
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
Occasional Diagnoses
  • None Known
Occasional Tests
  • OFA
  • Yearly Physical Examination

Danish Swedish Farmdog Breed History

Most people outside of Denmark and Sweden did not know anything about the Danish Swedish Farmdog, however, they were extremely popular on farms throughout both countries. They were used as an all-around working dog and wore many hats including herder, hunter, ratter, watchdog and of course, family companion. They are thought to have originated in the 1700s from possible Terriers of unknown origins. However, later, researchers began to wonder if he did not originate from smaller working dogs, such as Pinschers, rather than Terriers. There is very little written documentation about the Danish Swedish Farmdog, making it difficult to trace their exact origins. They faced extinction when farms began closing and more and more people became city dwellers. People did not see a purpose for an all-around farm dog within the city and pure bred Danish Swedish Farmdogs became harder to find. Thankfully, fanciers within the Swedish Kennel Club and Danish Kennel Club began working together in 1987 to keep the breed from becoming extinct. In the process, they were able to find several of the dogs that were in excellent health and had no known genetic problems. These two kennel clubs worked diligently to preserve the breed and gave them the official name: Danish Swedish Farmdog. Given the honor of becoming one the national breeds of both Sweden and Denmark, they can now be found throughout Denmark, Sweden, Germany, France and Great Britain. They are beginning to gain some recognition within North America as well. In 2001, the American Rare Breed Association recognized this hardworking canine and began registering dogs through their association. The American Kennel Club accepted them into its Foundation Stock Service in 2011. There are still too few of the breed registered for them to obtain full American Kennel Club status.

Danish Swedish Farmdog Breed Appearance

Even though the Danish Swedish Farmdog is not a Terrier, they are oftentimes confused with the Fox Terrier or even the Jack Russell because of their size and coat. They are a smaller dog with a well-muscled body. They are compact and do mature late, as do most small dogs. With a short, smooth coat that is harsh to the touch, the coat should lie close to the body and never appear fluffy or long when showing for conformation. They are predominantly white with varying sizes of colored patches on their body including black, brown, tan and fawn. They can also have tan markings on the face and feet. The nose can be either black or brown depending on the coloring. Their eyes should be a dark brown for dogs with black patches and can be a lighter brown or amber for dogs with lighter colored patches. They have medium sized ears that are either button or rose shaped with the tips lying close to their cheeks. 

Eye Color Possibilities
brown Danish Swedish Farmdog eyes
Brown
amber Danish Swedish Farmdog eyes
Amber
Nose Color Possibilities
black Danish Swedish Farmdog nose
Black
brown Danish Swedish Farmdog nose
Brown
Coat Color Possibilities
pied Danish Swedish Farmdog coat
Pied
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Danish Swedish Farmdog straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Danish Swedish Farmdog Breed Maintenance

Because the Danish Swedish Farmdog has a short, smooth coat, they are relatively easy to groom. They should be brushed at least once a month using a soft bristle brush or a slicker brush to remove any dirt or loose hairs. People who are planning on showing their Danish Swedish Farmdog will want to brush them weekly to ensure their coat remains shiny and show ready. Even though they have a short coat, they will still shed some throughout the year. This canine does shed heavily seasonally; therefore, expect to brush them more often during this time, usually one to two times per year. They are not hypoallergenic and people with allergies should not consider them for their family companion. They have virtually no smell and only need bathing twice a year or whenever they get into something unpleasant. Use a mild shampoo when bathing them. Check their nails every few weeks and trim them when needed. The ears should be cleaned weekly or at the very least checked to make sure no dirt has accumulated. 

Brushes for Danish Swedish Farmdog
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Danish Swedish Farmdog requires monthly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Danish Swedish Farmdog Temperament

This amicable pup is a lively and intelligent dog. Very active and requiring a lot of physical exercise and mental stimulation to keep them happy and well-adjusted, they live to perform tasks and make an excellent companion when they have a specific job to do. This can be anything from fetching the newspaper and slippers to picking up their toys. They excel at therapy work because they are such a lover of people. The Danish Swedish Farmdog does excellent with children and is content to play for hours. They do have a high prey drive; therefore, keep all small pets such as hamsters, rabbits, ferrets, and guinea pigs safely contained when your dog is around. Your companion may also harm pet snakes if they get out of their cage. They will generally do well with cats that they have been raised with, but should be closely monitored if a new kitten is brought into the home. This eager worker is very easy to train and wants nothing more than to please you.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
14 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
90 minutes
activity minutes

Danish Swedish Farmdog Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
1 cups
cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$0.90 - $1.00
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$25.00 - $30.00
food bag monthly cost

Danish Swedish Farmdog Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Danish Swedish Farmdog size stats at six months
Height: 8.5 inches Weight: 9.0 lbs
Female Danish Swedish Farmdog size stats at six months
Height: 8.0 inches Weight: 9.0 lbs
12 Months
Male Danish Swedish Farmdog size stats at 12 months
Height: 10.5 inches Weight: 14.0 lbs
Female Danish Swedish Farmdog size stats at 12 months
Height: 10.0 inches Weight: 14.0 lbs
18 Months
Male Danish Swedish Farmdog size stats at 18 months
Height: 14.0 inches Weight: 16.0 lbs
Female Danish Swedish Farmdog size stats at 18 months
Height: 14.0 inches Weight: 16.0 lbs

Danish Swedish Farmdog Owner Experiences

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