Fun Danish Swedish Farmdog Facts For Kids

If you are in search of a small and lively dog that can easily double down as a guard dog, the Danish Swedish Farmdog breed is the one you are looking for.

Originating from the Scandinavian nations of Denmark and Sweden, the predecessors of this breed have existed for centuries.

There have been many Viking burial grounds where fossils of dogs similar to this breed have been discovered. The current breed came into being in 1987 when efforts were made by both Sweden and Denmark to revive the dwindling population of the old Farmdogs.

True to its name, the breed standard for this canine was written by two breed judges from the two nations, namely Ole Staunskjaer from Denmark and Lars Adeheimer from Sweden.

After making its way to the United States and North America in the late '90s, the American Kennel Club, or the AKC finally inducted the breed to their Foundation Stock Service group in 2011. This was an important step in the recognition of this canine as a separate breed.

Want to read more about them? Scroll down to find interesting facts about these Scandinavian natives. For info on other dogs, check out Basenji dog facts and Border Terrier facts.

Danish Swedish Farmdog Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Danish Swedish Farmdog?

Often mistaken for a Jack Russell terrier, this breed of dog is known by the local name of Dansk Svensk gårdshund or the common name of Danish Swedish Farmdog. Danish Swedish Farmdogs are, as the name suggests, native to the countries of Denmark and Sweden.

What class of animal does a Danish Swedish Farmdog belong to?

Also known by their acronym of DSF, these dogs, like all other canines, belong to the class of Mammalia. The scientific name for these dogs from Denmark and Sweden is simply Canis lupus familiaris.

How many Danish Swedish Farmdogs are there in the world?

Although the existence of the Danish Swedish Farmdog goes back centuries, the current breed standard came into being in the year 1987.

Since then the high-energy Danish Swedish farmdogs have made their way to North America where they have been recognized by organizations such as the American Rare Breed Association and the American Kennel Club.

The American Kennel Club placed this healthy breed of hunting dog under their American Kennel Club Foundation Stock Service (AKC FSS). However, despite all these organizations recognizing and registering the Danish Swedish Farmdog, there hasn't been a concrete record as to what is their total population.

Yet, owing to being friendly dogs who excel in dog sports like agility and lure coursing, the DSF has been becoming an increasingly popular breed around the world.

Where does a Danish Swedish Farmdog live?

This dog breed lives with its owners in farms and houses where it makes the perfect companion for you and your children. Even though they are known as a high-energy breed, the Danish Swedish Farmdog does quite well in apartments too, contrary to popular belief.

What is a Danish Swedish Farmdog's habitat?

The Danish Swedish Farmdog habitat ranges from farms to apartments and houses. This high-energy dog can be the best companion in the house if its exercise needs are met.

If given the proper training, Danish Swedish Farmdogs will excel in agility, lure coursing, and other dog sports.

These dogs have an original history of hunting, they can be put to active work on farms in the role of rat exterminator when trained, providing a good source of exercise for them. This is one of the reasons the name Danish Swedish Pincher was given to them originally.

Who does the Danish Swedish Farmdog live with?

The Danish Swedish Farmdog breed is a dog that loves its role as a family companion. Family for these dogs is very important.

This dog must have a companion at all times with it. Otherwise, they have been observed to develop mental health issues like separation anxiety that, in turn, lead to the dogs being destructive and violent in temperament.

This is one of the active breeds that are great with children and other pets in the house. These dogs are extremely compatible with dog breeds. They can also be trained to be friendly with cats, however, this training should be early with the DSF puppies.

However, if you have pets that belong to the group of rodents, be very careful as this breed will chase after them and possibly, kill them. This behavior is very similar to terrier breeds.

How long does a Danish Swedish Farmdog live?

According to the AKC and various Danish and Swedish kennel clubs for this Farmdog, the life cycle of the dog varies between 11-15 years. There haven't been too many reported cases of this breed having a life span of beyond 15 years.

One plus point that helps dogs in leading a life of good health is that they do not have too many genetic health problems. However, irregular exercise may lead to this dog breed having short longevity.

How do they reproduce?

Like all other breeds of dogs, the Danish Swedish Farmdog breeds when the females come into heat. If you are breeding your dog, you must ensure that the dog feels comfortable.

However, this mild and friendly dog doesn't have too many problems while breeding. The gestation period of this breed can be assumed to be between 56-65 days. The total number of DSF puppies born per litter varies between three and five.

You can start the training and early socialization of these puppies a few weeks after they are born. Yet, you must remember that Danish Swedish Farmdogs are known to develop quite slowly and aren't fully mature till the age of three or four years.

What is their conservation status?

While this breed has been around for a long time, the modern recognized Danish Swedish Farmdog standard came into being in 1987. Since then, the Danish Swedish farm dog has been recognized by various other kennel clubs making its way into the AKC Foundation Stock Service.

As a result, the breed isn't really under threat of going extinct with many breeders actively breeding this energetic and active dog.

Danish Swedish Farmdog Fun Facts

What does a Danish Swedish Farmdog look like?

The Danish Swedish Farmdog is very often mixed with another group of dogs- the terrier breed. Jack Russell Terrier and Fox Terrier are the two breeds that the Danish Swedish Farmdog is confused with. This confusion mainly stems from their appearance and size.

A Danish Swedish Farmdog may be distinctly recognized from its triangular-shaped head, which is slightly smaller in comparison to the body. The AKC and the Danish Swedish Farmdog Club of America state in their breed standard that the dog should have medium-sized eyes that neither protrude nor sink into the skull.

The face is small and is known to have a tapering appearance from the ears to the nose.

Another way this active group of dogs can be recognized is by their ears. The Danish Swedish Farmdog ears are medium-sized and folded.

The coat of this breed is short, smooth, and hard in texture. However, the color of the coat can vary from dark brown to light brown, tan, fawn, and black with the dominant color being white.

This group of dogs has a muscular and strong body structure and this greatly aids them in their training and agility for dog sports and in their daily exercise.

How cute are they?

With its small triangular face and adorable eyes, we easily use cute as a term to define the Danish Swedish Farmdog. The Danish Swedish Farmdog's cool and curious temperament also adds to its cuteness quotient. Plus, this breed will simply not let go of you when you start cuddling them because they love and adore their families.

How do they communicate?

Due to their history of being hunting dogs and guard dogs, the Danish Swedish Farmdog will often communicate via barking. These dogs are always alert and lively and will respond to any sort of danger with loud barks. Along with its auditory cues, the Danish Swedish Farmdog conveys its emotions and feelings through physical cues.

How big is a Danish Swedish Farmdog?

The Danish Swedish Farmdog is a medium-sized breed. According to the AKC, the dog has a height that varies between 12-15 in (30.5-38.1 cm).

Males of this breed have been usually observed to be between 13-15 in (33-38.1 cm), while females of this breed are around 12-14 in (30.5-35.6 cm). Thus, we can conclude that there is slight sexual dimorphism within this breed. However, when compared to St. Bernards, the Danish Swedish Farmdog breed is half their size.

How fast can a Danish Swedish Farmdog run?

Being dogs that chase after rats and were originally used as hunting dogs, this breed of dog has been speculated to have a top speed that ranges around the 28 mph (45.1 kph) mark. This speed comes in handy when training for dog sports.

How much does a Danish Swedish Farmdog weigh?

For weight, 15-25 lb (6.8-11.3 kg) is the range agreed upon by breeders and the AKC. When the dog is within this range, their health more or less remains in perfect condition.

What are the male and female names of the species?

Like all other breeds, Danish Swedish Farmdog males are called dogs while Danish Swedish Farmdog females are called bitches.

What would you call a baby Danish Swedish Farmdog?

Puppies or pups are what we would call young dogs of this breed.

What do they eat?

Due to the lively and active lifestyle, the Danish Swedish Farmdog requires a diet full of proteins. Being small dogs, their metabolism rates are quite high. As a result, a high-quality protein and fat diet are what you should give your dog two to three times a day.

Are they slobbery?

No, the Danish Swedish Farmdogs are known to be slobbery. The only time these canines may drool is when they are tired or thirsty.

Would they make a good pet?

Of course, these active, lively, and loyal canines are perfect for all types of families. Their temperament is such that they are great with children. They may be a bit hostile to strangers, but early socialization may cure this problem.

However, these dogs need lots of daily exercise. So, families that buy them must be ready to adapt to the exercise needs of this dog. Apart from this, these canines are generally quite fit and are not known to have a lot of health issues.

You might feel a bit of a pocket pinch as puppies of this breed can be priced around USD 800.

Did you know...

Due to their close affinity to the Jack Russell terrier in terms of looks and size, we have already mentioned that they are confused with the terrier breed. However, they do not belong to the terrier breeds at all and are more common to the pinscher breeds.

Many have speculated that this breed has an origin that is related to the pinscher breeds and old English terrier breeds.

What dogs are from Denmark?

The dogs that originate from Denmark are the Broholmer or the Danish mastiff, the Danish spitz, the Danish Swedish Farmdog, and the old Danish pointer.

Do Danish Swedish Farmdogs need grooming?

Despite having a short and smooth coat, you have to brush your Danish Swedish canine quite regularly. Grooming the Danish Swedish Farmdog is very important as it helps in clearing debris and dirt from its coat and ears.

They shed a lot of hair, especially during some seasons. The only option to keep this in check is for you to brush your dog regularly.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our Bullmastiff Facts and Sumatran Rhinoceros Fun Facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Danish Swedish Farmdog coloring pages.