“New” Dog Alert: All About the Danish-Swedish Farmdog, the AKC’s 202nd Breed

In this article:

• Where did the Danish-Swedish Farmdog come from?
• What is the Danish-Swedish Farmdog like?
• Where can I see a Danish-Swedish Farmdog in action?

There’s a new dog in town. The dog is the Danish-Swedish Farmdog and the town is the Working Group category at this year’s American Kennel Club National Dog Show, which will be televised on Thanksgiving. The AKC has recognized the DSF, which hails from Northern Europe, as its 202nd breed. 

Where did the Danish-Swedish Farmdog come from? 

While the AKC has only just recognized the Danish-Swedish Farmdog, the breed is actually thought to go back to the Viking era thanks to some similarly-sized dog bones found at burial sites. The breed could be found in Great Britain, Germany and France in addition to its namesake countries. The DSF is called both “Danish” and “Swedish” because their national kennel clubs were integral to bringing the small-but-mighty breed back. 

A spokesperson for the AKC told Digest, “Until a few decades ago, the [Danish-Swedish Farmdog] was a natural part of Danish rural life. Its everyday functions were many. This little working dog had many jobs around the farm including: mouser/ratter, livestock herder, hunting dog, watchdog and family companion. […] It was often utilized in circuses, appearing as the clown’s playmate.”

The Danish Kennel Club partnered with its equivalent in Sweden to bring these dogs back in the 1980s. As far as why the DSF is getting its big moment in America now: The AKC will recognize a breed once an owner or breed club petitions the organization, and if the breed is recognized in a foreign registry or has been established in the U.S. for 40 years. This allows the dogs to compete in AKC events.

What is the Danish-Swedish Farmdog like?  

A dog’s breed can give you some information about what to expect from them, like the approximate size that they’ll grow to, whether or not they’ll shed, and typical behavioral tendencies. But dogs, like people, are all individuals. You can’t predict a dog’s personality based on their breed.

That said, the AKC describes the Danish-Swedish Farmdog as small and “slightly rectangular” in shape, and close to a pinscher (not a terrier). They’re rated as “attentive”  and “eager to please,” making them highly trainable—with a caveat. The AKC recommends short training spurts with positive reinforcement, warning that longer training sessions could lead to frustration. Keep in mind that, no matter what dog you’re training, you should reward the behavior you want and only continue each training session as long as they stay happy and engaged.

The organization says that “this breed is also slower to mature than others, and their puppy phase will last longer than most dogs’.” They’re active, and may fit in well with families that love  exercise—especially hiking. The AKC has also written that these dogs are “far from needy, capable of entertaining themselves, and, like a cat, will lie on their back and play with a ball.”

Where can I see a Danish-Swedish Farmdog in action?

You may be able to watch the Danish-Swedish Farmdog competing in all of its slightly rectangular glory for the first time this Thanksgiving at the AKC’s National Dog Show.