Breeds / Small
Danish-Swedish Farmdog puppies
A small, cheerful Scandinavian farm dog, quick and busy outdoors and calm in the house, sociable with children and other animals and easy to train.
The facts
- Size class Small
- Country of origin Denmark, Sweden
- Adult weight 6.8 to 9.1 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 15 to 20 lb
- Adult height 32 to 37 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Short smooth
- Shedding Low
- Typical lifespan 11 to 13 years
- Good with children Reliably good
- Good with other dogs Reliably good
About the Danish-Swedish Farmdog
The Danish-Swedish Farmdog is the all purpose smallholding dog of Denmark and southern Sweden, expected to kill rats, warn of visitors, help move stock and then come indoors with the family. They are small and compactly built, 6.8 to 9.1 kg standing 32 to 37 cm, with a short smooth coat, usually white with patches, and a slightly rounded head that makes them look more pinscher than terrier. Character is cheerful, busy and adaptable, and they get on well with children and other pets given normal supervision.
Energy is high for the size and they need daily exercise plus something to think about, which is why they do so well at agility, rally and trick training. Grooming is close to nothing, an occasional brush and bath, plus nails and ears. They adapt to a flat provided the exercise is real. They may be lap sized, but they are a farm dog at heart, and a bored one will invent their own entertainment.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Danish-Swedish Farmdog puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Patellar luxation, a slipping kneecap, found on a patella evaluation
- Hip dysplasia, screened by hip evaluation of breeding stock
- Inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation
Your Danish-Swedish Farmdog puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Danish-Swedish Farmdog.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 6.8 to 9.1 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 9.1 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other small breeds
More on the Danish-Swedish Farmdog
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- Health notes from Danish-Swedish Farmdog breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/danish-swedish-farmdog/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Medico80 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.