How to Identify a Danish‐Swedish Farmdog

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Last Updated: December 5, 2021

The Danish-Swedish Farmdog, or DSF, is a versatile breed assigned to the working group.^{[1]
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Go to source} Thought to be the product of crossing Fox Terriers with Pinschers, DSFs have served as companions, herders, ratters, hunters, watchdogs, and in many other jobs.^{[2]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.

Go to source} They are similar to many other breeds, but they have several features that can be used to distinguish them. By recognizing their unique traits, this wikiHow will help you identify a Danish-Swedish Farmdog.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Noticing the Structure

Danish-Swedish Farmdogs are fairly small-sized dogs. They can weigh anywhere from 15 to 20 pounds (6.8 to 9.1 kg), and they have a height of about 12.5–14.5 inches (32–37 cm).^{[3]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.

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Did you know? Despite their small size, Danish-Swedish Farmdogs are exceptionally hard workers, earning them the nickname of the "Little Big Dog" for their combined appearance and temperament.^{[4]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.

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A DSF's head is shaped like a triangle, though it is somewhat rounded and fairly broad. Compared to the body, it is proportionately small in size and has a stop that is pronounced well.^{[5]
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The eyes of a Danish-Swedish Farmdog are a bit round and a medium size. They are generally dark, particularly in dogs that have patches of black, though dogs that have brown or yellow patches may have eyes that are a small amount lighter. Without sinking or protruding, they give the dog an expression of kindness and attentiveness.^{[6]
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DSFs have ears of a medium size that are folded in either a button or rose ear. Button ears have tips that hang near the cheeks, while both button and rose ears are folded directly above the dog's head.^{[7]
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A Danish-Swedish Farmdog's muzzle developed well and barely shorter in length than the head. Having a straight bridge, it narrows a bit toward a tip at the nose, which is pigmented to correlate with the dog's colored patches, without seeming snipy. The cheeks are fairly pronounced, and a scissors or pincher bite rests in the strong jaws.^{[8]
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The paws of a DSF are oval-shaped. They are nearly knit tightly and are a small size, being identical in the front and back.^{[9]
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Though not docked, a Danish-Swedish Farmdog's tail may be a natural short length, appearing stumpy, or naturally long. Regardless of its length, it is not too high-set but is carried curved a small amount, sickle-like, or entirely straight.^{[10]
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DSFs are compactly built, rectangular in proportion, of good substance, and as a whole, small. They have a neck that is arched slightly, oblique shoulders, a deep chest, well-sprung ribs, parallel legs, and barely any tuckup. Their gait is free and comprised of parallel movements.^{[11]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Inspecting the Coat

Danish-Swedish Farmdogs have coats that feel both harsh and smooth. The length of the hair is short in appearance and to the touch.^{[12]
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DSFs are known for having different patches on their body and head. These patches may vary in size, color, and overall combination and may include flecking.^{[13]
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A Danish-Swedish Farmdog's coat has a base color of white, which dominates the whole coat. The patches may be black, brown, tan, yellow, badger, or any shade of fawn in color. The dog's coat may also possibly have tan markings.^{[14]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Identifying Temperament

Danish-Swedish Farmdogs are known for their high workload capacity and have served in many jobs throughout the history of their breed. They are versatile, all-purpose canines that can be as great of a companion as they can a farm worker.^{[15]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.

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As working dogs, DSFs need a good deal of exercise. They are full of energy and require opportunities to work and play to relieve them of their high energy.^{[16]
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DSFs make great family pets and have the potential to thrive as companion dogs. They can excel with both children and other household pets if properly socialized, though they may sometimes view smaller animals as prey and chase them.^{[17]
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Overall, many Danish-Swedish Farmdogs are calm, sweet, and gentle. This is another reason why they do great with children, and it also makes them keen hunters.^{[18]
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Despite being bred to be work-oriented, Danish-Swedish Farmdogs value companionship and love being with their families. Because of this, they do not do well when left alone for too long.^{[19]
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Tips

Think about DNA testing if you wish to know your own dog's breed. A DNA test will confirm if your dog is a Danish-Swedish Farmdog.

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