Energetic and loyal: meet the Danish-Swedish farm dog, the newest breed recognized by the American Kennel Club

Meet the Danish-Swedish farm dogthe newest breed recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). They’re spry, they’re energetic and they’re up for anything, but at the end of the day they’re happy to relax and cuddle.

Last week, the AKC, a nonprofit organization that maintains a dog breed registry, officially welcomed the Danish-Swedish farm dog in its ranks. The club now recognizes 202 breeds, which are eligible to compete in all of its events and competitions, including the esteemed AKC National Championship.

Danish-Swedish breeders and farm dog owners in the United States began their quest to get the breed officially recognized in 2011, reports the Washingtonpostby Jonathan Edwards. The effort, led by the Danish-Swedish Farmdog Club of Americaincluded developing breed standards, writing a code of ethics and raising awareness about these little pups.

The AKC included Danish-Swedish farm dogs in the ‘Miscellaneous Class’ in 2021, which meant they could compete in certain dog sports competitions, including agility, obedience, herding, tracking and dock diving.

But that designation did not allow them to compete in the club’s conformation competitions, in which individuals are judged based on how well they match the standards of their breed. At the AKC National Championships, the canine competitors compete against members of their breed, their group and other finalists, with one earning the title of “Best in Show” and essentially becoming the top dog of the year. (A giant schnauzer named Monty was crowned champion in 2024.)

Although Danish-Swedish farm dogs are new to the club’s range, they have probably been around for hundreds of years. The exact beginnings of the breed are a bit obscure, but it may have originated in ancient Denmark. Archaeologists have discovered farm dog-type skeletons in Viking cemeteries from the Middle Ages, according to British newspaper The Guardian AKC.

More recently, these pups helped out on small family farms in Denmark and Sweden. They caught and killed rodents, herded livestock, hunted with their owners and guarded the estate. They also kept their human relatives company.

The breed began to disappear after industrialization, when family farms fell by the wayside. But starting in the late 1980s, kennel clubs in Denmark and Sweden began to band together to save them. The first was imported to the US in 1998, followed by two more in the coming years. In 2003, the trio of Danish-Swedish farm dog owners in the US started a club for the breed.

Today, the dogs remain popular in Europe, where they are known as “Dansk Svensk Gardshund” or “Danski.” According to the AKC, these four-legged animals are a common sight in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.

Danish-Swedish farm dogs are small: they weigh only 15 to 20 pounds and can grow up to 14.5 inches long. But don’t let their small stature fool you: they are bundles of energy who enjoy working on farms or romping with children. Once they have had some exercise, they like to curl up on the couch.

They are intelligent and eager to please their human owners, making them “highly trainable,” according to the paper AKC. They are also relatively low-maintenance dogs, requiring only occasional brushing and bathing.

Affectionate and loyal, Danish-Swedish farm dogs are gentle with children and sociable with other dogs and strangers. One pup from Cheyenne, Wyoming, even has her own YouTube channel for kids called “Miss Mae for Little Learners,” reports the Cheyenne Post.

The breed typically has short, white hair with black, brown, yellow, brown and fawn markings. Due to their physical appearance, they are often mistaken for beagles and Jack Russell terriers.

“This compact working dog is very versatile, loves a challenge and loves work,” said Gina DiNardo, club secretary. statement. “It would be a wonderful addition to a family that can give the child the exercise and mental stimulation he or she needs. As always, we highly encourage prospective dog owners to do their research to find the best breed for their lifestyle.

With their newly granted status, Danish-Swedish farm dogs and their owners are eager to participate in conformation competitions. And according to the AKC’s announcement, some had already signed up for events in Minnesota and California Washingtonpost. Fans can also see them at the 2025 AKC National Championship, typically held in December.

Advocates of the breed are pleased that Danish-Swedish farm dogs are now recognized by the AKC. But their enthusiasm is tempered by some trepidation. The dogs’ new celebrity could be a “double-edged sword,” as Carey Segebart, the new president of the Danish-Swedish Farmdog Club of America, tells us. Associated press“Jennifer Peltz.

“We don’t want the breed to explode too quickly,” Segebart told the AP. And she doesn’t want illegal puppy farms to take advantage of the increased attention for the breed, she adds Washingtonpost.

More broadly, some animal rights groups oppose dog breeding – and the promotion of purebred dogs – as a whole.

“All breeders are fueling the animal overpopulation crisis, and every time someone buys a puppy or kitten instead of adopting from an animal shelter, homeless animals lose their chance of finding a home,” she said. People for the ethical treatment of animals (PETA).

The AKC say purebreds can help owners find a pet with “predictable characteristics” and whose “temperament suits your lifestyle and personality.”