MyDogBreeds
St. John's Water Dog is originated from Canada but Drever is originated from Sweden. St. John's Water Dog may grow 15 cm / 6 inches higher than Drever. St. John's Water Dog may weigh 25 kg / 56 pounds more than Drever. St. John's Water Dog may live 3 years less than Drever. Both St. John's Water Dog and Drever has same litter size. Both St. John's Water Dog and Drever requires Low maintenance.
The breed known as the St. John’s water dog is an extinct landrace breed. They were domestic dogs found in Newfoundland and at times were called the lesser Newfoundland. There is not much information available about the other breeds that went into its development. Hypothetically it is believed they are a mix of the Irish, Old English and Portuguese dogs bred to work.
It is also thought that other breeds in their family tree, descending from them, include the Golden Retriever, the Flat-Coated Retriever, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, the Labrador and the Curly-Coated Retriever. The Newfoundland is also related to the St. Johns Water Dog through the line of Rafeirio do Alenteios that Portuguese fisherman brought to the island.
The breed was exported to England in the 19th century and early 20th. There the breeds of retrievers were developed. In Canada during this time frame restrictions were placed on dog ownership in order to encourage people to raise sheep. At the same time England imposed a long quarantine on all animals coming into the country in order to get rid of rabies. These two factors contributed greatly to the extinction of the breed. It seems the last two dogs were seen in a remote area in the 1980’s. All attempts to save the breed failed.
The Drever dog hails from Sweden, being brought from Germany to the Scandinavian country in 1910. As a scenthound, in spite of his short legs, he was once used for hunting purposes, having a keen nose.
The dog was developed from the Westphalian Dachsbracke and then crossbred with other Swedish hounds.
By the 1940s there were two distinctive sizes of this Dachsbracke dog and the larger one was named Drever. It was in 1947 that the Drever was then recognized by the Swedish Kennel Club as a separate breed. It was also recognized by a number of other clubs and registries.
St. John’s Water Dog is strong, medium sized and stocky. They looked more like English Labs than American Labs. They had a thick, short coat, loved swimming, had a lot of endurance and rudder tail. It was also described as a thin, black dog with short hair. They had white patches on their chest and feet. His nose was thin and tapered, his legs powerful, his chest muscular. The breed is quick, swims, runs quickly and is a fighter as well.
Never accepted by any major kennel club except as a foundation breed. They became extinct.
Looking quite similar to the Beagle, the Drever is a medium sized dog which stands at about 32 – 38cm and weighing between 14 and 16kg.
He has a fairly long body but unlike the Dachshund his short legs are straight and aren’t bent. The nose of the dog is fairly large and black and the ears are quite long, much like a Beagle dog.
The eyes are bright, alert and dark and the expression on the dog’s face is amicable and gentle.
He has a short, dense coat and is looked upon as a moderate to heavy shedder. The coat can be in several colors such as brown or tan and black with white markings over the face, neck, chest and feet. He has floppy ears and a long tail carried downwards.
3.Adaptability large need fence, they are not large dogs but they need outdoor space
The Drever dog is an easy dog to have around, not requiring any special treatment to keep him happy.
He gets on well with every member of the family as well as any pets in the home and fits easily into city- or country life.
He is an active dog however, and will require exercising to avoid him becoming frustrated.
Treat your amicable Drever with the attention he deserves and you’ll have a friendly, calm and devoted pet who wants to be your best friend.
There is no documented history of any genetic or hereditary illnesses in the breed. However, it seems rational to believe they suffered from ailments similar to Labradors and newfoundland though they are smaller dogs.
The Drever is a dog which enjoys good health generally, and with good care he can reach 12 to 15 years of age. The Drever, similar to other dogs, may be susceptible to some common health concerns that any healthy dog can experience such as back pain, hip dysplasia, eye diseases, obesity, diabetes and others.
Veterinary care is an important part of a dog’s health – from puppyhood to the senior years. However, the frequency of visits you make to your vet with your adult dog will depend on his health.
1Feeding the puppy – Don’t overfeed – they have a propensity toward obesity. Feed high quality, high protein 3 x a day.
2.Feeding the adult – Don’t overfeed. Feed a high quality, high protein 1-2 x a day.
4. Games and Exercises – They need space to run and they love to explore. They would also love to be near water where they could swim. Good at dock diving, field trials, flyball and frisbee.
It is important to feed your dog food that will cater to his digestion. That is why some of the best commercially manufactured foods are so good – they cater specifically for a dog’s age, his size, his activity levels and for any illnesses he may have.
In terms of activity levels, the Drever is an active dog, quite capable of chasing prey for long distances without tiring. This is why some dog foods are breed- and activity specific.
A good brand of kibble mixed with some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken will be excellent for your pet. Remember, if at all possible, to include some raw meat into the diet from time to time. Cool, fresh water should be available at all times.
Maintaining your Drever’s short, coarse coat won’t be a hassle, and you can call him a low maintenance dog. All that is essentially required is for you to give his coat a good brush twice a week. Nails will also need to be checked as well as his ears. Ignoring his ears can lead to wax build up and dirt and this can result in infection.