NEW YORK –
Say hello to the latest dog on the American Kennel Club’s list of recognized breeds. Or you could say “heh.”
The Danish-Swedish farm dog (yes, that’s the official name) joined the group on Thursday. The designation makes the breed eligible to compete for many top show trophies, and likely portends more widespread interest in small, lively dogs. The prospect makes his biggest followers happy and concerned.
“We’re excited about this. We’re looking forward to it,” said Carey Segebart, one of the people who worked to get Danish-Swedish farm dogs recognized by the AKC. She plans to proudly present one of her own at a dog show this month near her home in Iowa.
Still, he believes more exposure is “a double-edged sword” for the fast, versatile pups.
“We don’t want the breed to explode too quickly,” he said.
Called a farm dog or DSF for short, the breed dates back centuries in parts of what is now Denmark, southern Sweden and some other European countries, according to the Danish-Swedish Farm Dog Club of America.
“They’re interesting, fun little dogs,” said Segebart, who has owned them since 2011 and is the club’s incoming president. “Basically, they are prepared for anything. They succeed at almost everything.”
In their home countries, the dogs’ main job was rodent patrol, but they also did some herding, acted as guard dogs, and played with farmers’ children. Some even performed in circuses, according to the club.
After Denmark and Sweden became more urban and suburban in the 20th century, farm dog fanciers set out to secure the breed’s place in both nations (where “hej” translates to “hello” in English). Kennel clubs began registering farm dogs in 1987.
In the United States, many of the nearly 350 farm dogs nationwide compete in agility, obedience or other dog sports that are open to all dogs, including mixed breeds.
But until now, farm dogs couldn’t participate in the traditional breed-by-breed judging that leads to top prizes at events, including the prominent Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York. The entry deadline has already passed for February’s Westminster show, so the farm dogs will have to wait until 2026 there, but they may appear later this year at two other major televised shows, the National Dog Show and the AKC National Championship.
The Danish-Swedish farm dog is the AKC’s 202nd breed and “a wonderful addition to a family that can provide the exercise and mental stimulation it needs,” said the club’s Gina DiNardo.
The AKC is the oldest purebred dog registry in the United States and essentially a league for many dog competitions. Registration is voluntary and requirements for breed recognition include at least 300 pedigree dogs spread across at least 20 states. Some breeds are in other dog clubs or none at all.
Danish and Swedish farm dog fanciers deliberated for several years before seeking AKC recognition and the attention it would likely bring, Segebart said. The number of farm dog puppy seekers has increased substantially over the last decade; Each of the few breeders receives multiple inquiries a week, and the typical wait for a puppy is a year or more, he said.
Farm dog people fear that their attractive and relatively easy-care breed could quickly become too popular for its own good. They’re not the first to worry: Much furor has been raised in the dog world over the rise of the French bulldog, which the AKC now ranks as the most popular breed in the country.
Some animal rights activists echo those concerns and argue against dog breeding in general. They say popularity trends for purebred dogs divert people from adopting shelter animals, fuel puppy mills and reward dogs’ appearance over their health.
The AKC says it responsibly promotes “breeding for type and function” to produce dogs with at least somewhat predictable traits, whether they are as basic as size or as specialized as bomb-sniffing skills. The club says it has donated more than $35 million since 1995 to its canine health research charity.
