The Danish-Swedish farm dog is the newest breed in the AKC lineup

The Danish-Swedish farm dog – yep, that’s the official name – joined the pack on Thursday. The designation makes the breed eligible to compete for many best in show trophies and is likely to herald more widespread interest in the small, wiry dogs. The prospect both pleases and worries their biggest fans.

“We’re excited about it. 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 proudly plans to debut one of her own at a dog show this month near his home in Iowa.

Still, she believes increased exposure is “a double-edged sword” for the fleet, versatile pups.

“We don’t want the race to just explode too quickly,” she said.

Called the 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 Farmdog Club of America.

“They’re interesting, fun little dogs,” said Segebart, who has owned them since 2011 and is the club’s incoming president. “They are basically ready for anything. They succeed at most anything.”

In their original homelands, the dogs’ main task was rodent patrolling, but they would also herd a bit, act as guard dogs and play with farmers’ children. Some even performed in the circus, according to the club.

After Denmark and Sweden became more urban and suburban in the 20th century, farm dog lovers set out to secure the breed’s place in both nations (where “hello” translates to the English “hello”). Kennel clubs there began registering farm dogs in 1987.

In the United States, many of the only 350 or so 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 have been unable to participate in the traditional breed-by-breed judging that leads to best in show awards at events including the prominent Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York. The entry deadline has passed for February’s Westminster show, so farm dogs will have to wait until 2026 there, but they may well appear later in the 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 is able to give it the exercise and mental stimulation it needs,” said the club’s Gina DiNardo.

The AKC is America’s oldest purebred dog registry 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 kennel clubs or none at all.

Danish-Swedish farm dog lovers deliberated for several years before pursuing AKC recognition and the attention likely to come with it, Segebart said. The number of puppy seekers has grown significantly over the last decade; each of the few breeders receives several inquiries a week, and the typical wait for a puppy is a year or more, she said.

Farmdog people fear that their appealing, relatively easy-care breed could quickly become too popular for its own good. They’re not the first to worry: Much fur has flown in dogdom 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 these concerns to argue against dog breeding in general. They say purebred popularity trends are diverting people from adopting pets, fueling puppy mills and prize dogs’ looks over their health.

The AKC says it promotes responsible “breeding for type and function” to produce dogs with at least somewhat predictable characteristics, whether they are as basic as size or as specialized as bomb-sniffing skills. The club says it has given over $35 million since 1995 to its canine health research charity.