Broholmer

Temperament:

Calm, Friendly, Alert
Size: Large
Height: 70-75 cm
Weight: 40-70 kg
Lifespan: 8-10 years
Coat: Shorthair
Colors: Yellow, Gold-Red, Black, White Badges
FCI Group: Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs

The Broholmer is a very rare Danish dog breed. It is particularly notable for its enormous size. The breed is recognized by the FCI and assigned to Group 2 (Molosser, Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs). These gentle giants impress with their calm, relaxed nature and their lovable character. The Broholmer is a very old dog breed, of which there are only a few left today.

Broholmer
Artboard 26

Characteristics

Broholmers are truly giant dogs. Adult animals reach an average height of around 75 cm. That is considerable. This also applies to the weight of the dogs. This is usually between 40 and 70 kg. Males are generally somewhat wider and heavier than their female counterparts. They are also often smaller.

The dogs have a powerful, strong and often muscular build. They appear huge, but very harmonious and well-fitting. The overall appearance is enormous and impresses even from a distance.

At first glance, the Broholmer can appear intimidating. However, this is only due to its appearance and not its character. The dogs' heads are massive, but they have a friendly appearance. The animals also have large, loyal eyes that can wrap people around their fingers.

The overall appearance of the dogs is almost majestic. The dogs have an elegant and proud gait. Their posture is self-confident and upright. At the same time, Broholmers have a naturally calm and friendly appearance.

The coat of the Broholmer is short and close-fitting. It has a dense, full undercoat that protects the dog from various weather conditions. Wind and rain do not bother them. The dogs also tolerate heat well. However, they should not be exposed to high outside temperatures.

The typical coat colors of the breed are yellow, red-gold and black. Many animals also have white markings on their coat. These are usually found on the chest, legs or the tip of the tail.

The Broholmer is a very calm and friendly dog. He doesn't let anything or anyone upset him and is very patient. It is very sweet and calm. Their tolerance threshold is high, making it difficult for them to be provoked by others.

They are known for their open and friendly nature. The Broholmer has no problems with other dogs and shows no aggressive behavior. Despite their hunting instinct, they generally get along well with other pets.

The dogs are also always friendly towards people, albeit somewhat aloof. They want to get to know people before they fully trust them.

The Broholmer is very self-confident. It is independent and courageous, but not rebellious. The dogs are rarely loud and bark little. They are also very intelligent and alert. They protect their family conscientiously and constantly observe their surroundings. This is probably due to their former activity as guardians.

The Broholmer develops a strong emotional bond with its owner and their family. They attach great importance to a harmonious relationship and love living together with their humans. These lovable four-legged friends need lots of affection and regular cuddles.

The dogs are real companions, especially with children. They play and romp around with children and always take good care of them. The dogs are quick to forgive small mistakes and are ideal family and companion dogs. They do not hold grudges and do not take offense.

The life expectancy of this breed is around 10 years. This is not unusual for their size. With good health and fitness, the dogs can certainly live longer.

Coat care:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Shedding:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Energy level:

Little
Medium
High

Trainability:

Little
Medium
Good

Children suitable:

Less
With supervision
Perfect

The right food

The diet of Broholmers is largely unproblematic. The only thing to bear in mind is that the dogs need plenty of high-quality food. It is therefore important to choose high-quality and balanced ingredients when selecting their food.

The daily amount of food should be adapted to the dog's size, weight and activity level. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

Like most large dog breeds, Broholmers have a deep chest. For this reason, the dogs are unfortunately prone to gastric torsion. These can not only be very painful, but also life-threatening.

Stomach twisting should be avoided at all costs. It can also be helpful to purchase an anti-swallowing bowl. This prevents the dog from eating too quickly. It is also advisable to position the bowl slightly higher. This can prevent gulping.

Physical activity after feeding should be avoided. It is also recommended to feed oversized breeds not just once, but several times a day.

In general, Boholmers are vital and healthy dogs. Unfortunately, however, they are susceptible to some typical breed diseases. These include hip and elbow dysplasia, for example. Eye and heart diseases are also more common. Serious breeders make every effort to contain these diseases.

Health & Care

The Broholmer is a very low-maintenance and uncomplicated dog. Grooming is very simple. A weekly brushing is completely sufficient. However, this breed sheds a lot.

Due to its size, the Broholmer is not easy to keep. It needs a lot of space to live.

He also needs plenty of exercise and exercise. Daily long walks are an absolute must.

The four-legged friends also like to run around in the great outdoors. However, care must be taken to ensure that the dog's hunting instinct does not get out of hand. The dog could quickly pick up and follow the scent of another animal.

Owners should also be aware that dogs have a great deal of strength. It is therefore very important to start training them early on. Basically, the Broholmer is quite easy to train. They readily accept the leadership of their owner.

However, it is very important that basic training begins at puppy age. Some experience in dealing with dogs is certainly an advantage. Once the relationship of trust between dog and human has been established, training can begin and continue without any problems.

The even-tempered and calm nature of the animals also contributes to this. Broholmers tend to be a little stubborn from time to time. However, this can be quickly brought under control with a little patience and loving consistency.

The financial aspect should also not be ignored when keeping such a large dog. Both the quantity and quality of the food and any veterinary costs in the event of illness can quickly add up.

Suitable accessories

The dog does not make any great demands on its living space. However, it is not advisable to keep such a dog in an apartment. Young dogs in particular should not climb stairs. This puts a lot of strain on the animal's joints and can lead to long-term consequences.

Houses or large apartments on the first floor are particularly suitable. Sufficient space for free movement must be available. A garden is also an advantage for the large four-legged friends, but not a prerequisite.

The Broholmer is a real nature lover. He doesn't fit in well in a big city and doesn't feel at home there either. He likes it much better in the countryside or in a rural environment.

Although the dogs are true giants and loyal guardians, they are by no means suitable for keeping in kennels. Rather, the animals should have their own retreat in the house. Here they can relax after an exciting day and recharge their batteries. Close contact with the family is particularly important for dogs. If this is not the case, there is a risk of loneliness.

Apart from that, these clever four-legged friends don't need any special accessories. Some dog toys can be purchased, but they don't have to be.

The basic equipment of every dog naturally also belongs to the Broholmers. These would be: Food and water bowl, dog mat, lead and collar, transport box or cage for transportation in the car.

Broholm history picture

Origin & History

The Broholmer is one of the original Danish breeds. The history of the Broholmer goes back a long way. The dogs are said to have been popular as hunters and guards as early as the 1880s. Numerous drawings and stories point to this.

Until the development of modern firearms, dogs were used for hunting in a variety of ways. They chased the game so close to the hunter that he was able to kill the prey.

During this time, the Broholmer was also often kept as a guard dog and representative of the house and farm. With the development of the arms industry and later with the Second World War, the breed became quiet.

The Danish people decided to save the Broholmer. Through targeted and careful breeding, it was finally possible to save the breed from extinction. The Broholmer was of great importance to the Danes anyway.

The breed was considered the favorite of the Danish King Frederik VVI. The dogs were kept at the royal court and had a corresponding position in society.

Today, the responsible breeding association is still very keen to preserve the breed. Nevertheless, the number of Broholmers is comparatively low.

These beautiful dogs are rarely seen. Even in Germany, the Broholmer is not very well known. On average, only 10-20 puppies are born each year.

The great nature of these dogs deserves much more recognition. Perhaps the popularity of these dogs will also increase here in Germany in the future.

The Broholmer was finally recognized as a breed by the FCI in 1982.