The Danish dog breed Broholmer rides the waves of tranquility and despite its large stature, is a very gentle and friendly companion. The family and guard dog quickly endears itself to every family member and is a devoted creature that exudes much love and dignity. If you decide to bring a Broholmer puppy into your family, you’ll receive a confident dog belonging to the molossoid, i.e., very powerful and muscular breeds. Find out more about the details and characteristics of the Danish dog breed Broholmer here.

History of the Broholmer

Broholmer, whose local name is also “the old Danish dog,” is a dog breed that has existed since the 16th century. With the marriage of the Scottish King James IV and the daughter of the Danish King Frederik II, the Danish house also received large English dogs as bridal gifts, which are the precursors of the Broholmer dog breed. Paired with local dogs, it was the royal landowner Niels Frederik Bernhart Sehested, who revived this old dog breed in 1850 at Broholm Castle. Fascinated by the strength and power of the hunting dogs, this breed received the royal seal and was preferred in noble circles.

Here, it was primarily Countess Danner, the wife of King Frederik VII, who brought the breed to new fame at Jægerspris Castle. The now also called Jægerspris dogs breed has been immortalized in numerous paintings of this period. While the king named his dog Tyrk, the Countess’s dog was named Holger. In the 20th century, after the turmoil of World War II, the noble dog breed was considered nearly extinct due to economic crises and diseases such as distemper. Freed from oblivion, the FCI, in collaboration with Denmark’s breed-sustaining association, launched a reintroduction of the Broholmer into the list of dog breeds in 1974.

Character and Temperament

Due to its size, the Broholmer emphasizes a very calm and family-friendly nature. The friendly and benign dogs are nevertheless very watchful and have great self-confidence. A lack of self-assurance is one of the main reasons for characterizing the dog poorly in the examination. The Broholmer dog should therefore be full of strength and yet pleasantly social and friendly. Ultimately, it’s the dog’s calmness that makes it so family-friendly and benign. The Danish breed also demonstrates this during socialization in the pack. The Broholmer dog behaves very peacefully towards other dogs and cannot be provoked. As a family dog, the Broholmer’s character is characterized by loyalty and sincere affection.

Affection Level	High
Friendliness	High
Kid-Friendly	High
Pet-Friendly	Medium
Exercise Needs	High
Playfulness	High
Energy Level	Medium
Trainability	High
Intelligence	High
Tendency to Bark	Medium
Amount of Shedding	High

Acquiring a Broholmer

Outside Denmark, the Broholmer dog is difficult to obtain. Here, as dog lovers, you must remain very patient and exercise patience. There are only a few breeders of this dog breed in the United States, and as a potential interested party and buyer, the purchase of a Broholmer puppy is almost exclusively possible through joining or becoming a member of a Broholmer association. It is strongly advised against obtaining Broholmer puppies through dubious deals.

In addition to extensive health testing, dogs of this breed also undergo a comprehensive description of character and temperament during upbringing. This is also referred to as mental description and serves the purpose of preserving the character traits of the dog in a reputable breeding program. After the Broholmer dog breed was on the verge of extinction in the early 20th century, the aim is to preserve the cherished essence of these good-natured giants.

What should I consider when buying?

Broholmer puppies should never be obtained through dubious trunk sales, over the internet, or during a trip abroad. If it is determined that a male or female does not possess a good-natured temperament and a high level of self-confidence, according to the FCI, they do not meet the requirements for further breeding success. It is therefore advisable for interested dog lovers to engage with a Broholmer association in close or indirect proximity. As a rule of thumb for the purchase, the first criterion is: the skull and muzzle are of equal length.

Development and Training of the Puppy

Like any dog, a Broholmer puppy must be socialized. This begins at the breeders’, where the puppy learns inter-dog communication. This is also where the chaff of bad and untrustworthy breeders separates from the registered and trustworthy breeders. Since the most important socialization phase of a dog occurs in the early weeks of development, a reputable breeder will never consider separating the puppy from its mother and siblings prematurely. After purchasing the puppy, it is your responsibility to continue its education.

As a social family dog, the Broholmer should be accustomed to strangers, environmental stimuli, and other animals. The dogs make good companion dogs for any kind of hobby. Taking the calm animal along and getting it used to biking, jogging, horseback riding, or other leisure activities is possible at any time. The breed also loves to be relaxed and does not necessarily need a lot of exercise. However, regular and moderate exercise is also good for a gentle giant.

How do I care for a Broholmer?

Anyone acquiring a dog should inform themselves in advance about how much space, leisure activities, exercise, and grooming the respective dog breed requires. Due to its size, it is not advisable to keep a Broholmer in an apartment. A property with a house is therefore exactly right for the lovable guard and companion dog. Furthermore, due to the heavy weight of the dog breed, it is restricted in its movement and prefers ground-level locomotion.

As a calm and friendly family dog, the Broholmer is perfect for households with children. Regardless of gender, the breed is extremely fond of children. However, due to its strength and size, the dog should not be handled by children during its boisterous youth. The Broholmer should also be trained with loving consistency rather than loud behavior or negative conduct. Regular assessment of the overall health of ears, teeth, and limbs should be a matter of course.

Activities with the Broholmer

Broholmer dogs are by no means unsporting, but compared to wiry dog breeds, they are rather sluggish. Nevertheless, the heavyweights love a varied daily routine and are very undemanding in this regard. As a family, companion, and guard dog, the breed requires a daily outing of about an hour or more. There is no need to run or jog. Broholmers are also very intelligent and good tracking dogs. In this context, they can also be engaged in tracking or intelligence games in their spare time. The dogs love being close to the family and are thus integrated as full-fledged family members.

They immensely enjoy leisure activities, vacations, and other activities. Caution should be exercised, however, with so-called dog frisbee and similar jumping sports. The heavy dog breed can easily get injured here, so the Broholmer is better suited for retrieving. However, the calm companion naturally possesses a certain desire for variety.

Health and Care

Broholmer dogs belong to the easy-to-care-for dog breeds. Although the animal has a relatively short coat, the undercoat can be quite pronounced. Consequently, the dog can shed heavily, especially during the spring molt. Regular brushing or combing of the coat should be done for these animals. Furthermore, the dog may occasionally drool, so the mouth should be wiped to protect furniture and upholstery. Mild dog or baby shampoos are suitable for grooming the coat. However, trimming the nails should be done by a veterinarian or veterinary professional.

Due to their size, many Broholmer dogs suffer from joint dysplasias. Regular exercise and training are good preventive measures to protect older dogs primarily from misalignments in the hip joints, knees, and other joints. Additionally, overweight and improper nutrition can cause significant harm to the breed. Even the Broholmer puppy can react allergically to inferior food, which can lead to gastric torsion. Therefore, it is important to regularly monitor the dog’s weight. While Broholmers are relatively insensitive to wetness and cold, they are much more sensitive to heat. On hot summer days, the dog should stay in cool and shady areas.

Interesting and Worth Knowing

Broholmers are a rare breed of dog that was on the brink of extinction. Those who have dedicated themselves to these dogs do so also to preserve the species. Consequently, the breeding regulations are very strict, and private ownership of this breed is only possible after a selection process and joining a club. The registered associations also place great emphasis on the most original and natural development of the dogs. Despite their enormous size, the Broholmer is not a restricted breed and is not classified as a dangerous breed in any federal state.