The Broholmer is a large dogue type dog. His silhouette is inscribable in a rectangle, his gaits are regular and give an impression of power, accentuated by the imposing substance of his forehand. Strongly built, the Broholmer combines robustness and elegance in its appearance.
History of the breed
The origins of the Broholmer go back to medieval times when its ancestors were used for deer hunting. The Broholmer is said to be descended from dogs brought back by the Vikings to Denmark and later crossed with mastiff-type dogs from Germany. After the hunt, he was especially noted for his abilities as a guard, securing a large number of large properties such as mansions.
The first real selections were made at the end of the 18th century, mainly under the impulse of the Count of Sehested de Broholm who gave it its name. The Broholmer breed found itself on the verge of extinction after the Second World War. It took 3 decades to regain proper population levels. From the mid 1970’s onwards, the Broholmer Reconstruction Society, with the support of the Kennel Club of Denmark, worked to perpetuate the breed.
The Broholmer breed was finally recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) on May 26, 1982. Its official FCI standard was published on June 26, 2000.
Physical characteristics
His coat: short and close to the body. The top coat is associated with a thick undercoat.
Its color: fawn with black, red, golden or black mask, with or without white markings on the chest and feet.
Its head : massive, wide and heavy. Carried low and tilted toward the ground when the dog is at rest. Raised when in action or alert. The skull is broad, rather flat and of the same length as the muzzle, which is massive. The stop is not exaggeratedly marked. The nose is big and black, the lips hanging, the jaws muscular and articulated in scissors or in pincer.
Ears : Medium size, set high and falling against the cheeks.
His eyes : round shape, medium size, light to dark amber color, showing a confident look.
Its body : longer than high, massive. The neck is powerful and muscular, the topline is straight, the withers strong and well marked, the back rather long, the croup moderately long and moderately sloping, the chest powerful and well let down.
Tail: thick at the base, set rather low and carried drooping when the dog is at rest. Raised to the horizontal when in action.
Education
To be sure of being able to manage him properly in adulthood, it is imperative to give the Broholmer a very good education: it must be early, while including both firmness and softness. It is a question of making him know the limits not to cross, but without brutalizing him.
Living conditions
The Broholmer is certainly not an apartment dog. He needs wide open spaces and maximum freedom of movement. He is happiest in the country, but he can adapt to city life if he is walked enough.
Health
The Broholmer is a robust dog with a rather solid health. Nevertheless, as with any large dog breed, the risk of coxo-femoral dysplasia and stomach dilatation/torsion is never completely ruled out.