Broholmer general features, temperament, health

Broholmer dog breed face

FCI# 315, Origin: Denmark, Group 2.2: Molossoid Breeds. Mastiff Type.

Height: 22-30 in, Weight: 87-176 pounds

Grooming: Low, Shedding: Medium, Coat: Short straight coat with undercoat.

Color: Black, yellow and golden red.

Ease of training: High, Energy level: Medium, Span of life: 6-11 years.

Breed: The Broholmer is a very ancient breed. During excavation of the Viking settlement Foan in Denmark, archaeologists have found bones of dogs that had obvious similarities with the bones of the modern Broholmers. Scientists suggest that the Vikings in their travels were accompanied by the ancient dogs that have spread from Scandinavia to Britain. It is well known that the typical dog for the northern coast is Spitz. However, during the excavations there were found also bones of some large dogs. Thus, in Brattli on the farm of Eric the Red, there were found the remains of large dogs, while at the neighboring farms were found bones of Spitz. During the excavation of the tomb of Gokstad also were found six skeletons of a large mastiff-type dogs.

Two thousand years ago the Vikings were known to keep a large mastiff-type dogs with undaunted fighting spirit. It is believed that it was Vikings, who brought to Scandinavia ancient molosses and that the Broholmer is the descendant of these dogs. In the Scandinavian countries were also distributed mastiff-type dogs called "Dablo hunder", but they gradually disappeared during the years 1800-1900. There is a suggestion, that the descendants of the ancient Scandinavian dogs were crossed with the German mastiff dogs, so was the beginning of the Great Danes.

In the Middle Ages the Broholmers were not only the guardians of castles and the participants of the tournaments, they were also guarding herds from the large predators. They were also used as a herding dogs when there was a need to drive the cattle for sale to the city. Just like the ancestors of the German Rottweilers, the Broholmer's ancestors were used as pulling animals and were known as butcher's dogs. Until the beginning of last century, these dogs were an integral part of butchers shops in Copenhagen.

It is believed that the Brohlomers were also used for hunting boars, when they still lived in the Danish forests.

Broholmer was very popular for several centuries. However, the population was heterogeneous and far from perfect. Around 1850 the royal ranger Sohested set out a task to create a single type of dogs and to improve the quality of the existing population. To this end, he gathered the Broholmers from throughout Denmark. A few years later his experiment ended with a brilliant success - the breed was improved and became numerous. This happened because Sohested strongly promoted the breed and gave to the estates some puppies for free. In the old Danish books about dogs, there are records that the Broholmer in 1880 was the most common dog in Denmark, especially in Copenhagen.

The breed became known as "Broholmer" under the name of the estate of Sohested in Funen.

In Denmark the Broholmer was called the "royal dog" or "Frederick" - on behalf of the king, who ruled in those days. One of the dogs, nicknamed Turk, was very important person in the royal court - he was scaring out the evil spirits. About ten minutes before the king had to sleep in the royal chambers was allowed Turk: he drove out all evil spirits. Turk was so loved by the royal family, that after his death he was stuffed and placed in the Zoological Museum in Copenhagen, where he can be seen even today. King Frederick traditionally gave the nickname Turk to all his Broholmers, and the Queen called her dogs Holger, regardless of the dog's sex.

In the first Danish Dog Show, held in 1886, gathered the most famous??fanciers??of the breed, and there they approved the first draft of the Broholmer's standard. This standard has remained virtually unchanged to this day. In 1887 the breed was registered in the Danish hunting society, a little later with this record started the Danish studbook.

In the period from 1859 till 1900 Broholmers were so widespread, that they were even kept in zoos. During some periods in a zoo lived about two hundred dogs of this breed, bitches were even used as a nurses for cubs, and the black Broholmers were considered the best night-watchdogs.

Broholmer dog breeds

Gradually, however, the breed was degenerating. The reason for this was not only the distemper and other infectious diseases, but also inbreeding. Only in one decade the number of species was so reduced that since 1910 in the Kennel Club there was not registered even one dog. And only in the Danish Broholmer Society the dogs were recorded until 1939. Things reached the point that in 1940 in Denmark there was only one old dog left, which was kept by a priest. After the II World War the breed almost disappeared.

Still, fans of the national Danish breed believed that the breed can be restored. In 1974, Jett Wese wrote an article in the Danish Kennel Club magazine under the heading "In the footsteps of Broholmer". It was told about the glorious history of the breed. The article had resonance - after a while Jett Wess was contacted by a woman who was the chemist from the city of Elsinore, which is located in the northern part of Denmark, and she had a Broholmer.

Jett Wess immediately came to visit her. It turned out that it was really a Broholmer - eleven years old male of a dark-yellowish-brown color, 78 cm in withers and weighing about 80 kg. That same year, the dog was shown to the commission of the Danish Kennel Club, which recognized him as a typical representative of the breed, but the eleven years old male could not be the reviving ancestor of the breed.

After the extensive discussion in the press there were found a few representatives of the breed, but they were not so purebred. The best of that dogs was the black male, named Mapps. Because of the color he was not registered in the Kennel Club, because in the original version of the standard black color was not mentioned for the reason that the Danish kings favored dogs of yellowish-brown color. However, gathering information in written sources, from photographs and stories the??researchers??found out that the ancestors of this dog were used by hunters in the north. The owner of Mapps claimed that for generations his ancestors were breeding only black Broholmers, which were taken from the zoo, and as a proof he presented several photographs.

Was established a Council to restore the breed, which receives all the information. Have been registered all Broholmers, who have completed the selection and were included in the program of reconstruction of the breed.

All work was conducted under the supervision of the Danish Kennel Club.

Broholmer's owners had to fulfill certain rules: the owners of bitches should give all the puppies to the Council, owners of the males were required to provide dogs for mating, random mating without the permission from the Council was prohibited, the owners of all Broholmers necessarily had to be a members of the Kennel Club.

Council assumed the responsibility for all veterinary care of dogs and raising the puppies.

Currently the Broholmer is recognized a national Danish breed. Virtually all of three hundred Broholmers live in Denmark. Export Broholmers outside of the country for a long time was banned, and only in 1 January 1998 it was decided to sell abroad not more than 10% of puppies or one puppy from each litter.

Broholmer dog breed photo

General Features: Danish Broholmers are standing among the most powerful dogs in the world. They are harmoniously built and have a balanced character.
Representatives of this breed can grow up to 75 cm. They can weigh up to 80 pounds. These Danish dogs are characterized by such distinctive features as a large broad head and neck, deep chest, massive body, long back.

DAnidh Broholmer have a hanging ears of medium length, set high enough. Expressive eyes of a dark amber color. Hips have a strong muscles. Legs are straight, strong and sturdy. The tail is thick, of medium length, raised up. Colour of a Danish Broholmer is black, yellow or light red. In rare cases, the Broholmer may have white markings on chest, paws and tail tip.

These dogs are very intelligent and friendly. They are exceptionally ??loyal to their owners.

Temperament: Danish Broholmer or Danish Mastiff is a large, threatening, distrustful and fearless dog, although very loyal and easy to train. He was used as a watchdog, fighting dog, pulling dog, he was always guarding the rich estates and regularly served butchers, helping them to cope with unruly bulls. After the Second World War the number of species has been disastrously low, but the breeders managed to save Broholmer. Currently, the breed is still quite rare and little known outside of the homeland.

Broholmer is a dog with a calm, balanced character. Brave, very strong, does not like to fuss over trifles. A born guardian and defender. The maturing of a Broholmer is quite late. This dog requires responsible parenting and socialization. The Broholmer needs space and plenty of exercises.

The Brogolmer have to admit his master as "the leader". However, thanks to his friendly and calm disposition the Broholmer can be an enjoyable friend and a fine addition to almost any home. With his size he needs to move a lot and his mind needs a job to do. Best of all, the Broholmer feels at home with a large yard, which he could protect and where he could freely run. The short thick coat of a Broholmer does not require any special care.


Health problems: Generally healthy breed, the Broholmer still - as any large breed of dogs - may be prone to the hip dysplasia.



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