Broholmer – Full Breed Profile

Written by: Bojana Radulovic
How large Broholmer is? Is this a powerful breed for first time dog owners? Read on and get your answers.
Dog Breed Group:
Companion Dogs
Height:
22 to 30 inches.
Weight:
90 to 150 pounds.
Life Span:
8 to 12 years.

Breed Characteristics:

Apartment Friendly

?

How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?

Good For First-Time Owners

?

Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?

Overall Sensitivity

?

Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?

Tolerates Being Alone

?

Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?

Affectionate With Family

?

How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?

Kid-Friendly

?

Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?

Friendly Toward Other Dogs

?

Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?

Friendly Toward Strangers

?

Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?

Drooling Level

?

If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?

Easy To Groom

?

Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?

Overall Health

?

What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.

Prone To Obesity

?

Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?

Trainability Level

?

Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.

Intelligence Level

?

Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?

Prey Drive

?

Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?

Barking Level

?

How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?

Energy Level

?

Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?

Exercise Needs

?

Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?

Playfulness Level

?

Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?

The Broholmer, or Danish Mastiff, is a large mastiff breed of dog from Denmark.

This large dog is recognized by the Danish Kennel Club and the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, while KAC keeps it under the Foundation stock service category.

This large dog is protective, calm, and friendly, although people should know how to behave around large dog breeds to avoid accidents.

Broholmer is a large dog that will do fine in an apartment as long you provide enough exercise, but due to their size, they would need a really large apartment or even better a townhome or a place with a huge backyard.

These pack dogs love to be around their people, including children.

The Broholmer is a tall and muscular dog, but not too athletic. They simply don’t have a strong need for exercise.

In fact, they will be happy with a large space with a garden to roam free around in their tempo.

If introduced to other animals from a young age they will be polite and nice to them, including smaller children.

In the past, they were used as guard dogs by the nobility, and are still used to perform that task to this day.

If you want a large dog with strong protective genes and a lack of barking then this breed could be for you.

Quick Facts

Real name: Broholmer
Other names: Danish Broholmer, Danish Mastiff
Origin: Denmark
Breed type: Companion Dogs
Weight: 90 to 150 pounds
Height: 22 to 30 inches
Lifespan: 8 to 12 years
Litter Size: 4 – 8 puppies
Color: Yellow with black mask, golden red, or black
Coat: Short coat with thick undercoat

Broholmer History

Broholmers are originally from Denmark, that is known. Still, a lot of this breed is yet to be discovered. In fact, some parts of their history are a bit unclear.

What we know for sure is that Broholmer is an ancient breed, dating back to the Middle Ages.

It’s also known that this breed was used too hard, to hunt stag precisely. Next to this, these large size dogs were used to guard large fams.

During the 18th century, it was a matter of standard for Broholmers to guard massive manors and large farms, even those located on more rough terrain.

The 18th century was a very important period for this breed. In this century the breed’s number went up thanks to the efforts of Count Dehested of Broholm, hence the name.

Like it almost happened with all breeds, after World War II this breed was almost extinct.

Luckily, a large group of dog breeders and dog lovers gathered in 1975 and created a plan on how to preserve the breed.

As result, they organized The Society for Reconstruction of the Broholmer Breed, which was also supported by the Danish Kennel Club.

Broholmer Physical Appearance

The Broholmer is a larger size dog, and this is something to consider when getting this breed.

There are certain standards when it comes to the breed’s appearance, but they may be smaller or larger. That being said, Broholmers are commonly between 90 to 150 pounds and they usually stand 22 to 30 inches at the shoulder.

As for the general appearance, this breed resembles a Mastiff. They are large, strong in posture, powerful in balance, and loud dogs with impressive bark.

If barking is going to be an issue due to neighbors, make sure that you address barking as a part of training.

Females are slightly smaller than males and have more elegant shapes. Their bodies are commonly built square with a massive heads.

Their coat is usually yellow with a black mask, or golden red, or black, but they commonly appear yellow with a black mask.

The coat is short and harsh, while the color may vary. Some white markings may appear in some dogs, and they’re allowed.

Broholmer Personality

Broholmers are sweet dogs.

They may be intimidating due to their size, but they are in fact, true softies. At least, they are soft toward people that they’re familiar with.

Knowing your way around dogs should help. This is why this breed isn’t recommended for first time dog owners.

Even if you have dog experience, and you have children, they should know how to behave around dogs.

Always educate your children on how to behave around dogs. This way you will put accidents to a minimum, and overall your home will have healthy dog-kid energy.

Broholmers will be wary of strangers and will guard their territory and people, without thinking twice.

They should bark to inform you when someone is around, but they shouldn’t be aggressive.

The Broholmer will love outdoor time and indoor games.

A good run at the dog park or chasing a ball in the backyard will keep them both physically and mentally happy.

If you’re searching for a watchdog or even a guard dog, this large breed is to consider having.

Broholmer Training

Training should start as soon as you bring your Broholmer home.

Have enough training toys, dog bed, crate, and balls to chase around. The right equipment will make training easier and faster.

You can always think about puppy classes if you feel like you need help. This way you will get professional input and even speed up the training process.

Never use any harsh training methods. No matter how challenging and stubborn a dog might be, no dog should even experience any harsh treatment.

It’s far better and easier to hire a professional dog trainer than to put your dog through stressful and painful situations.

Never use any harsh training methods. Focus on delivering enough reward, praise, and positive reinforcement training methods.

Broholmer Exercise Needs

Broholmers are prone to obesity.

Obesity in dogs is on the rise across the States and you dont want your dog to be part of this growing trend.

Once you get a dog you are directly responsible for his weight. That being said, make sure that you provide high-quality food that will support the dog’s overall health.

Next to proper nutrition, you should provide regular exercise to keep his weight in balance and his joints strong.

Think about dog sports if you are passionate about training dogs in a competitive manner. This is a great way to bond with your dog further. Plus, outdoor time can only benefit you and your dog.

Why is this breed prone to obesity? This is a large dog of medium energy levels, which is why they can easily get weight gain.

Make sure that you organize exercise time that will complement the dog’s nature and physical ability.

This means that you should provide daily a half-hour- to hour-long walk, and in a few days more intense workouts or runs in the dog park.

Broholmer Grooming

The Broholmer comes with a short coat that is smooth on touch and commonly of brown color. This coat is easy to brush, as long as you have the right brushing tool.

Up to two brushing sessions per week should be enough to keep your Broholmer’s coat clean and neat.

Use brushing time as a time to bond with your dog further. After all, dogs thrive on body language and physical care in general. Simply said, dogs adore brushing time.

While brushing your Fido, you should check his skin for signs of fleas and skin infection.

A professional groomer could brush your Fido as well. It may be pricey, but it can save you time.

Even if you choose to hire a professional groomer, still have some brushing moments with your dog – this will bond you further.

The rest is basic care:

  • Trim or grind nails monthly
  • Bathe only when needed
  • Check gums and eyes weekly
  • Learn which human foods are ok to serve to your Fido
  • Brush weekly
  • Clean ears when needed – read how to clean dog’s ears safely

Broholmer Health

How healthy is Broholmer? The Broholmer is considered to be a healthy breed.

If you deal with responsible dog breeders, you should get a healthy puppy.

Responsible dog breeders will always screen puppies for most common health issues and present you with medical documentation of the puppy.

Moreover, they will let you meet the bitch, show you the facilities, and even inform you of any possible health issues that may appear in the future.

They will also ask you a lot of questions, to make sure that you suitable owner.

Still, no matter how well care you might provide dogs can still get sick.

That being said, the Broholmer may suffer from:

  • Hip dysplasia
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Bloat

This doesn’t mean that your Broholmer will get any of the listed conditions. No, it just means that you should do your research on them and do your best to prevent them.

The best way to keep your dog healthy is to provide:

  • High-quality food
  • Know what you can expect from Borholmer in terms of health
  • Provide regular veterinarian check-ups
  • Stick to the vaccination schedule
  • Provide regular parasite control
  • Keep exercise consistent
  • Always refresh training sessions with new tricks

Is Broholmer For You?

The Broholmer is a calm and friendly dog who gets along with children perfectly.

They will always play gently with children as long as they know how to behave around dogs.

As a seasonal shedder, this breed is a great choice for people who don’t like to spend a lot of time brushing or grooming dogs.

The Broholmer is for you if you want a dog that is large in size, but soft in heart. To own this dog you should have serious experience as a dog owner, especially experience with large size dogs.

Popular Broholmer Comparisons

Compare Dog Breeds: