Broholmer

We all dream, and not only at night-time.

It is not an everyday occurrence that our open-eyed dreams come true.

In fact, to achieve something that, at first sight, seems impossible, is a dream.

Living a life of sacrifices, using all my limited means and thanks to my mother help, I have been able to realize one of my most cherished dream: a country house surrounded by a little estate.

After ten-years hard work, I turned a country cottage, lost in the hills between Bologna and Modena, into a comfortable dwelling with nine acres of sown land, vineyard and woods.

- My own castle -

Since I am not easily contented, I thought that my castle wanted a dog up to it -a very special one-.

Leafing through a dog breeds encyclopedia, I read about the Broholmers, Molossians of Danish origin.

I was impressed by their stateliness and their characteristics. In ancient times, their ancestors kept watch over the old castles, protecting and guarding them.

I found out that there wasn’t any Broholmer specimen in Italy, and that, to meet them, there was nothing to it than go to Denmark.

Thanks of Sergio’s good knowledge of English, we began to correspond with the Danish Broholmer Society (‘Broholmerselskabet’, a member of the Danish Kennel Club).

We got to know that these dogs, sturdily built, were the most loved by the Royal Danish Family. They used to give the Broholmer puppies as presents to the nobility all over Europe, and they even had one stuffed, to be exposed at the Copenhagen’s museum. In times past, the Copenhagen’s zoo used the Broholmer bitches as nurses to suckle puppies of big felines like lions and tigers.

The Broholmerselskabet informed us about the most important event involving the Broholmer breed, which takes place at Broholm Castle, every August. The Castle of Broholm is located on the island of Funen and it was the ancient residence of Niels Frederick Sehested, a Danish nobleman, who, thanks to his passion for this breed, furthered their growth and strived to select more distinctive features. The breed was named after his name.

After taking all the details into consideration, Sergio ( who was already enthusiastic about my idea of getting so special a dog) and I established all the necessary contacts and set off to Denmark.

The place is wonderful and full of surprises and the castle is perfectly preserved.

I was tense. After so many months of waiting, at last I was there! I would have been really able to set eyes on a Broholmer and, when I saw him, I felt deeply stirred. I was breathless!

The bitches with their puppies were kept on the right side of the castle. The puppies were playing noisily all together. On the left side we saw all the males, still and quiet.

To see so many of them all together was quite unbelievable.

As soon as we saw them, we realized that they were just the dogs we were looking for. Big, strong, self reliant but incredibly friendly as well. We registered as members of the association but it took some time before we were allowed to buy our first Broholmer. Danish don’t let their dogs abroad willingly because they are still striving to restore the old breed.

In October 2004 we set off to Haderslev to bring FENGUR home. (Fengur, a little “hair ball” honey coloured with languishing eyes, is a Broholmer male, named after a mythological Viking hero. The first traces of these big, sturdy dogs go back to their times.

The breeder who welcomed us was very kind. Her bitch had 9 puppies and Fengur was the first to leave. We brought Fengur with us on the plane and he didn’t give us the slightest problem. My only concern was to bring him home safe and sound.

After a first quick look around, Fengur unmistakably approved of his new home and adjusted immediately to the new surroundings, the new people and the other resident pets.

There is now a strong bond between Fengur and me. He is very sensitive and extremely affectionate but with a soft spot for my grandson Matteo. They have practically grown up together.

After three years, we went back to Broholm castle taking Fengur with us to have it subjected to the rigorous examinations requested by the Broholmerselskabet.

Fengur had already underwent hips and elbows x-rays in Italy. The Broholmerselskabet evaluated the exams results and decided that they were inside the accepted parameters. The results of the mental test were, according to them, extraordinary. After the general look, I saw Sergio that, listening to the English speaking judge, couldn’t hold a tear. I was worried, so I told him that it didn’t matter if the judge didn’t approve of Fengur. He would always be our wonderful dog. Holding his tears, Sergio told me that Fengur had been judged “excellent”.

During the week, my job keeps me away from home and Sergio works abroad most of his time. Since we didn’t like to leave Fengur so often alone, we thought it best to find him a playmate and, three years later, we got Dana (which means “of Danish origin”), a sweet, beautiful Broholmer bitch. When Dana was only four months old, at the annual Broholmer show at Broholm castle, was awarded the 5th place, with an encouraging judgement “promise for the breed, very good”.

She is very affectionate, I would say sticky, with an unrestrained cheerfulness and appetite. Dana worships Fengur and imitates everything he does , never leaving him alone. When Fengur barks to assert his authority, Dana rebukes him.

Fengur and Dana are happy, they spend their time together when we are away.

They are powerful dog. They are strong but, at the same time, gentle. They are “kind giants”, but they also pay a lot of attention to anything may happen inside or outside their owners’ house, barking loudly and expressively.

After so long a wait, now “my castle” has its “guards”, which makes me feel happy and safe.

Vanda