Broholmer

The BROHOLMER: his history

The Broholmer is a dog breed which has had its origin in Denmark and from the Middle Ages until now, is widespread particularly in that nation. Nowadays exist about 800 Broholmer in all the world, the majority of them live in Denmark, in Italy there are only two dogs, and not many in the rest of the entire Europe.

The legendary Vikings, during the Middle Ages, used to take back home, returning from their travels, some big dogs of Mastiff kind. These dogs, mated with other local dogs, produced a breed of strong built, Molossian kind, that were used to look after the herd and for hunting.

During the time other mating happened between the English Mastiff, the Great Dane and the Broholmer.

Ever since the 1500, the Danish king Frederick II appears in some pictures with one Broholmer. On the 1700 the breed was known as “the dog of Frederick VII”, because this king was often accompanied by one Broholmer. This king used to name all his Broholmer “Tyrk”. A big painting portrays the monarch on the castle of Jaegerspris, seated behind a writing desk, his daughter Grevinde Danner beside him on her feet, while Tyrk is laying down on the floor in the typical position, with the paws crossed.

It has been one of the most popular dogs, loved a lot by aristocratics and kings, which relied on them for the guardianship of the castles and estates.

At the beginning of the last century, the number of Broholmer drastically decreased until a danish nobleman, Niels Frederick Sehested, started to protect the breed from the danger of extinction.

Thanks to his commitment, the number of Broholmer increased and its features became more defined. Inspired to his residence, the castle of Broholm, he named the breed Broholmer.

In the 1886, in one of the first canine exhibition, organized on the Castle of Rosemberg gardens by the Dansk Kennel Klub, many dog lovers, the members of the Sehested family and other noble families owner of Broholmer, formulated and drew the typical standard of this breed. This standard of the Broholmer is still valid nowadays, except for some little changes.

Unfortunately, two world wars and a serious economic crisis, have had an unpleasant influence for the life and diffusion of these big dogs, which, as a matter of fact, decreased drastically, risking again the extinction.

It was only in the 1974 that the Dansk Kennel Klub took again interest on the Broholmer breed, so it was started its long and difficult reconstruction, because of the few dogs with the breed features in the country.

 

The general look

It’s a big dog, very powerful, rectangular, Molossian/Mastiff race. On its appearance stand out typically the large front..

Its head is relatively big and large, is kept low when walking while is holded up running.

The upper line of the skull is situated on a level a little bit higher of the muzzle upper line, but parallel. The muzzle is short and big with pendent lips. The upper and lower jaws have the same length. The jaws have a strong musculature and the skin of the throat is detached. The ears are small and attached rather high. The eyes are circular and not too small, with an intelligent look, the colour varies from dark brown to dark amber.

The neck is very strong and powerful, slightly arched and it has a little of pendent skin. The chest is very large, powerful rather low.

The back is long and a little bit inclined. The tail is big at the root and of medium length. The fur doesn’t have to make brush on the lower end. The dog keeps the tail leaning while walking, shaped as a sabre, when running is kept on the back’s level, but when the dog is excited may be kept even higher.

The front articulations are strong and powerful, with very muscular arm. Seen in profile, have to be straight. The rear articulations are angular and muscular. The paws have to be of good dimension, strong, closed and compact. The coat is made of short and thick fur.

The character

Even though it’s a large breed dog, the Broholmer combines an impressive physique with qualities of intelligence and sensitivity not common. The character is strong and stubborn but also very friendly and independent. It’s rather equilibrated, very calm, constant and quiet, but at the same time alert. Always friendly with the persons who knows. Suitable to be together with the family, it adores the children. It loves a lot to know new zones and to be taken walking. Good guard dog. Very good companion.

It’s not a work dog, so teaching it will be longer and demanding, but unpredictably more passionate.

The standard

This breed has been recognized by the International Federation only in the year 1982. Classification F.C.I. 315 - Group 2 - dogs as Pinscher, Schnauzer, Molossians, Bovari Svizzeri.

Male: height from 75 cm. – up, weight from 50 to 70 kg.

Female: height from 70 cm. – up , weight from 40 to 60 kg.

Accepted colours: tawny with tawny mask or black, golden red, black. White marks on the chest, paws and tail-end, are accepted.

The average life is 13 years.

Defects

Ears too long, pointed muzzle, long neck, convergence, tail kept too high, long fur, ferocious and aggressive character or shy and timorous. Defective back, incorrect movement, incorrect jaw, lack of teeth.

Breeding

The Broholmer Society (Broholmerselskabet), has established strict rules in order to become Broholmer breeders and the relevant test can be done exclusively in Denmark.

All the dogs wanted to be able for the breeding will have to:

1. be subjected to the elbows and hips x-rays (will have to be within the stated parameters, established by the Broholmerselskabet);
2. be subjected to the the Dansk Kennel Club mental test in Denmark;
3. be subjected to the Broholmerselskabet external evaluation, in order to verify the Broholmer characteristics;
4. anyone willing to have puppies needs to be first of all member of the Broholmerselskabet and ask permission to the breeding/puppies committee, in order to verify the compatibility.

Therefore, only the dogs who will pass these exams could be used for breeding.