Broholmer

The Broholmer, also called the Danish Mastiff, is a large mastiff breed from Denmark. It was kept as a guard dog in the homes of the wealthy.

History

The breed’s numbers fell sharply during the Second World War, and it made a successful return in the 1970s. It is recognized by the Danish Kennel Club and the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Broholmers were imported to the United Kingdom in 2009 with the aim of having the breed added to the kennel club’s import list there. In Denmark, the society Broholmer Selskabet oversees the breed and approves dogs for breeding.

Appearance

The Broholmer looks very much like a Mastiff: large and powerful, with a massive head that is generally not carried very high. The skull’s width and length and the length of the nose should all be equal. Males stand about 75 cm and weigh 50 to 68 kg; females stand about 70 cm and weigh 41 to 59 kg. The coat is short and harsh. It may be light or brownish yellow, or black; a black mask may be present, and some white markings are allowed.

Temperament

A well-trained Broholmer should be calm, good-tempered and friendly, while staying watchful toward strangers. It has a loud, impressive bark.

Care and health

The average life span is around 7 to 12 years. In 2016 it came to light that the Broholmers imported into the United States had degenerative myelopathy, an adult-onset disorder of the spinal cord. The first Broholmer brought to the United States for breeding died of the disease in 2018. These dogs had never been presented to or accepted by Broholmer Selskabet. One healthy male approved by the society was imported in 2010 but was never bred in the United States.

Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.