Broholmer: Your Complete Guide
Broholmers are purebred dogs that hail from Denmark. They’re one of the larger breeds that you’ll come across, and they maintain a powerful-looking build.
While these dogs are big and powerful, that doesn’t mean they’re aggressive. You’ll find that most Broholmers are calm, loving, gentle, and friendly. Plus, they love to have a good time in the yard with a classic game of fetch.
Broholmers are also known for being easy dogs to work with, even if you’re new to the whole dog thing. You can train them without professional help, and you don’t have to worry about them harming your family or the mailman. Therefore, it’s a good breed to consider if you plan on adopting a canine companion in the future.
Still, it’s important to learn more about any breed before you commit to adopting them, and the Broholmer is no exception. The good news is that we’re here to help. Read on to learn more about Broholmers to help you determine if they’re the right dog breed for you.
Quick Look at the Broholmer
Below is a glance at this special breed regarding their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.
| Weight/Height | 27-30 inches, 90-150 pounds |
| Coat Type | Short, coarse, durable |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding |  |
| Temperament | Calm, gentle, friendly, loyal |
| Good With Kids |  |
| Good With Other Animals |  |
| Intelligence | |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | 7-12 years |
What Is the History of Broholmers?
Broholmers have a long history that dates back to a time when people used and lived in castles, so you know it goes pretty far back. In fact, they date all of the way back to the 1500s, which was a time when nobles were given dogs as gifts.
Unlike many toy breeds from the era, these dogs served an important purpose in many of these courts. They served as watchdogs, guard dogs, and were used to protect royal families in the face of danger.
Broholmers have also been used for hunting. As time passed, people found that the breed functioned well as a hunting dog. It was used for this purpose, along with being a watchdog, up until the 1800s.
Once the 1800s rolled around, Broholmers became less effective at hunting due to changes in hunting methods. Therefore, the breed faced problems with its numbers and almost went extinct.
Thankfully, Broholmers got a second lease on life thanks to Niels Frederick Sehested. He began breeding these dogs to ensure their survival and went on to create the breeding standards in place for them today. For his efforts, the breed was named after his castle, Castle Broholm, which is where they were bred until populations stabilized and a breed standard was in place.
Today, Broholmers are available worldwide and have been imported to the United States since the early 2000s. Broholmers are also recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC).
What Do Broholmers Look Like?
Broholmers are powerful-looking dogs. They have massive, muscular heads that are paired with floppy ears, a powerful jaw, and loose jowls. Broholmers also look similar to European dogs like the Great Dane, albeit with a stockier build and less color variation.
When it comes to the Broholmer’s coat, it’s short and tight to the body. It’s rough to the touch, and you can sometimes see the dog’s muscles moving underneath the coat. Typically, their coat color is golden red, black, or golden yellow. However, some variations of the Broholmer may have a yellow coat with a black mask.
What Size Is a Broholmer?
Broholmers are big, powerful dogs, and this is reflected in their height and weight. In fact, males can weigh over 130 pounds and stand tall at 30 inches at the shoulder. Female Broholmers are smaller but still big compared to other breeds. They weigh between 80-110 pounds and stand at about 25 inches at the shoulder.
Regardless of the sex, you’re getting a big, powerful dog when you adopt a Broholmer.
What Is a Broholmer’s Coat Type and Length?
Broholmers have short coats that are coarse and rough to the touch. Their coat is a shield for the breed to prevent some incoming damage they may sustain when grading, hunting, or playing. It’s also important to note that Broholmers have undercoats. These dense undercoats are softer than the top layer, and they shed during the fall and spring months.
What Is a Broholmer’s Temperament?
Broholmers might look like big scary dogs, but this isn’t the case once you get close to them. In fact, Broholmers are one of the calmest dog breeds you can find.
Sure, they have some times when they’re bouncing off the walls with energy, but they’re also just as happy to cuddle up and relax with you on a rainy weekend. This makes the Broholmer one of the easiest dog breeds to care for, even if you’re new to the whole dog ownership thing.
Aside from their energy levels, Broholmers are also loyal dogs that form deep bonds with their owners. They can protect your family and love to be on the lookout for signs of danger. Courage and bravery are also common Broholmers, so you don’t have to worry about them shying away from any danger.
The last thing to note is that Broholmers have an even temper. This means it’s hard to agitate them to the point of aggression, which makes it easy for strangers, other animals, and children to interact with them without fear of them getting aggressive.
Are Broholmers Good With Kids?
Broholmers are big dogs, so it’s important to watch them around small children.
That said, you don’t have to worry about them being aggressive with kids. They have an even temper that takes a lot to set off, so just keep an eye on your Broholmer and child to see if they’re getting along. Worst case, you might have to train your child and Broholmer to be a bit more gentle with one another.
Are Broholmers Good With Other Animals?
Broholmers are good with other animals as long as they have socialization training. They can get along with larger animals fine, but they may struggle with smaller animals like Guinea pigs. This is because they have a prey instinct that they inherit from their hunting ancestors. Fortunately, these behaviors can always be worked on with the proper training.
Are Broholmers Aggressive?
Broholmers are not aggressive dogs. They will only get aggressive when they’re provoked or feel uncomfortable. Even in these situations, they’re rarely anything aside from acting standoffish. If your Broholmer is showing signs of aggression, we recommend training them with positive reinforcement to rid them of this behavior.
Do Broholmers Bark?
Broholmers have a loud bark that commands attention, so it’s not the best idea to keep them in apartments with noise restrictions. While their bark is loud, that doesn’t mean they’re inclined to use it. Some Broholmers will bark at every stranger that passes, while others will act more reserved. Ultimately, it comes down to the specific dog.
Are Broholmers Affectionate?
Broholmers are affectionate dogs that love to cuddle! While they’re a bit too big to be lap dogs, they’ll still give it a shot and try to rest their head (or their entire body) on you when given the chance. Their affection stems from their fierce sense of loyalty.
Are Broholmers Intelligent?
Broholmers are intelligent dogs and wouldn’t have been able to last this long without their smart brains. As hunting dogs, the breed became popular because of their ability to track prey and deduce where they are. Furthermore, they’re smart enough to become several types of service dogs.
So, when it comes to intelligence, Broholmers have it. In fact, they have a lot of emotional intelligence as well.
Are Broholmers Energetic?
Broholmers aren’t the most energetic dogs around. They won’t run around your house constantly or cause any problems if they don’t receive enormous amounts of exercise. Still, it’s a medium-energy dog breed, so making sure they get a healthy amount of exercise is important. You’ll want to walk them for at least a half hour or an hour each day for the best results.
If you don’t feel like walking daily, you can mix in play sessions. As long as they’re getting some exercise, you won’t have a hard time with your Broholmer. Plus, you don’t have to worry about them keeping you up at night.
Are Broholmers Easy to Train?
Broholmers are easy to train. They were initially bred as watchdogs and hunters, so they had enough skill to learn complex commands. Emotional intelligence is also high among Broholmers. They have enough intelligence to comfort people and know when it’s an appropriate time to start barking at a stranger.
Broholmers are also suitable for unique types of training. They’re great for agility training and shouldn’t give you any problems with some of the most complex courses. Always seek help from a professional if training isn’t working as intended, and make sure you have a plan in place with a set schedule because they can start to become stubborn.
Are Broholmers Good Watchdogs?
Broholmers are excellent watchdogs. They were bred in the 1500s to serve as watchdogs, so it’s no surprise that this is an activity that the breed excels at. Broholmers make great watchdogs because of their calm temperament and ability to recognize friends from foes. Still, training is required to bring out the best in Broholmers.
Are Broholmers Good Service Dogs?
Broholmers are great service dogs. Their muscular build makes them perfect for helping people who have physical disabilities. For example, they can help people in the following ways:
- Opening doors
- Fetching medication
- Getting help for people
- Pushing stuck wheelchairs
- Acting as a crutch for people who can’t walk properly
- Applying pressure as a form of therapy (deep pressure therapy)
These are only some of the ways that Broholmers can help as service dogs. In fact, they can also help as psychiatric service dogs due to their high intelligence. They can be trained to understand someone’s triggers to prevent them from happening and even guide people with panic attacks to safety.
The last thing to note is that Broholmers also make great emotional support animals (ESAs) and therapy dogs. ESAs bond with one person to provide love and affection to calm symptoms of anxiety or depression, whereas therapy dogs do the same thing but for groups of people.
How to Care for a Broholmer?
Broholmers aren’t a hard dog breed to care for as long as you have the time and space for them. As large dogs, they’re best suited for homes that have access to an open outdoor area. A large apartment can also suffice, but in this case, you’ll want to live near a dog park or in a place that gives you plenty of areas to go for long walks.
Aside from their energy needs, they don’t suffer from too many health problems, so regular visits to the vet every six months to 1 year are enough to keep them healthy.
The last thing to note is that they do need to be groomed. A bath once a month is enough to keep them clean, and you should always keep an eye on their nails. Using tools like a nail clipper or grinder can help you keep them in check.
Do You Need to Groom a Broholmer?
Yes, you need to groom a Broholmer. While you don’t have to take them to a professional every time, it’s important to brush them frequently during shedding seasons and to bathe them at least once per month. Also, keep an eye on their nails and take them for frequent walks to grind them down and keep them in check.
Do Broholmers Shed?
Broholmers tend to shed a lot during the spring and fall months when they begin to shed their undercoat. Bathing them and brushing their coats can help you stay ahead of the constant flow of hair. You can expect a below-average amount of shedding throughout the rest of the year, so it’s not bad overall.
What Health Problems Do Broholmers Have?
Broholmers struggle with many of the same health conditions that large dogs work with. This includes joint pain, hip dysplasia, and elbow dysplasia. Hip and elbow dysplasia are common in large dogs as they grow older and their joints slide out of place. Unfortunately, the result is pain and inflammation that can lead to trouble walking as they grow old.
It’s also important to note that Broholmers may struggle with visual issues. The biggest problem is entropion, which occurs when the dog’s eyelid begins to turn inwards. This can result in damage to the eye, vision loss, and discomfort. Ectropion is also common among Broholmers and occurs when the eyelid loses contact with the eye.
In both cases, discomfort is common, and vision loss or irritation is possible.
Some other conditions that Broholmers may struggle with include:
- Certain types of cancer
- Allergies
- Seizures
- Digestive problems
- Ingrown nails
To avoid these problems, it’s best to take your Broholmer to the vet frequently, feed them a healthy diet, and avoid playing too rough with them as they grow old.
How Long Do Broholmers Live?
Like most large dog breeds, Broholmers don’t have the longest lifespan. On average, Broholmers last for 7 to 12 years. Keep an eye on their health as they age to prevent any health problems from developing. Doing so can help you keep them alive longer and treat potential health problems before they make an impact.
What Should a Broholmer Eat?
Broholmers need a diet that’s formulated for large dogs, specifically large dogs with medium to high amounts of energy. Avoid overfeeding Broholmers because they can become overweight quickly – they’re not the best self-regulators for food. Also, focus on stocking to a regular feeding schedule once they reach adulthood.
Feeding them once in the morning and once at night is enough for them to be healthy. Avoid feeding them too many treats unless you’re playing or training them. Overall, their diet should consist of protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Check with your vet if you have more concerns about the proper diet for Broholmers.
Is a Broholmer the Right Dog for Me?
Broholmers are a great dog for you as long as you have the space and time to care for them.
While they’re a low-maintenance breed, you still have to walk them at least once daily, feed them properly, and provide them with plenty of space to roam around. Failing to satisfy these needs will result in Broholmers that lash out or a companion that’s stubborn and frustrated with you.
As long as you can provide these amenities for a Broholmer, you shouldn’t have any issues with them. In fact, even first-time dog owners rave about how easy they are to care for. We recommend getting them as a puppy or adopting an older, well-trained Broholmer so that they’re socialized enough to get along with the whole family.