Are Broholmers Good Guard Dogs?

The Broholmer, also called the Danish Mastiff, is a large mastiff breed of dog from Denmark, recognized by the Danish Kennel Club and the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. It has been employed as a guard dog in the homes of the wealthy. The breed’s numbers dwindled severely during World War II, but the dog made a successful return in the 1970s.

Broholmers as Watch Dogs?

The Broholmer’s more recent ancestors (probably going back to the 18th century) are believed to be an English mastiff and several local German breeds. She is named for Sehested of Broholm, a gamekeeper of that period. The Broholmer has been used for centuries as a guard dog for the well-to-do in Denmark. Old family portraits show King Frederick VII posed with his Broholmers.

Are Broholmers Aggressive?

Description: A big, powerful dog of Mastiff type. The Broholmer is reposed, observant and friendly, absolutely not aggressive and the breed must show great self-confidence. Its appearance is dominated by the powerful forequarters. The head is massive and wide; the neck is sturdy with some loose skin. The top line of the skull should be parallel to the top line of the muzzle. The muzzle is massive, looking rather short due to the heavy head. The stop is not too pronounced and the lips are pendulous. The medium-sized eyes are round and light to dark amber. The ears are medium-sized and rather high set; they hang close to the cheeks. The Broholmer’s body should be rectangular, with a powerful and deep chest, a straight back, and strong, muscular forequarters and hindquarters. Front feet and hind feet are tight and rounded. The length and angulation of the fore- and hindquarters should produce a free movement with good reach when walking or trotting. The coat is short with a coarse texture and a thick undercoat. Its coloring may vary from yellow with a black mask, golden red and black. White markings on chest, feet and the end of the tail are optional. Some faults are rose ears, cow hocks, too big or too small ears, and light and elegant in head and body. Eliminating faults are eyes of different color, a curly tail and an overshot or undershot mouth.

Broholmers Background

I have a two year old dog I rescued so was not provided with too much background. I came across the breed of Broholmers and started doing some research. Both the physical and temperament descriptions fit him perfectly. He's got practically every characteristic of them and looks so similar to other pictures posted.

Family and Bonding

Broholmer, also known as the Great Dane or Danish Mastiff, is an old Danish breed that was recreated on the basis of the few surviving individuals. The ancestors of Danish dogs were probably dogs brought from Britain to Denmark by Vikings. Later, they were crossed with former German Great Danes, and in the 17th century with English Mastiffs.

Friendly

The Broholmer has a short, smooth coat that lies close to the skin. They are not allergy-friendly and may not be a good choice for those who suffer from allergies. These large pups are fairly easy to groom. A good brushing per week will probably do.

Broholmer Nature

From the Middle Ages to the present Broholmers have been used as work dogs. The first known duties of the Broholmer was as a hunter, then later, they were used as guard dogs. This is still a task that Broholmer are charged with. They have a suspicious nature, and they do tend to be territorial by nature, so this, combined with appropriate training makes them excellent guard dogs. They have also been used for protecting and herding cattle according to Dog Zone.

Intelligence

Once people have owned a Danish Broholmer, they have got nothing but good comments about them. You hear words such as courageous, sweet, good-natured, playful and intelligent. Also if he believes his family is in danger he will want to protect them.

Love

Broholmers as a Pack Animal

The Broholmer is a friendly but protective dog who likes to stick with their human family or pack. Because they were originally used to hunt stag and guard large farms, they would much rather be outdoors than inside on the couch. The Broholmer loves to play games like hide and seek and chasing after a ball around the yard or park.

Physical Traits

But some Broholmer behaviors and traits can be a little bit problematic. For one, he has a stubborn streak that could overwhelm some inexperienced owners. His massive size is another aspect that could make it tough for him to thrive with certain owners and households.

Excercising your Broholmer

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