Broholmer Information & Dog Breed Facts

Introduction

The Broholmer or in its other name, the Danish Mastiff is an indigenous, large Danish breed. Meanwhile, the breed’s early origin is quite unknown, it is widely presumed that the Broholmer can trace its origins back to the German Mastiff, and to other, mostly spitz-type local Danish dogs, which were brought to Denmark by the Vikings.

19th century

As a breed-type, the Broholmer had been known since the Middle Ages, when the dogs were mostly used for stag-, deer-, and boar-hunting purposes. Later, the breed’s roles transformed into guarding larger farms and manors. The breed also helped to assist Danish farmers in the handling of uncooperative bulls and pigs. Around the very early 19th century, a Danish book described the Broholmer as a very ordinary dog breed, living mostly around Copenhagen. The breed’s early nickname was “the butcher’s dog”, for the reason that the dogs were often seen lying at the doorstep of butcher shops, hoping to be given some leftovers. Back then, people used the Broholmer as the protector of homes, and herding, guarding dogs of cattle at farms and in the city’s markets. It is safe to say that Broholmer was a part of everyday life in Denmark in the 19th century. The Broholmer was a particularly prized possession, moreover, it was such a respected breed, that Broholmers were occasionally given as gifts by royalty and aristocrats to their peers in Europe.

Effects of the Industrial Revolution

Later, the Industrial Revolution led to the disappearance of a large amount of green space, and was slowly, but steadily urbanized. This takeover coincided with a political change, leading to the upper-class losing a large portion of their wealth, and with that, their precious Broholmers. The complete extinction was prevented by a nobleman, called Neils Frederick, who was a gamekeeper and a fancier of the Broholmer. He also bred and strongly encouraged the organized breeding of the Broholmer. Towards the end of the 19th century, the Broholmer was mostly pure-bred, and their population numbers were increasing thanks to the Count Sehested of Broholm, from whom the Broholmer has inherited its name. During the early 20th century, the Broholmer was believed to be used within the Copenhagen Zoo’s breeding program, in a consorted effort to preserve the breed. It is also claimed that female specimens were sometimes used as surrogate mothers to orphaned animals such as lion cubs, and tigers.

The era of the World Wars

The strong and concentrated breeding efforts hit a temporary stop as the First World War led to an economic downturn in Denmark. After the Great Depression, and the Nazi occupation, the ability of local people to keep and breed the Broholmer was greatly hampered. Later, in 1974, the Society for the Reconstruction of the Broholmer Breed was established, with the support of the Danish Kennel Club with the intention of re-establishing and preserving this indigenous breed. In 1998, the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) officially acknowledged the Broholmer.

Nowadays

Today, the Broholmer is still considered to be a rare breed, however as it was exported to the United States of America, its popularity started to rise overseas too. The breed is kept as a calm, good-natured, yet watchful and confident, family companion.