The Broholmer was almost extinct after the Second World War. Around 1975, a group of dedicated people began rebuilding the breed with support from the Danish Kennel Club. The result is a large, calm farmyard dog still little known outside Denmark.
| FCI | Group 2 (Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs), Section 2.1 Molossoid breeds, mastiff type, Standard No. 315, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Denmark |
| Size (height at the withers) | Males around 75 cm, females around 70 cm |
| Weight | Males 50 to 70 kg, females 40 to 60 kg |
| Life expectancy | no reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | short and close-fitting, with undercoat |
| Colours in the standard | yellow or red, each with or without a black mask (on the muzzle only), or black; white markings on chest, feet and tail tip permitted |
From deer hunter to estate dog
According to the standard, this type has been known since the Middle Ages, when it hunted deer. Later, it guarded large farms and manor houses. At the end of the 18th century, Chamberlain Sehested bred the dogs pure at Broholm, the estate that gave the breed its name. Related in type are the English Mastiff and the Great Dane (Deutsche Dogge), with which it shares the mastiff-type section.
Composed, with a watchful eye
Calm, good-natured, friendly yet watchful, with great self-confidence: that is the standard’s summary. Aggressive or excessively shy dogs are excluded. At home, it is usually an unflustered housemate, calmly accepting children and visitors it knows. Its size still means early lessons in not jumping up and walking on a loose lead.
What posture reveals
The standard describes body language you can read day to day. At rest, the Broholmer carries its head fairly low and its tail hanging in a sabre shape. When attentive or excited, it raises the head and tail above horizontal. Its natural gaits are walk and trot, with a long, unhurried stride. Long walks suit it better than sprints and jumps.
Short coat, plenty of skin
The short coat with undercoat is quickly brushed, though plenty of hair still flies during shedding. The skin is thick and abundant, especially around the neck; the lips hang slightly but, according to the standard, not excessively. Expect some drool after drinking. With males weighing 50 to 70 kg, check body condition regularly, as every extra kilo strains the joints.
A rare breed, a small evidence base
We found no study of Broholmer life expectancy or typical diseases; McMillan and colleagues’ large British analysis does not list it. A Danish genomic analysis examined 22 Broholmers: genetic diversity ranked in the middle of five Danish breeds, with founder effects and population bottlenecks named as possible reasons for differences (Pertoldi et al. 2013). Ask the breeder for hip and elbow findings and the litter’s inbreeding coefficient.
A good partner for
families with a house and garden seeking a calm, friendly dog, who enjoy walks and have space for a dog this size, including in the car.
Less suitable for
flats without a lift, sporty runners seeking a running partner and anyone underestimating food and vet costs for a 60 kg dog.
Before searching for a breeder of this rare dog, try the breed quiz. Find more help with the decision in “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). Puppy owners can get the Puppy Starter Pack free. Download your Broholmer as a digital artwork straight away or choose another style in our dog portraits .
Further reading
- Is my dog overweight? How to check body shape and ideal weight
- House-training your puppy: the plan for the first 4 weeks
- Rottweiler: a restricted breed, a huge heart and 45 kilos of responsibility
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 315 Broholmer (fci.be, English version dated 16.05.2025, valid standard published 03.05.2025; German version dated 22.09.2000 is outdated); Pertoldi C et al., Characterization of the genetic profile of five Danish dog breeds, Journal of Animal Science 2013; McMillan KM et al., Scientific Reports 2024 (Broholmer not analysed there).
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