Baholmer - A leader and protective dog

He BROHOLMER It is a large dog breed that was used in the Middle Ages to perform hunting and surveillance work. However, even if it was known at that time, it would not be until the 18th century when it would be officially recognized as a race under this name. However, it is also known as Danish mastin. If you are interested in acquiring a Broholmer as a pet, in this post you can know everything about this race from its origin to its characteristics and behavior as well as the necessary care that you must apply to keep it healthy.

• Size: Large/giant.
• Weight: Between 40 and 70kg.
• Hair type: Short and abundant short.
• Character: Quiet and friendly
• Health: Conditions associated with its size
• Life expectancy: Between 10 and 12 years.

Origin

When we go back in history, it is interesting to know the trajectory that Broholmer had. Since its inception, was used in deer hunting During the time of the Middle Ages, and also acted protected the lands of the feudal lords against the intruders who tried to transfer their territories. Similarly, it also provided security in those lands destined for agriculture, as well as in the shelter of herds. Although at that time the function of this canine had extended to the fulfillment of different tasks, it would not obtain notoriety until it reached the hands of the Count Niels Frederik Sehested of Broholm funen who was the main architect in raising this dog in his pure state. Part of his effort implied the creation of standards to develop the foundations that would serve to define the breed, which would be recognized as such towards the end of the 18th century when assigned to this dog the name of the city Broholm funen until finally becoming Broholmer. This breed was introduced in England thanks to the initiative carried out by Danish wealthy families with the purpose of providing their services to surveillance work and as a company. These maintained the interaction together with the other breeds of dogs that lived at that time, affecting this in the formation of their character and physiognomy until reaching the current state. In 1970 the existence of this race was on the verge of extinction, but thanks to the work exercised by a group of people of Danish origin together (with the Kennel Club from Denmark) they made all the possible effort to guarantee their survival. By obtaining the reproduction of several copies, these people gradually establish a considerable population of this breed until they reached its total recovery. Thanks to this, they offered the opportunity to the world to adopt them. At present they are no longer a very quoted race as a pet than in their country of origin. These dogs are located inside the canine world in the category of Molososo Dogo type in which the hunt has currently ruled out of its functions, performing only work as a company dog ​​and home protector.

Body characteristics

Without a doubt, the most notable trait of Baholmer is its size. Generally, it can reach 75 centimeters in the male, while in the females it is 70 centimeters with a volume between 50 and 70 kilograms in the male and 40 to 60 kilograms in the females. As for his head: it is robust and wide, the neck is strong and thick, complemented with some pater. His nose is dark -tone, the eyes are medium size, round and with an amber color that reflects a look full of trust. His ears are medium -sized, being inserted in the upper part of his head, suspended next to the cheeks. Its body has a rectangular shape, where the height to the cross is lower with respect to the length. The upper line maintains a uniform horizontality while the chest is deep and strong. The tail is thick at the base, inserting in the lower part, which is placed in a horizontal position when the dog enters into a state of action, keeping it at that level without getting curled up on its back. The fur of this faithful companion is short, compact and abundant, arranged in a thick inner layer. You can present the following shades: red, gold, black or yellow, being the specimen of this color that presents a black mask on your face, while white marks on legs, chest and tip of the tail can be presented in any color.

Character and personality

Although the size of the Baholmer is an attribute that can intimidate, the truth is that reality may be very different, since This breed is very affectionate. It is defined as an excellent guardian, who always remains on alert, presenting a distrustful attitude to strangers and adopting a possessive posture in its territory in the presence of other dogs. It usually shows no aggressiveness, since His character is quiet and friendly, showing relaxed in the company of their loved ones and enjoying activities in open spaces to preserve their good physical condition. However, sometimes it can become temperamental if another dog or a stranger invades his personal space. If this situation comes to occur, he will let us know showing in his face a gesture of anger expressing disgust, even teaching his teeth to the point of biting in case of feeling threatened. To correct this answer, It is necessary to submit it from puppy to training processes and socialization in order to stimulate their interaction with both other people and other animals that are in their environment. Its character is very good, a quality that gives it enough potential to integrate it as one more member of the family. Although, despite this, it is important that the owner has the strength and trust necessary to let him know that he is the one who leads the home, not the dog. This is because this breed has a very strong tendency to strongly rooted leadership in its instinct. That is why it will be necessary to educate it correctly to establish limits and make the dog understand that, even if you have the responsibility to protect the family, you must obey your orders.

How to take care of it

As for the care of the fur, the Broholmer only needs a weekly brushing. But, considering that these dogs give off a lot of hair during the time of mute (2 times a year), it is likely that in those stages you should brush it daily. Is A quiet temperament breed, although they can become very energetic. Therefore, it is convenient to perform some activity to help you release all that energy contained, being advisable to take it out to give long walks daily and reserve a time so you can play. You can use dog exercises, as these routines can be very useful. In the end, it will end so tired that it will fall and sleep all night. But be sure to be cautious by allowing you to jump and perform sudden movements during the puppy stage, since your joints are still fragile and that could cause damage. Due to its large size, this dog is not accustomed to living in small spaces such as apartments or small houses. If you decide to adopt one, as a requirement you must have a home with a wide garden or a rural property where you can move freely.

Training and education

The training process is not an easy task due to its size and character of leader, which leads him to exercise dominion over the pack and other dogs. But this does not mean that Broholmer is an aggressive race and impossible to train. Maintaining perseverance it is possible to obtain appropriate training. Although, for this, it is necessary to help an expert who takes care of guiding the owner and assisting him in handling the stubborn character of the dog. We must be careful, because your stubbornness can manifest itself as a defense mechanism in rejection of the process, which goes against its natural instincts. In this way, the specialist will help you deal with the behavior of the Broholmer, as well as teach you that obedience to you is something that you should understand. When you apply all these measures correctly, you will see that in a short time good results will be reflected in the dog's behavior. This can only be achieved if you have sufficient patience and perseverance to stay in constant learning and you can properly use all that knowledge to deal with the responsibility that implies owning a copy of Broholmer, in the control of their behavior and physical care. Generally this dog will not have problematic manifestations If you ensure that you have enough space to be comfortable, a moderate dose of exercises and good attention that provides you with the necessary care to make you feel calm and receptive to the orders you can give. Although most of the time this dog is calm and silent, exercise can be a good way to drain its impulsive energy.

Health

For the Broholmer there is no specific record or picture that details the diseases that can affect their health but. Of course, taking into consideration its size, it is possible to determine conditions that characteristicly affect the races of great size such as the Broholmer. Among the diseases that potentially affect this type of dogs, are: heart problems, elbow, hips and gastric torsion. In this way, it is necessary to take the dog to the veterinary consultation every 6 months with the purpose of performing reviews and evaluations that allow to prevent and track any health problem that could be presented, as well as monitoring their vaccines through the vaccination calendar. If you want to know more about dogs: