The Danish Broholmer

We had another fundraising event today to raise funds for The Open European Heework To Muisc and Freestyle Championships, which are held here in Denmark on the 22nd and 23rd October this year.

We held a Rally Obedience Show. It was not a big show - only about 40 entries, but we still raised about 4000 Danish Kroner (£470/540 Euros).

Today's picture is one of the teams that competed today. It is Susanne Ekelund with her Danish Broholmer Ginnungagap.

The Broholmer is one of the historical Danish breeds. Archaeologists have found a dog skeleton of Broholmer-size and type in a Viking village on Fyn and it is assumed that the Vikings brought Mastiffs from England to Denmark and Scandinavia when they occupied the British Isles. The Broholmer origins from these Mastiffs mixed with German Mastiffs and probably also some ancient Danish breeds.

King Frederik VII (the king that established the Danish parliament and made the country a constitutional monarchy) and his mistress Duchess Danner were owners of several Broholmers and one of their portraits depicts them with one of their dogs.

The breed?s numbers dwindled severely during World War II, but the dog made a successful return in the 1970-80s thanks to a group of hard working Danish enthusiasts.

The Broholmer is a large molosser breed of dog. It is now recognized by the Danish Kennel Club and the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.