Broholmer
Overview
The Broholmer is a giant dog from the Companion group — a moderately energetic dog that enjoys regular activity. In temperament it's intensely devoted and bonded to its family, trainable and quick to pick up on what's asked and it tolerates some alone time once settled. With a typical lifespan of 8 to 12 years., the Broholmer is a medium-length commitment.
Is the Broholmer right for you?
A good match if — you're newer to dogs and want a forgiving breed; you have children at home; you want a closely bonded companion; you enjoy training and want a responsive dog.
Think twice if — you don't have much space.
What a Broholmer needs from you
Day to day, the Broholmer needs a moderate amount of daily time from you and a moderate daily walk and play. It does best with a lot of space, ideally a yard and a little dog know-how.
Living with a Broholmer
At home, the Broholmer prefers a home with space. It's good with children, polite but not overly outgoing with strangers, an average barker, and a fairly dry-mouthed breed.
Key facts
- Size
- Giant
- Height
- 22 to 30 inches.
- Weight
- 90 to 150 pounds.
- Life span
- 8 to 12 years.
- Group
- Companion Dogs
What it needs from you (at a glance)
| Space needed | |
| Experience needed | |
| Maintenance | no data yet |
| Time per day | |
| Need for company | |
| Handling / closeness | |
| Cost level |
Health & what to watch for
The start matters most: get a Broholmer from someone who health-tests their lines — ask to see the results — or from a reputable rescue, and register with a vet early. Large, heavy breeds load the joints and heart more and tend to live shorter lives, so ask specifically about hip, elbow and heart screening, and keep growth slow and weight lean. Across every breed the single biggest lever you control is weight — a lean dog lives longer and has fewer problems. Food intolerances usually show as itchy skin, recurring ear trouble or an upset stomach; if that turns up, a vet-guided elimination diet beats guesswork. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice — your vet knows your individual dog.
Best toys
Good toys for a Broholmer: tough, durable chews built for strong jaws — avoid flimsy toys it can shred and swallow. Rotate a few at a time rather than leaving everything out — novelty is half the value — and always supervise a new chew.
Growing up
Grow it slowly: keep a Broholmer pup lean and hold off on forced running, repetitive jumping and lots of stairs while the joints are still forming (roughly the first 12–18 months) — overloading a heavy youngster now causes real problems later. The first months are the socialization window: calm, positive exposure to new people, sounds, surfaces and other animals now shapes the adult dog more than almost anything else.
What it costs
Scaled to this breed’s roughly 54 kg and a ~10-year life, keeping a Broholmer works out at about:
Rough cross-breed averages in USD — a planning guide, not a quote. Break it down by life phase in the Cost Calculator →
Temperament (at a glance)
| Affection | |
| Energy | |
| Vocalness | |
| Trainability | |
| Tolerates alone |
Its presence, grown
Raised with patience and consistency, the adult Broholmer settles into a balanced, companionable presence. It devotes itself utterly to its family — your shadow, your second self. It is polite with newcomers once they are introduced. Grown to full size, it is an imposing companion that commands a room simply by standing in it.
As your partner
Picture it as a grown partner at your side: a comfortable balance of activity and rest — an everyday companion for ordinary life. It can settle on its own once it trusts the routine.
What makes it unique
What sets the Broholmer apart is a heart bred purely for human company — it would rather be at your side than do anything else in the world.