Kunming Dog vs Danish Broholmer - Breed Comparison

Known also as the Kunming Wolfdog, the Kunming Dog is similar in looks to the German Shepherd Dog, but the coat is recognizably shorter.

It’s an attractive looking wolf-like dog which comes from China. It isn’t quite clear which dog breeds were used in the gene pool for these Kunming wolfdogs. You can see though that the German Shepherd as well as other wolfdog-crosses have played a part in the breed's origin.

The dog was created in the early 1950s for military- and guard dog purposes. In 1988, the Chinese Public Security Bureau officially recognized the Kunming Dog as a breed. Today, the dog is still used in military and police services.

The Danish Broholmer is also known as the Danish Mastiff. This is a large dog which comes from Denmark.

Known as a molosser breed, the dog used to fulfill a guard dog role in the home of wealthy Danish people. There are those who take one look at the dog’s size and build, and regard him as aggressive, when in fact he is a calm, good-tempered dog.

The origin of this large dog breed goes way back to the Middle Ages, although details of the dog’s origins are unknown. The Broholmer comes from mixing the English Mastiff and various local German breeds, being named after the Sehested of Broholm.

The dog all but became extinct during the Second World War. It was in 1974 that the Danish Kennel Club started looking to revive the breed. The breed was revived and the dog was imported to the United Kingdom in 2009. The Danish Broholmer has been recognized by the United Kennel Club in 2006.

The Kunming is a large dog, athletic and muscular, standing at 60 – 68cm and weighing 30 – 38kg. They are dogs which fall under the Spitz type category.

The dog has a coat which is considered seasonal - double layered in the cooler months and shedding to a shorter coat in the hotter months. The thick coat can be a light tan color to white and he has a black saddle pattern, giving the dog an overall black and tan combination.

The bushy tail is long and its carried down and low except when the dog is excited and alert, then it lifts its tail. The ears are erect like that of the German Shepherd or Wolf.

Temperament:

He isn’t the best breed for a first time owner as he is very strong willed and can tend to become aggressive. It is why he has been used to perform tasks in the military.

These dogs are known for their alertness, and to keep him mentally balanced and amicable, he will need a strong, firm owner who is also fair, patient and consistent. Bored and frustrated, a Kunming can become unpredictable and a first time dog owner might not be able to cope with such an independent, strong-willed, determined, confident dog.

He is also energetic and intelligent, making a great family dog as he is loyal, loving and devoted. His intelligence allows him to learn easily too. Training and socialization will be required if you want him to be obedient.

He is adaptable and can adjust to life in the city or the countryside, but essentially he is better suited to a home with large grounds as he is a dog which is full of energy.

The Danish Broholmer is a large dog that looks familiar to the Mastiff. The dog stands roughly between 66 and 75cm and weighs between 40 and 60kg.

The body is strong and muscular and he has the large head of the molosser. The coat of the dog is short and harsh, with the color being fawn, light brown, yellowish or black. He is quite a heavy shedder and will require brushing twice a week.

The dog usually has a black mask.The muzzle is also large, the nose black. His ears are medium-sized, set high and floppy, the chest deep. The tail is long and carried downwards.

Temperament:

The Danish Broholmer is an awesome family pet who seems to go out of his way to please his human family. He is an intelligent dog and obedient by nature. Because he is so devoted to his human family, he wants to protect them too.

He is a non-aggressive dog and the best part about owning such a dog is that he is a gentle pet for the family but he still looks threatening to intruders.

The Danish Broholmer gets on well with children and pets in the home. However such a big dog needs to be trained and socialized and he could jump up against smaller people and unintentionally send them flying. Training will see to it that he responds well do simple commands such as ‘down’, ‘sit’, lie-down’ and ‘come’.

Your attractive Kunming dog is an energetic, lively dog who is going to require a good deal of exercise as he was developed to be a working dog.

They are loving towards their human families and even well behaved with other dogs in the family. He will however need socialization and training from a firm, fair, consistent owner.

Provide him with a loving environment, lots of exercise, wholesome food, a warm, dry place to sleep and lots of mental and physical stimulation, and you’ll have a wonderful, contended pet and companion.

Once people have owned a Danish Broholmer, they have got nothing but good comments about them. You hear words such as courageous, sweet, good-natured, playful and intelligent. Also if he believes his family is in danger he will want to protect them.

He is a great friend for child and adult and a fairly low maintenance breed too. He is an adaptable dog, but his size isn’t suited to small, cramped spaces. He will need to be exercised but this should be a pleasure as every human being can use some additional exercise themselves if they want to remain healthy.

Look after your wonderful amicable Danish Broholmer and he’ll shower you with his doggy love and devotion.

Your Kunming can reach 12 to 14 years of age if he is loved, fed correctly and adequately exercised. Just as with any dog, he can be susceptible to some of the common dog illnesses. These include the likes of hip dysplasia, bloat, epilepsy, eye problems, ear infections, intestinal parasites, heart disease and skin problems.

Intestinal worms:

Worms are a chronic problem in dogs and the thing is, they can infect humans too. If you don’t treat worms in your dog, it can lead to your pet becoming seriously ill. You may notice loss of appetite, a dull, thinning coat, anemia and diarrhea.

The vet will be able to offer a treatment that can help with eradicating hook-, round- and tapeworms.

Skin infections:

This may sound like a mild dog disease but it can cause a lot of misery for your pet. You’ll notice your pet licking, scratching and biting at raw, red spots on his skin. With bacterial- or yeast infections, your pet can battle with itchiness, pain and discomfort. Luckily your vet can recommend treatments to effectively alleviate symptoms.

The Danish Broholmer is a large dog who can consume quite a lot of food. With large dogs like these, there is often strain on the dog’s joints.

Also dogs with deep chests are also prone to gastric dilatation volvulus or bloat. In fact, large dogs can also suffer with obesity apart from joint problems. It is why they often live shorter lives than smaller dog breeds. Some points to consider with your large breed pet -

Nutrition is most important for puppies and your adult dog. Don’t overfeed your large breed puppy as he can grow too quickly so that his joints are at risk of injury.

Too much weight gain as well as too much exercise can increase the risk of your dog developing hip dysplasia. This is a hereditary disorder, causing problems with the hips. The disease can lead to terrible pain and sometime lameness. Always remember to keep the weight of your dog in a healthy range to prevent pressure on the joints.

Grooming for the thick coat should be done regularly. The dog sheds quite a bit and seasonally and you'll want to brush him twice a week to rid the coat of those loose hairs.

Exercising:

The Kunming Dog is high energy and will therefore suit a family who is active and sporty. He is the kind of dog that you can include in all your activities – walks, hikes, running next to you when you go cycling and swimming.

Diet:

This is an active dog and you want the best food for him, packed with vitamins and minerals to keep him lively and energetic. Instead of giving him one large meal a day that he gulps down quickly, split his food into 2 smaller meals.

Your dog’s age, his breed and his energy levels will direct you as to how to feed him.

Remember, that although commercially manufactured dog foods need to comply with certain standards, it doesn't guarantee their goodness. It may not be digestible for your pet. If you want to use one of these foods, choose the best there is and try to mix in some wholesome home-made food from time to time.

Cooked chicken, brown rice or pasta and some raw or cooked vegetables can be excellent for him as well as adding in some raw meat occasionally.

Exercise:

For his size, you’d be inclined to think that the Danish Broholmer will require a lot of exercise, but in fact he is much like any other other. He will love to join you on your daily walks and will readily run to fetch a ball.

Diet:

Your Danish Broholmer will require quality food manufactured exclusively for large dog breeds.

There are excellent manufactured dog foods out there and you can take the kibble and mix in some home-made foods from time to time such as cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken. He will also require some raw meat added into the diet occasionally.

Never leave him without a constant supply of cool, fresh water.