Boerboel

The Boerboel is the quintessential South African farm mollusk: A large, massive and deeply protective dog, bred for centuries to watch over the home, livestock and family on the most isolated farms in South Africa. Its name says it all – from Afrikaans boer, “farmer”, and boel, short for boelhond, “dog-type dog” -: It’s literally the farmer’s dog. If you are looking for an imposing, loyal keeper and have experience with strong-tempered breeds, the Boerboel can be an exceptional companion.

Is the Boerboel for you?

The Boerboel is not a dog for just anyone, and it’s best to be honest before falling in love with his image. It’s a 70- to 90-kg animal with an intense guarding instinct, an alert mind and a will of its own. He’s well-mannered, balanced, affectionate with his own and of a bomb-proof loyalty. Mismanaged, its size and its distrust of strangers make it a serious problem. Keep in mind, too, that in some countries their possession is restricted or outright forbidden.

Character and temperament

The temperament of the Boerboel can be summed up in three words: safe, brave and protective. It is a fearless dog that stops without hesitation in the face of any perceived threat, but with its people it transforms into a calm, affectionate and surprisingly sensitive animal. It constantly seeks the approval of its owner, which makes it very dedicated to work and training when there is a strong bond.

His guardian instinct is so ingrained that he doesn ‘t need anyone to teach him . The Boerboel watches by default. That same quality explains their distrust of strangers and their tendency to mark and defend territory. It is not a nervous dog or barks without reason; rather, it is serene and observant, but when it decides to act, it does so with a forceful attitude in keeping with its physique. That is why the emotional stability of the specimen and the quality of its socialization are everything in this breed.

Coexistence: children, other pets, flat and loneliness

With the family, and especially with the children of the house, the Boerboel is usually patient and protective. Nevertheless, its size requires prudence: it should never be left alone with very small children, not for bad intentions, but because a sudden movement of a dog of this size can pull a child unintentionally.

With other dogs the situation is more delicate. The Boerboel can be dominant or territorial, especially among males, so early socialization and well-made introductions are essential. It usually coexists better with a dog of the opposite sex.

It is not a breed designed for the floor: it needs space to move and, above all, a firm exercise routine. It also does not tolerate prolonged solitude well; it is a dog very attached to its family and, if left alone for too many hours, it can get bored and become destructive.

Education and training

The Boerboel is intelligent and quick to learn, but it’s also independent and domineering, which means it will test boundaries and need to be clearly marked. The recipe that works is calm and consistent leadership, without yelling or harshness, combined with positive reinforcement and a lot of consistency. Rewarding what you do well and being predictable gives you confidence.

Socialization is the number one pillar: The earlier and more varied your exposure to people, dogs, noises and situations, the better you will manage your adult guard instinct. The basic obedience – calling, standing, together – must be consolidated before the puppy becomes an 80-pound animal that cannot be physically contained. For all this, it’s not the breed recommended for a first-time owner: Here previous experience with dogs of character makes the difference.

Exercise and activity

The Boerboel is a working dog, resistant and active, but not a continuous running athlete: it has the virtue of knowing how to dose its strength according to the situation. This does not mean that it can lie down all day. It needs daily quality exercise – long walks, play and, if possible, some task that makes it think – to keep the body and mind in shape.

One or two long walks a day is the reasonable minimum, ideally combined with some training or scent work that gives it a purpose. A Boerboel that gets enough exercise is a balanced and calm dog at home; a bored and unstimulated one is the recipe for nibbling, garden holes, and destructive behaviors.

Care: fur and hygiene

Its coat is short, dense, and soft-textured, so maintenance is minimal: just an occasional brushing, once a week, to remove the dead hair and distribute the natural fat that keeps the skin healthy.

Bathing is only necessary when you get really dirty, about once a month or so. As a good cleaner, it is advisable to check and clean the folds of the face and paw to prevent moisture, watch the ears, keep the nails at bay and take care of dental hygiene. Because of its tendency to eye problems such as ectropion and entropy, it is worth checking your eyes regularly and seeing your veterinarian for any persistent redness or tearing.

Foodstuffs

Feeding a 70 to 90 kg dog requires a head. The Boerboel needs a high-quality diet, rich in protein and adjusted to its size, age and activity level, preferably divided into two servings per day to reduce the risk of gastric torsion, a problem associated with large dogs with deep breasts.

The puppy stage is especially sensitive: Too fast growth from overfeeding or too much calcium can damage joints that already carry a lot of weight. Ideally, a specific feed for growing large breeds and control that the puppy stays stylized, not rolled. In the adult, monitoring your weight is one of the best investments for your hips and your longevity.

Health and life expectancy

The Boerboel is, in general, a rustic and robust dog, but it shares the typical vulnerabilities of large moles. The most watched are hip and elbow dysplasia, eye problems – especially ectropion and entropion, that is, the eyelid turned outward or inward – and, in females, vaginal hyperplasia. Cases of juvenile epilepsy, which may be triggered by stress or metabolic changes, as well as thyroid and heart conditions, have also been reported.

Their life expectancy is around 10 to 12 years, and some sources extend it to 11-13. The best way to tip the scales toward the high band is to go to responsible breeders who perform hip, elbow and eye tests, keep the dog at a healthy weight throughout its life and not force exercise in the growth stage.

Physical appearance

The Boerboel is a large, strong and well-proportioned mollusk, with a heavy bone structure and impressive musculature that transmits power without losing agility. The head is short, broad, and square in appearance, with well-filled cheeks, a black snout with wide nostrils, and a confident expression. The ears, medium and V-shaped, hang attached to the face, and the neck is thick and muscular.

The coat is short, dense and soft in texture. The recognized colors are atigrade, leonade (yellow) and red or brown, with or without a black mask on the face; the all-black coat is considered disqualifying in the breed standards. The eyes range from brown to yellowish, with the dark and well-pigmented ones being especially appreciated. The tail, traditionally amputated in its country of origin, now looks increasingly natural where the practice is prohibited.

Origin and history

Boerboel has its roots in colonial South Africa. It is descended from an ancient cross of molose and dog brought by European settlers – Dutch, German, French, and English – known as the Boer Dog or Boer hunting dog, which served both as a guardian of farms and more remote stays and as a large hunting dog. Chronicles of the early 20th century describe it as the best dog for hunting leopards and baboons in packs, able to reduce a cat caught in a trap. Their ancestors include the Bullmastiff, the Great Dane and the now extinct Bullenbeisser.

Organized breeding of the breed as we know it began in the 1950’s. In 1983 the first association, the Suid-Afrikaanse Boerboel Telersvereniging (South African Boerboel Breeders’ Association) was founded, and in 2012 the South African Boerboel Breeders’ Society (SABBS) was born, officially registered with the Department of Agriculture in 2014. The Boerboel is recognized by the Kennel Union of Southern Africa, although not by the International Kennel Federation (FCI). In South Africa, the Animal Welfare Act considers it an indigenous breed of the country.

Curiosities

• Its name literally means “farmer’s dog”: boer(farmer) plus boel, from boelhond(dog type).
• It is considered an autochthonous breed or landrace of South Africa by its own legislation.
• It is not recognised by the FCI, but by the Kennel Union of Southern Africa and by local societies such as the SABBS.
• Its possession is restricted or prohibited in several countries, including Denmark, France, Qatar, Tunisia, Mauritius and Bermuda.
• The all-black coat disqualifies the specimen in the traditional breed standard.
• Historically it was used in packs to hunt leopards and baboons on South African farms.

If you are attracted to the Boerboel because of its guarding demeanor, you may want to compare its character and needs with those of other moles and guard dogs before deciding. Cane Corso English Mastiff Rottweiler Bóxer

Frequently Asked Questions about Boerboel