The SOUTH AFRICAN BOERBOEL
The Boerboel is reliable, obedient and
intelligent, with strong watch and guard-dog instincts. It is self-assured and
fearless. The Boerboel are very playful and affectionate toward their owners.
Their favorite pass time would be to play a game of fetch loving every minute
they spend with their master. Their jaws are strong and they will most often
pop the ball they are playing with. Not to fret, they will just play with the
popped ball!They are very gentle and good with children they know.
Allowing them to ride on their backs like a horse, loving every minute of the
attention they are getting. Boerboel will do okay with other dogs, cats and
other non-canine pets, letting birds come down and snatch from their food bowl!
They will guard their family, friends and property with their life. When the
owners are not home they will not allow anyone to enter the home, unless they
know them very well. When welcomed visitors arrive they will accept them after
being properly introduced. This breed requires a dominant owner. The
authority the owners project over the dog should be so strong that the dog will
not bolt out the front door when it is opened. The
objective in training this dog is to achieve a pack leader status. It is a natural
instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack.
The entire pack cooperates under a
single leader. Lines are clearly defined and rules are set. Because a dog
communicates his displeasure with growling and eventually biting, all other
humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. The humans must be the ones
making the decisions, not the dogs. That is the only way your relationship with
your dog can be a complete success. If one does not understand this concept
100% and have confidence that they can handle such a large guard type breed
then this is not the dog for them. With the right owners the Boerboel can make
wonderful pets.
Height: males 25-28 inches (64-70 cm.) female 23-25.5 inches (59-65
cm.)
Weight: 154-200 pounds (70 and 90 kg.
The development of the Boerboel can rightfully be described as a true
South African success story and is today a beacon for those who have made a
contribution to improve the breed. The refining of the breed is still on the
developing stage. Much has already been written on the descent of the Boerboel
but nobody can state with certainty that it is bred from one, two or more
breeds of dogs. What is confirmed by investigation is that Jan van Riebeeck
brought with him a "bullenbijter" on his arrival to the Cape. This dog was a
large strong breed which reminded one of the Mastiff type of dog. Those who
followed Van Riebeeck to the Cape, had also brought with them only the largest
and strongest dogs, and over a period of decades only the strongest survived in
the now and desolated country. With the arrival of the British Settlers in 1820
they brought amongst others the Bulldog and Mastiff type of dog. (In 1938 the
real Bull Mastiff was imported to South Africa by De Beers to guard the
diamonds mines. It is also known that they imported a champion obtained from
the Hottentots, played a role in the development of the Boerboel. The
"Boerdogs" (as they are known) were scattered by the Voortrekkers during the
Great Trek and they continued to breed with them. According to tradition, after
the Anglo Boer War in 1902, these dogs were cross-bred with the English
long-legged Bulldog and also the with the Bull Mastiff, in the late and early
1950's. The history is especially known among the farmers of the North-Eastern
Free State, Northern Natal and in parts of Transvaal.
intelligent, with strong watch and guard-dog instincts. It is self-assured and
fearless. The Boerboel are very playful and affectionate toward their owners.
Their favorite pass time would be to play a game of fetch loving every minute
they spend with their master. Their jaws are strong and they will most often
pop the ball they are playing with. Not to fret, they will just play with the
popped ball!They are very gentle and good with children they know.
Allowing them to ride on their backs like a horse, loving every minute of the
attention they are getting. Boerboel will do okay with other dogs, cats and
other non-canine pets, letting birds come down and snatch from their food bowl!
They will guard their family, friends and property with their life. When the
owners are not home they will not allow anyone to enter the home, unless they
know them very well. When welcomed visitors arrive they will accept them after
being properly introduced. This breed requires a dominant owner. The
authority the owners project over the dog should be so strong that the dog will
not bolt out the front door when it is opened. The
objective in training this dog is to achieve a pack leader status. It is a natural
instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack.
The entire pack cooperates under a
single leader. Lines are clearly defined and rules are set. Because a dog
communicates his displeasure with growling and eventually biting, all other
humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. The humans must be the ones
making the decisions, not the dogs. That is the only way your relationship with
your dog can be a complete success. If one does not understand this concept
100% and have confidence that they can handle such a large guard type breed
then this is not the dog for them. With the right owners the Boerboel can make
wonderful pets.
Height: males 25-28 inches (64-70 cm.) female 23-25.5 inches (59-65
cm.)
Weight: 154-200 pounds (70 and 90 kg.
The development of the Boerboel can rightfully be described as a true
South African success story and is today a beacon for those who have made a
contribution to improve the breed. The refining of the breed is still on the
developing stage. Much has already been written on the descent of the Boerboel
but nobody can state with certainty that it is bred from one, two or more
breeds of dogs. What is confirmed by investigation is that Jan van Riebeeck
brought with him a "bullenbijter" on his arrival to the Cape. This dog was a
large strong breed which reminded one of the Mastiff type of dog. Those who
followed Van Riebeeck to the Cape, had also brought with them only the largest
and strongest dogs, and over a period of decades only the strongest survived in
the now and desolated country. With the arrival of the British Settlers in 1820
they brought amongst others the Bulldog and Mastiff type of dog. (In 1938 the
real Bull Mastiff was imported to South Africa by De Beers to guard the
diamonds mines. It is also known that they imported a champion obtained from
the Hottentots, played a role in the development of the Boerboel. The
"Boerdogs" (as they are known) were scattered by the Voortrekkers during the
Great Trek and they continued to breed with them. According to tradition, after
the Anglo Boer War in 1902, these dogs were cross-bred with the English
long-legged Bulldog and also the with the Bull Mastiff, in the late and early
1950's. The history is especially known among the farmers of the North-Eastern
Free State, Northern Natal and in parts of Transvaal.