Should You get a Boerboel?
The Boerboel is a large and powerful breed of dog that was originally bred in South Africa to guard livestock. Today, they are often used as guard dogs, or as family pets. They are known for their intelligence, strength, and loyalty. If you’re considering adding a Boerboel to your family, here are 12 facts about the Boerboel dog breed.
The Boerboel was originally
bred to guard the homestead and livestock in South Africa. A translation for their name is “farm dog” or “farmers dog”. They are sometimes referred to as ‘The Mastiff of Africa’.
It is believed the Boerboel
originated from the Bullenbeisser and Barenbijter dogs brought to South Africa by settlers in the 1600’s. These dogs were crossed with native African dogs to produce a large, strong breed that could withstand the difficult environment.
The Boerboel almost became
extinct in the early 1900’s. I wasn’t until the 1980’s when Lucas van der Merwe and Jannie Bouwer scoured thousands of kilometers in South Africa looking for the dogs. They were able to register 72 canines. They formed the South African Boerboel Breeders Association, literally saving the breed.
In Landmark Research on Modern Dog Breed
development, the Boerboel has been shown to share the most DNA with an ancestor of the following breeds:
BullMastiff
Bulldog
Mastiff
Ownership of the Boerboel
is banned in France, Malaysia, Qatar, Switzerland, Mauritius, Bermuda and importing the breed is banned in Singapore, Denmark, Romania, Tunisia, Faroe Islands, Turks and Caicos.
According to AKC Breed Standard
the Boerboel can reach up to 27 inches in height and up to 200 pounds in weight. Accepted coat colors are:
“The recognized colors / patterns are with or without a mask; however, the black mask is desirable. Red, Brown, Reddish Brown, Fawn, Cream, brindle in any accepted color and Irish Marked.”
Currently the FCI does not recognize the Boerboel dog breed.
Packs of Boerboels were once
used for hunting leopards and baboons. They have since been used for boar hunting and as prison guard dogs. They are a large, strong and muscular breed that can be intimidating to strangers. They are protective by nature and socializing a Boerboel is VERY important. They are one of the best guard dogs in the world.
Growing Up Boerboel
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The AKC Conducts Dog Racing Trials
each December in Orlando, FL. called the Fast CAT Invitational. This is a 100 yard race where dogs run individually chasing a lure. The average running speed by Boerboel’s is almost 23 mph. The fastest recorded speed by a Boerboel was by a dog named A Lonestar Mowadi at 27.01 mph!
Boerboel’s are Very Loyal
and protective of their families. They will instinctively position themselves between a perceived threat and you. This is a natural behavior that can be seen in some dogs at a very young age.
Male or Female Boerboel?
Female Boerboel’s tend to mature earlier than males and have a more protective, sober temperament. They are very good at identifying potential threats and are more territorial. In general, males tend to be friendlier and will build a strong bond with one member of the household.
Boerboel Humor!
In the Landmark Book
entitled, “The Intelligence of Dogs”, professor Stanley Coren researched and documented the intelligence of over 130 different dog breeds. In his book, the Boerboel/Mastiff ranks 72nd out of 138 breeds in working/obedience intelligence. Essentially this means they will learn new commands in 80 to 100 repetitions and obey first commands less than 25% of the time. This puts them in the “lowest working and obedience intelligence” category. In contrast, the most intelligent breeds will learn the same command in 5 repetitions or less!
Boerboel’s Have an Average
lifespan of 9-11 years. They are a hardy breed, but there are some health concerns to be aware of :
According to OFA statistics, the Boerboel has an almost 40% rate of hip dysplasia and 33% rate of elbow dysplasia. They may also be susceptible to “Wobbler Syndrome” and stones in the urinary tract.
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