AKC Working Group
History
A descendent of the Bullenbitjer, a large, heavy Mastiff-type dog brought into South Africa with Dutch pioneers in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the Boerboel was used as a general farm dog. The name, pronounced “boar-bowl,” translates to “farm dog” or “farmer’s dog.” The original Bullenbitjers were probably bred with native South African dogs, resulting in a breed whose talents included deterring predators, tracking game, and guarding the farm against intruders. Today the breed’s calm and confident demeanor, as well as its impressively strong build, make it an increasingly popular breed in the United States and Europe. The breed has been banned, however, in Denmark, where it is considered a fighting dog. The Boerboel joined the AKC Working Group in 2015.
Description
The Boerboel should convey an impression of strength, grace, agility, and intelligence. More important than size is the proportion—the body should be slightly longer than it is tall. Males should be larger and have heavier bone than females, who should look distinctly more feminine than the males. The head is blocky and broad; the muzzle should be broad and deep; the forehead should wrinkle when the dog is interested in something. Only black nostrils are allowed.
The medium-sized eyes should face forward, be widely spaced, be some shade of brown, and have an intelligent expression. The ears are V-shaped, widely set, and of medium size. The neck is powerful and flows smoothly into the shoulders. The chest is deep and broad. Topline is level and the entire body—including thighs, shoulders, and croup—is muscular and very solid. Tail is thick and set high; when left natural (instead of docked), it should have a slight curve upward.
The coat is dense, short, and smooth. It can be a wide variety of colors, including brown, red, or fawn, brindle, piebald, and “Irish Marked.” A black mask is desirable. The skin should be dark on the stomach and under the fur—the dogs were bred this way to protect them against sun and heat. Pink paw pads are a serious fault.
The gait should be powerful yet agile.
Key Facts
- Height: 24 to 27 in. (male); 22 to 25 in. (female)
- Size: Very large
- Weight: 154 to 200 lbs.
- Availability: Difficult to find
- Talents: Guarding, watchdog, obedience, weight pulling, and carting
Personality
These large and very powerful dogs make wonderful family pets, as they love children and their personalities combine gentleness with a strong protective tendency, but this is also a dog that should be taken seriously. While Boerboels generally are not aggressive unless they feel the need to protect their property or owner, they tend to be smart, dominant, headstrong, and often aggressive toward other dogs of the same sex. As such, they need a dominant, experienced owner who is able and willing to put in the time needed to train, socialize, and control them. Puppies should spend time with older, mature, well-behaved dogs to learn how to play and interact properly—but even well-socialized Boerboels tend not to do well at dog parks.
Because they are working dogs—and because they are intelligent—these dogs also need a lot of physical and mental stimulation to prevent boredom. While they’re generally independent thinkers, they are also dogs that need to be physically close to their owners.
Behavior
- Children: Good with children only when raised with them from puppyhood
- Friendliness: Moderately protective
- Trainability: Can be slightly difficult to train
- Independence: Needs people a lot
- Dominance: High
- Other Pets: Good with other pets if raised with them from puppyhood
- Combativeness: Tends to be fairly dog-aggressive
- Noise: Average barker
Care
- Grooming: Very little grooming needed
- Trimming and Stripping: No trimming or stripping needed
- Coat: Short coat
- Shedding: Average
- Docking/Cropping: The tail is customarily docked
- Exercise: Moderate exercise needed
- Jogging: A fair jogging companion
- Indoors: Moderately active indoors
- Apartments: Not recommended for apartments
- Outdoor Space: Best with at least an average-sized yard
- Climate: Does well in most climates
- Owner: Not suitable for novice owners
- Longevity: Average (10 to 12 years)
Useful Links
AKC® Boerboel Breed Standard
http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Boerboel.pdf
Boerboel Breed Club
Search for a Breeder
akc.org/classified/search/landing_breed.cfm
Rescue Organizations
akc.org/dog-breeds/rescue-network/contacts/
