WHAT IS A BOERBOEL?

The Boerboel comes from South Africa and is a sound, useful, working mastiff.  The Boerboel is the only breed in the world specifically bred to guard and protect and act as a watchdog.

Their fierce history notwithstanding, all of the Boerboels I have encountered have been friendly, level-headed dogs (in the company of their owners). They have all been very compliant with their owner’s wishes, very gentle and tolerant with children and they get along with other dogs and animals they have been raised with. Just because a dog does not display uncontrollable aggression at the sight of strangers does not mean he will not prove to be a superior guard and protection dog. The Boerboel is one of the very few breeds that actually appear to know the difference between a guest and an intruder. They have the ability and necessary desire to stop any intruder.

I have read about some breeds that will supposedly pin and intruder to the ground but won't bite unless absolutely necessary. The Boerboel is not such a breed. If someone is foolish enough to invade his territory or attack one of his family, a good Boerboel is going to put the person in hospital. This is not a breed for someone who wants to "impress" his friends with how tough his dog is.

A cranky, temperamental dog that stays surly after being reprimanded is not a Boerboel. You should purchase a Boerboel for his even character - this was and always should be his main quality. Your Boerboel should qualify himself as your best friend. He should know what you are thinking, when you feel threatened, he should know when you approve or disapprove of a stranger and share your feeling. He should be able to recognise your fear. Any Boerboel owner should be able to confirm this. These traits should be recognisable from puppy hood. If you allow him to attack, he will growl like a lion and fight ferociously without taking his own safety into account. No wonder Aristotle named his forefathers of these dogs: Leontix (sons of lions). The Romans also apparently believed that these dogs were obtained by crossing a dog and a lion.

There are cases on record when a lone Boerboel time and again won the fight against a leopard! He is definitely a child's friend and playmate. He does not only accept one person as his master, but accepts the protection of the whole family as his duty and is affectionate to all of them. Many a story has been told about a Boerboel spending hour after hour guarding a little baby in a pram. He feels the whole family belongs to him and his sole purpose is to protect them, with his life, if necessary.

Boerboels are active, athletic dogs. They will run, jump and play like no other mastiff breed that you have seen. They are not hyper like a Jack Russell Terrier but they are not lazy couch potato dogs either. Ideally you should plan to take time everyday to train, play with and exercise your Boerboel and in return you will get a very loyal family member.

Our forefathers required the following from their Boerboel:

During the day the dog must go to the veld with the children to guard the sheep. There, he should catch a hare for them to cook for lunch. He should also protect them against all danger that may threaten them. At night he should lie in front of the fire at home and protect the whole family against anything that may be lurking in the dark.

Their fierce history notwithstanding, all of the Boerboels I have encountered have been friendly, level-headed dogs (in the company of their owners). They have all been very compliant with their owner’s wishes, very gentle and tolerant with children and they get along with other dogs and animals they have been raised with. Just because a dog does not display uncontrollable aggression at the sight of strangers does not mean he will not prove to be a superior guard and protection dog. The Boerboel is one of the very few breeds that actually appear to know the difference between a guest and an intruder. They have the ability and necessary desire to stop any intruder.

I have read about some breeds that will supposedly pin and intruder to the ground but won't bite unless absolutely necessary. The Boerboel is not such a breed. If someone is foolish enough to invade his territory or attack one of his family, a good Boerboel is going to put the person in hospital. This is not a breed for someone who wants to "impress" his friends with how tough his dog is.

 

 

HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

Boerboel: a big farm dog of uncertain origins. This dictionary definition is now a thing of the past. The South African Boerboel is now a recognised "pure breed". Research has revealed that the ancestry of the Boerboel can be traced as far back as the time of Herodotus and to Tibet, Assyria and Babylon.  In Assiria, dogs were used as soldiers, even covered with reinforced material to protect them.  When Assurbanipal conquered Egypt, these dogs were taken along and thus were spread further into the know world.

In 1652, Jan Van Riebeeck came to the cape (modern day South Africa) bringing his own dog along to protect him and his family in this wild and unknown country.  This dog was known as the “Bullenbijter”, a large, heavy mastiff type dog.  The settlers who came after Jan Van Riebeeck also brought along their strongest dogs to protect them.  Thus dogs arrived from many countries.  As the pioneers moved inland and settled on remote farms, the dogs were forcibly isolated and a lot of inbreeding took place which resulted in the characteristics of the original Assirian dog reappearing.

Survival was of utmost importance and it was here that the hardiness of today’s Boerboel was perforce bred into the dog.  His pioneer owners required him to be a friend of the family, a worker, provide protection and also to be a fighter. They could not afford to have a disobedient, moody, finicky, sickly dog, they had to be able to rely on him to protect the family, work, kill and defend.

At the turn of the century the characteristics of the old, original dog were clearly visible and the dog was generally known as the “bole”.

The following years brought tragedy to the Boerboel.  Urbanisation caused cross breeding with anything that could bark, and the typical “bole” started to disappear.

It was the eighties that a serious search started again for the original farm dog.  A few people took the initiative and the South African Boerboel Breeders Association was formed.  Their main aim was to let the original Boerboel take its rightful place as a uniquely South African dog among the other dog breeds of the world.  A search covering thousands of kilometers followed.  Selective breeding started but many disappointments followed.  At last the dog  of our forefathers was ready to be registered as a pure breed.  In the meantime the breeders association has grown to over 500 members.  They are widely spread throughout South Africa and Namibia. 

In August 1980, the first country wide selection tour was undertaken by Jannie Bouwer and Lucas Van Der Merwe.  Lucas’s wife Anneke went along as secretary.  A total of 5500km was covered, 250 dogs were seen and only 72 were selected to be registered.  The big dream was taking shape…….