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Meet The Boerboel – The South African Farmer’s Dog

Meet the Boerboel, South African Farmer Dog

Have you ever met a Boerboel?

These big, stunning dogs have been a loyal guardian to South African farmers for over 400 years, and in the past decade, they’ve won hearts all over the world with their warm, intelligent eyes and gentle prowess.

Our “little” friend Dexter at 8 months old, getting his Christmas shopping done at the ilovepets.co store in Grand Prairie, Texas

What IS A Boerboel?

Though the Boerboel became an AKC-recognized breed in 2015, they have been around for at least 400 years.

As Europeans settled in Africa in the 1650s, they brought with them a variety of working dogs – foxhounds, greyhounds, mastiffs, pointers, bulldogs and terriers, all of which may have interbred with native African pariah dogs to contribute to the Boerboel breed.

You may have noticed that the Boerboel, especially those with black mask markings, can be easily mistaken for a Bullmastiff. Though they share many of the same ancestors, the modern Boerboel has a longer nose and fewer facial folds than the Bullmastiff you’ll see in the show ring.

In South Africa, the powerful Boerboel was commonly used to guard livestock. It was known for its ability to fight off lions and baboons. The name directly translates to “farmer’s dog,” and even show Boerboels are fearless, powerful and protective.

It wasn’t until the 90s that American dog enthusiasts learned about the breed and started to build a gene pool of purebred Boerboels that would no longer be interbred with mastiffs and other breeds.

Since it is still so close to its original heritage, the Boerboel has a functional structure; they do not have the squashed nose of a Bullmastiff that dog show judges prefer or the oversized body that prevents show Mastiffs from performing as they once did.

The Boerboel may not have any lions to fight off your property, but they’re well-suited to many modern dog sports and activities, like weight-pulling, lure coursing and obedience training.

Boerboel Breed Standard

The Boerboel is 24 to 27 inches (22 to 25 inches for females) at the shoulder and should weigh between 140-200 pounds. Their coat is short and may come in fawn, brown, red or brindle, with or without a black mask around the eyes and muzzle. Their eyes should be dark brown. If you’re breeding Boerboels for the purpose of improving the breed and for showing, you’ll want to become familiar with the full AKC Boerboel breed standard.

A Boerboel should be bred for a stable, confident temperament. As puppies, they’re easygoing and compliant but will need continuous training to ensure good manners as they reach the adolescent stage and beyond.

Common Boerboel Health Problems

Like most giant breeds, the Boerboel has a relatively short lifespan, reaching just 10-12 years of age. They are prone to genetic disorders like hip and elbow dysplasia, heart disease, and ectropion (outward dropping) and entropion (inward curling) eyelids that may need to be corrected with surgery. Selective breeding and screening can decrease the chances of your puppy having these health issues.

As with all large, deep-chested dogs, Boerboels are prone to bloat, a fatal condition in which the stomach twists and fills up with gas. To prevent bloat, do not allow your dog to exercise 30 minutes before or after a meal. Rapid eating may also contribute to bloat, so you may want to invest in a slow feeder bowl.

Know the symptoms of bloat: a distended stomach, unproductive retching, and pacing. A dog with bloat will be restless and may stretch in strange ways as they try to relieve the pressure in their abdomen. A rush to the emergency vet can save your dog’s life. Left untreated, bloat can kill your dog in about an hour.

Some owners are now choosing to have their dog’s stomach tacked to keep it from twisting. This is controversial because it is an expensive, invasive procedure that would be done on a healthy dog; you can ask your vet to help you decide if stomach tacking is a good choice for your dog. It is often done during other surgeries, like spaying.

Training The Boerboel

Boerboel puppy at 10 weeks old

As with all dogs, the Boerboel responds well to positive reinforcement and communication-based training. Dominance-based dog training, in which handlers try to dominate the dog to discourage so-called “Alpha” behaviors, has been shown to increase aggression in numerous behavior studies.

Powerful dogs do not need heavy-handed training to put them in their place. Quite the contrary – force-based training methods can exacerbate behavior issues and lead to aggression, which can be fatal when your dog weighs up to 200 pounds.

Known as Velcro dogs by their owners, the Boerboel is affectionate and clingy, but can show aggression towards other dogs and people if not socialized early in life. With the help of an APDT certified dog trainer, a Boerboel can reach their full potential as an obedient, loving family dog.

Grooming Your Boerboel

A Boerboel has a short, double coat that sheds moderately. Little grooming is needed, some dogs are never bathed, while others can stand 1-2 baths per month.

Those facial folds and floppy ears can become a moist breeding ground for yeast, which can lead to skin inflammation, itching and ear infections. Food intolerances can exacerbate this issue. Keep those folds clean and dry to prevent bacteria and fungi overgrowth.

Long nails that touch the floor can cause poor posture, as your dog must shift their body weight to the pads of their paws to avoid pressing their nails into the ground. Your Boerboel’s nails should produce little to no clicking sounds when they walk on your hardwood or tile floors. Trim early and often to prevent fear-based aggression during grooming sessions. A muzzle can make sense for the safety of both you and your dog, even if they’re not typically aggressive.

Most clippers and even the pet Dremel cannot handle the large, thick nails of a Boerboel. For large dogs, many owners use the Dremel 8050-N/18 because it is more powerful than the Pet Dremel, has a built-in light, and unlike other models, it has a charging base rather than a bulky power cord.

Who Should NOT Have A Boerboel?

Breed restriction laws affect Boerboels in many countries. In some jurisdictions, the dogs can only be out in public if wearing a muzzle, and you may be required to have civil liability insurance. Even in areas where there are no breed restriction laws, you may have trouble renting a house or apartment if the landlord opts to ban “bully breeds,” or any breed that their insurance company considers to be dangerous.

Remember, these laws and restrictions are rarely written with the help of dog behavior experts. They are created to prevent liability, and with the mind that some dog owners will not train their dog and keep it under control.

Even the perfectly behaved Boerboel should be kept in a fenced-in yard and wear a leash when they’re out and about. They should spend most of their time indoors. Like all dogs, they thrive when they’re close to their family most of the time, not left out in a yard or chained up.

The Boerboel is not for first-time owners. They’re best kept by experienced dog owners who are willing to work with professional trainers and spend extra time socializing and training their dog to adapt to a home environment. Just a few generations ago, your dog was fighting off lions; they still need a job, even if that means accompanying you on long walks or hikes.

Do you have a Boerboel? Tell us about your dog in the comments or share your best photos on the ilovepets.co Facebook Page! Or tag us on Instagram @ilovepets.co

2 thoughts on “Meet The Boerboel – The South African Farmer’s Dog

  1. Very interesting and thoughtful post! I learned a lot here. My dog is half Labrador/half Boerboel and her personality is spot on to how you described it. She is very much a dominant alpha who is extremely protective of me and my parents. I laughed when you said they are referred to as “Velcro Dogs” because that is so true! My girl is always following me around and insists on laying right next to me with skin to skin contact when I’m sleeping! She’s a little needy but I value her loyalty and love! She definitely has more of the Boerboel personality than the Lab personality. In fact the only qualities of Lab that she has is that she loves swimming and is always looking for her next meal! Ha! ? They’re a great breed and I’m glad there’s resources like this that do them and their personality justice!

  2. Great post! I trained 2 Boerboels a few years ago and boy oh boy did I fall in love with them! And the size they were at just 9 months old was incredible!!! They are great dogs! 🙂

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