About the Boerboel
History of the Boerboel
The name Boerboel literally translates as ‘ farm dog’ which tells us a lot about the history of this breed. When Dutch settlers arrived in South Africa during the 1600s they brought large dogs with them which were similar to the Bull Dog and Mastiff breeds that we see today. The dogs were put to work guarding the newly established farms and livestock enclosures from predators.
These European dogs soon cross-bred with the native South African dogs of the area and the Boer Dog was the result. These strong, powerful dogs were used by the settlers for hunting big cats and hyenas and for protecting livestock. Only the strongest dogs survived, and the breed became larger and more powerful. Eventually, it reached the proportions of the Boerboel that we see today and was a typical mastiff dog that was fearless, agile, fast and strong. Just what you need to help you fight off a fierce pack of lions! However, the Boerboel needed to have a sensitive side as they had a human family to protect and needed to be clever enough to tell who to protect and who to attack.
Later, they were also used to protect Da Beers’ diamond mines but as South Africa became more urban, the demand for guard dogs to protect homesteads declined. As the breed declined, the numbers of pure-bred Boerboels seriously declined. Thanks to the intervention of some breed enthusiasts in the in the 1980s, the breed was saved from extinction but is still considered a rarity outside South Africa. In 2015, they were admitted to the American Kennel Club in the ‘Working Group’ category.
Breed Overview
GROUP: Working
HEIGHT: 22 to 25 inches (female), 24 to 27 inches (male)
WEIGHT: 150 to 200 pounds
COAT: Short, smooth
COAT COLOR: Brindle, brown, cream, red, reddish brown, or tawny with/without white markings, black mask, piebald, and/or Irish marked
LIFE SPAN: 9 to 11 years
TEMPERAMENT: Courageous, alert, protective
HYPOALLERGENIC: No
ORIGIN: South Africa
Characteristics of the Boerboel
The boerboel typically has a confident temperament but is affectionate with its family. It can even be good around kids, but it’s often wary of other dogs and strangers. High intelligence, sometimes with a stubborn streak, also helps to shape this dog’s personality.
| Affection Level | High |
| Friendliness | Medium |
| Kid-Friendly | Medium |
| Pet-Friendly | Low |
| Exercise Needs | Medium |
| Playfulness | Medium |
| Energy Level | Medium |
| Trainability | High |
| Intelligence | High |
| Tendency to Bark | Medium |
| Amount of Shedding | Medium |
Boerboel Care
This large dog breed needs plenty of space to exercise every day. Its grooming needs are fairly straightforward. Plus, early and consistent training and socialization are essential for a well-mannered dog.
Exercise
Plan to spend at least an hour exercising your boerboel every day. Long walks, jogging, hiking, and vigorous playtime all are ideal ways to get some of the dog’s energy out. Puzzle toys also can present mental challenges for this intelligent breed.
Be sure never to let your boerboel off leash unless it’s in a securely fenced area outside. This dog might become aggressive around strangers and other dogs. As such, it’s often not a good breed to take to a dog park.
Grooming
The boerboel typically only requires basic grooming. Brush it weekly with a soft-bristle brush or grooming mitt to remove loose fur and distribute skin oils. Expect periods of higher shedding often in the spring and fall, during which you’ll have to increase brushing to keep up with the loose fur.
Bathe your dog every month or so, depending on how dirty it gets. But check whether its ears need cleaning at least weekly. Trim its nails roughly once a month, and aim to brush its teeth every day.
Training
Start training and socializing your boerboel when it’s a puppy to instill good behaviors. A full-size boerboel with poor manners can be very difficult to handle. This intelligent breed typically learns quickly and responds well to positive-reinforcement training methods, such as treats and praise. But it can be stubborn and independent. So it’s essential that you are consistent with your commands and don’t let bad behaviors slide.
When boerboel puppies are regularly exposed to different people, other dogs, and various locations, their protective instinct might be able to be somewhat muted. Having lots of positive experiences around strangers is key. But they likely will always have some degree of wariness around strangers.