The Boerboel is a breed of dog native to South Africa and has been called by various names, including the African Boerboel or the South African Mastiff. Their ancestors are the Havanese, the Alan and the Bullenbeisser (now extinct). A curiosity about the Boerboel is that the breed is not recognized by the FCI.
From
The first examples of Boerboel date back to the 1600s during the Boer Wars, when the Dutch colony that until then lived in South Africa came under the control of the British Empire, which used the race to protect farms.
At first glance, you might think that the big and intimidating Boerboel would make an excellent watchdog and you would be right, but this breed is equally known for being affectionate, calm, and family-friendlyespecially with children.
These gigantic protectors were bred to help South African farmers defend their farms from hyenas, lions, and all manner of wildlife, while providing them with great company. The Boerboel, pronounced "boo-r-bull," is known as the South African Mastiff, South African Boerboel, Borbull, or Bole.
If you are thinking of adopting a dog of this breed or if your four-legged friend is a Boerboel, you should know as much information as possible about this dog, as it is fascinating.
Physical appearance of the Boerboel
The Boerboel is impressive and very large. Both males and females can reach 70 cm at the withers and the really big specimens can weigh up to 95 kilos. It is not a suitable dog for everyone, since due to its size it is preferable to have an owner who knows how to handle and educate such a dog.
He has short, smooth hair and this can be of different colors, including sand, red, brindle or yellow. These shades recall the color of eyes, which generally vary between yellow, brown, and chocolate.
Features
This is a balanced and intelligent dog and who loves the contact with the family that adopted him as part of the family. This know perfectly how to behave, since it is an obedient dog that for years has been used as a working dog.
If this dog understands that we are in trouble or believes that someone is attacking us, it could react by attacking whoever is ahead, since it is a very loyal dog with its own. Besides, he is a very protective dog with the people he loves, being quite wary of strangers.
The Boerboel is a dog that is not afraid of anything and has great self-confidence. However, remember that this is a loving dog with the owners, with whom he is active and playful.
This dog is a fairly large and demanding animal, so it needs a lot of food. For living in urban and residential settings, this is the least suitable breed, as it needs to live in a rural setting. You could say that he is happy being a farm dog.
This breed of dog moves in a powerful and slow way, so the metabolism is not at a particularly high level and it will be necessary to give him enough food and at regular intervals. A healthy dog usually reaches the age of 10-12 years.
When going for a walk with your pet, it should be remembered that hunting instinct is relatively strong in Boerboels, so if you see what prey is for these, it will not last in chasing it, so make sure there are no cats or rabbits around.
Behavior
With the kids, the Boerboel is personable, affectionate and attentive, even if it is a large animal. If he is properly socialized with the people and the environment in which he lives, he is an excellent dog that will become the playmate of the little ones in the house. The children in turn will have to know how to play correctly with the dog.
As for the Boerboel's attitude towards other dogs, it will not always be sociable and understanding, although it depends a lot on the socialization and education received, a fundamental aspect especially in a large dog. If education and socialization are absent in the dog, you will have to assume a dominant role and an attitude of superiority in order to re-educate him.
Education
The Boerboel is an excellent guard dog that will not hesitate to protect his family or herd and it is that when choosing a breed like this, one must be aware of the responsibility that this entails. As we have said before, this dog needs an owner who has already had experience with these types of dogs.
To educate him, the positive reinforcement gives good results. You must also have a minimum of strength, otherwise and during the walks it will pull you and take you where he wants to take you. The Boerboel is intelligent and quickly learns what is taught.
Care
Among the most important attentions that should be given to Boerboel, we highlight daily physical exercise, since this breed of dog you need to move, exercise, and release as much stress and energy as possible. This breed has to eat a lot, between 600 and 800 grams of food a day, so physical activity is also very important for this reason. If you don't have the time and resources for this dog, we recommend that you opt for another breed.
It is important to comb the dog, as this will help prevent the appearance of fleas and ticks and since it is a short-haired breed, brushing it twice a week will suffice.
"Salud"
As it weighs a lot, you should avoid prolonged physical exercise, so when you see him tired, do not insist and do not force him to run if he does not want to. It also avoids most of the day that is spent lying down or without moving, in this way it will be possible to prevent hip dysplasia.
When they are puppies, remember to include an extra calcium in their diet. It will help improve bone health and grow better. The Boerboel is a large dog that must bear a lot of weight on the bones, so remember to take him to the vet periodically to check that he is always well.