The African Boerboel, also known as the South African Boerboel or the South African Mastiff, is a large mastiff-like dog that is extremely strong and muscular. These dogs originated in South Africa and were developed to perform as guard dogs; however, many of them were used to track down injured game as well. The African Boerboel’s roots date all the way back to 1652 when a man by the name of Jan van Riebeeck brought a large mastiff-like dog to the cape. This dog, along with those belonging to later European settlers, were thought to have bred with local South African dogs resulting in large, strong dogs that they named Boerboels. Boerboel, which means farmer’s dog in Afrikaans, was the perfect name for these canines as they were commonly used to guard and defend their owner’s homesteads against large predators. However, as stated above, some of them were also used to help track and hold down injured game.
The Boerboel is a large mastiff, originally bred in South Africa. It has square proportions and is muscular, strong and athletic. The Boerboel’s head is its most distinctive feature: It is square, broad, powerful and muscular. Its ears are medium-sized and set high on its head. Their jaw and neck is strong. The Boerboel’s coat is short and glossy and sheds averagely. Their short coat that can be either fawn, brown, red or brindle, with or without a solid black muzzle. The occasional brushing will do. The African Boerboel can weigh as much as 110 to 175 pounds. They are typically hardy dogs that can live up to 10 years when given proper care.
Personality
The Boerboel is a very affectionate, loyal and reliable breed. It is very intelligent and has strong protective instincts. They are gentle and affectionate with children and make great playmates for older children. They have high exercise needs and need long brisks walks on a daily basis to stay fit. Their favorite thing to do is to play fetch or chase after balls. They can be stubborn and dominant and need to be socialized early. They also need strong leadership. Boerboels are fearless and very protective. They can be very aggressive towards other dogs or strangers if they feel their owners are threatened.<br><br> As stated above, Boerboels are extremely intelligent dogs that are loyal to their human families. They are also very protective and can be good with kids so long as they are trained at an early age. However, they are not recommended for very young children. They have an abundance of energy, and they need plenty of space to run and play.
Breed Characteristics
| Life Span: | 12 – 15 years |
| Nicknames: | The South African Boerboel, The South African Mastiff, The African Boerboel |
Boerboel Build Information
The Boerboel is a large mastiff, originally bred in South Africa. It has square proportions and is muscular, strong and athletic. The Boerboel’s head is its most distinctive feature: It is square, broad, powerful and muscular. Its ears are medium-sized and set high on its head. Their jaw and neck is strong. The Boerboel’s coat is short and glossy and sheds averagely. Their short coat that can be either fawn, brown, red or brindle, with or without a solid black muzzle. The occasional brushing will do. The African Boerboel can weigh as much as 110 to 175 pounds. They are typically hardy dogs that can live up to 10 years when given proper care.
| Size: | Large |
Behaviour and Personality
The Boerboel is a very affectionate, loyal and reliable breed. It is very intelligent and has strong protective instincts. They are gentle and affectionate with children and make great playmates for older children. They have high exercise needs and need long brisks walks on a daily basis to stay fit. Their favorite thing to do is to play fetch or chase after balls. They can be stubborn and dominant and need to be socialized early. They also need strong leadership. Boerboels are fearless and very protective. They can be very aggressive towards other dogs or strangers if they feel their owners are threatened.<br><br> As stated above, Boerboels are extremely intelligent dogs that are loyal to their human families. They are also very protective and can be good with kids so long as they are trained at an early age. However, they are not recommended for very young children. They have an abundance of energy, and they need plenty of space to run and play.
| Activity Level: | Active |
| Affection Level: | Affectionate |
| Kid Friendliness: | Friendly (not recommended for very young children) |
Appearance
Fortunately, Boerboels do not shed much, and they are quite easy to groom. Unless your Boerboel gets unusually dirty, it will only need a bath about once a month and an occasional brushing with a hound glove. You will also want to trim its nails with a pliers-type nail trimmer whenever necessary.
| Shedding: | Little |
| Grooming: | Low maintenance |
Boerboel Common Health Conditions
The African Boerboel is a hardy breed and as such, is known for its overall good health. With proper veterinary care, most of these dogs do not experience any health issues. However, some of them can develop such issues as elbow or hip dysplasia, juvenile epilepsy, entropion and ectropion.
Boerboel Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
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Breed Talents and Facts
In 2010, African Boerboels were banned in Denmark as many people were using them as fighting dogs. In 1928, the diamond mining business known as De Beers used Boerboel-like dogs to guard their mines. If you are thinking about adding an African Boerboel to your home, you will need to be prepared to handle a very large dog. Boerboels have tons of energy and can grow to weigh as much as 110 pounds or more. If you can provide plenty of space and exercise for your dog, a Boerboel may be the perfect pet for you and your family.
| Training: | Moderately easy |
