The Boerboel is a dog with a cuddle as mighty as their bark. Learn more about this dog’s unique history, personality, and surprising fun fact. And for a Boerboel-loving Pet Sitter in Bendigo, Darwin, Sydney, or anywhere else, check our Pet Minders near you!
Quick Facts ✔
Height – 55 – 65cm
Weight – 50 – 90kg
Lifespan – 10 – 12 years
Country of origin – South Africa
Breed type – Working Group
- Working farms
- Families with children
- Families looking for a guard dog
Boerboel Breed History ♜
Perhaps the only true South African dog, the Boerboel has a rich history filled with farming, guarding, and family love. And while the Boerboel may look fearsome, as is often the case, there’s a lot more to this dog than meets the eye.
The name itself tells us a lot about the origin of the Boerboel dog breed. “Boer” means farmer in Dutch, and the Boerboel was originally a farming dog brought on the ships of Dutch settlers who arrived in South Africa in the 17th century. These early dogs were European Mastiffs, and their chief job was to guard the family and flock or farm plot.
Over time, separation from the European dog breeding scene changed the look and personality of the Boerboel completely. For one thing, farmers began to cross their Mastiffs with a breed of dog developed by a local tribe. This allowed their dogs to become more well-adapted to the harsh landscape. Over the course of a few generations, the farmers decided to make their dogs a little tougher in personality, too. After all, they were now tasked with protecting the farm and family from a variety of predators, such as baboons, hyenas, and lions.
However, as fearless as these dogs were the face of wild animals, loyalty and devotion to their human families was always a cornerstone of the breed. Even during the next phases of the Boerboel story, their bond with humans never disappeared.
When British colonists arrived at the beginning of the 19th century, it was clear that the Boerboel no longer inhabited the same category as the European Mastiff. These dogs were tough and rugged. And when crossed with the newly arrived English long-legged Bulldogs and Bull Mastiffs, the breed changed yet again. At some point, the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed also made its mark on the Boerboel gene pool.
While living alongside the Dutch settlers, the Boerboel breed inevitably went through some difficult, and often ugly, historical moments. They accompanied their Owners during the Great Trek, when Dutch settlers migrated North in the wake of British takeover; they also endured the two Boer Wars. And it wouldn’t be until the 21st century that the Boerboel would receive formal recognition.
Today, Boerboel enthusiasts are interested in showing just how special this breed is. It’s not an easy task, as some countries have deemed the Boerboel dangerous, and even banned them. Even so, those who know the breed well can appreciate that this dog deserves a deeper look.
Personality Traits ★
There’s a lot to learn about the Boerboel’s personality from their history.
On one hand, you have the rugged, resilient, and fearless side of the Boerboel. These personality traits allowed this dog to survive harsh weather and terrain, and display incredible courage in the face of wild animals. Boerboels are known for never backing down when challenged, and their steadfastness is what makes them so treasured as guard dogs.
But you don’t just need brute force and confidence to be able to thrive in a challenging landscape: you also need cleverness. The Boerboel is one intelligent pup, and needs plenty of mental stimulation to be happy.
It’s true that Boerboels can be aggressive towards other dogs, strangers, and unknown animals. They’ve got a strong in-pack/out-pack mentality that can make it difficult for them to make new friends. Early socialisation and continued training are key ways to deal with the Boerboel’s lack of trust. But they may never be overly welcoming to strangers, even if they’re your houseguests.
One remarkable thing about the Boerboel is that, when it comes to their own family, they don’t have an ounce of aggression. These dogs are incredibly gentle with children and loyal to the entire household, two-legged and four-legged alike. They are large dogs, so, while they won’t get upset with young children crawling all over them, they can sometimes topple unsteady toddlers. Just make sure to be careful of unintended accidents.
You might assume that these gruff-looking doggos enjoy their personal space, but that’s not the case at all. Just like any sociable dog, Boerboels can develop separation anxiety if their humans disappear for lengthy periods.
Finally, although these dogs are dedicated and serious about work, they also have a penchant for fun. Especially around their favourite humans, Boerboels are playful and engaged. And they’re more agile than they appear!
Boerboel Trainability & Training Tips
Despite a reputation for stubbornness, there is some good news when it comes to Boerboel training: they’re people-pleasers. Once they’ve developed a strong bond with their trainer, these dogs will go to the ends of the earth to make them happy. And that can make training much easier.
In fact, without regular training, these dogs can feel frustrated and lost. They are, after all, working dogs at heart. They want to show their Owner that they can do a job well, and training is the perfect opportunity.
Socialisation, on the other hand, is a bit of a different story. With their territorial background, it can be tricky to convince a Boerboel that they should be trusting and friendly with other dogs. But it absolutely can and should be done, and having a well-trained Boerboel is the first step.
Here are a few key tips to training and socialising a Boerboel:
- Start with the training relationship. Boerboels respond well to the people they love most in the world. So, you’ll want to make sure to focus on bonding with them while focusing on the training basics.
- Start as early as possible. Boerboels aren’t born territorial, but they do grow into it as they age. It’s a good idea to start socialising and training them as early as possible to lower the risk of aggression later on.
- Be cautious, but not fearful. It’s understandable that some Owners would be afraid of how their powerful dog will react around unknown dogs and strangers. But, isolating a Boerboel out of an abundance of caution is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Be mindful and cautious, but don’t put off socialisation opportunities out of fear.
- Call in some outside help. An experienced Dog Trainer can make the process of training a Boerboel easier for everyone involved. If you’re hitting a training plateau with your dog, consider calling in the pros for some guidance
Living Conditions & Exercise Needs ⌂
Equally as important as training and socialisation for a Boerboel is exercise. Unlike some Mastiffs who were bred to stand silent guard, Boerboels are athletic and energetic. They need at least an hour of exercise per day to stay calm and happy.
Now, we should warn you that these dogs aren’t always enthusiastic about exercising. The key is to find a form of exercise that they can enjoy so that you’re not dragging your pup along against their will (you can imagine how difficult that is with a dog of this size!). And there are a few different exercise activities that Boerboels tend to prefer.
One of the best ways to exercise this energetic big dog is with a daily big walk! Once they’ve been properly leash-trained, Boerboels make wonderful walking companions. And getting them out in the world daily is a brilliant way to continue socialisation.
If you’re planning weekend treks or backpacking trips, your Boerboel will love to join. And, they’ll be strong enough to carry a pack of their own, which will tap into their working mentality. Throughout the week, cart or wagon-pulling is another way to keep this strong dog mentally stimulated and physically challenged. Whether you have them pulling children or a load of groceries in a wagon, your Boerboel will enjoy the extra exercise.
Swimming can be a good form of exercise for this dog, but with some special precautions. After all, their stocky, heavy build doesn’t lend itself to buoyancy, so they may need the help of a doggy life saver in the water. You’ll also want to be present to keep an eye on your dog while they splash around to make sure they’re doing okay.
If you think this dog can’t excel at athletic sports like agility and obstacle courses, just wait until you see the Boerboel in action! Not only are they more agile than most dogs of their size, but these puppers love the challenge of a race against the clock. Guided exercise like this is wonderful for strengthening the bond with your Boerboel, and it’s a great form of mental stimulation.
One important thing to note about the Boerboel is that special care should be taken to balance exercise and diet. Even with daily exercise, these puppers can put on weight. As such, it’s best to have them on a balanced, nutritious diet for dogs that will keep them healthy.
Boerboel Grooming ✄
Grooming for a short-haired dog like this one is relatively easy.
There’s not much fur on this doggo, but they do need to be brushed regularly with bristles with medium-stiffness. Brushing can help to distribute their natural oils and release any dead skin or fur.
The occasional bath can be useful for Boerboels who love to roll around in the dirt, but bathing isn’t absolutely necessary. These dogs don’t tend to carry a heavy doggy smell. If you do choose to wash your Boerboel, you can do so no more than once a month or every six weeks.
Like their Mastiff ancestors, Boerboels do drool. But some Owners say that it’s not as frequent as other Mastiff-like breeds. Wherever your doggo falls on the drooling scale, you will want to keep your home and those mouths clean with some grooming care. First, regular brushing will help to manage the doggy breath smell. And, keeping a stock of drool rags around the house will protect your furniture and carpets.
Other grooming tasks for this dog include checking their ears, especially after water activities, and keeping their nails trimmed.
Boerboel Health +
These dogs were built to be hardy and healthy, and they tend to carry on the tradition to this day. Indeed, compared to other dogs of their size, they have a relatively low risk of genetic conditions. Still, there are a few health concerns to keep an eye on:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Eyelid issues including Ectropion or Entropion
- Heart disease
As with all dogs, Boerboel health is all about lifestyle. Make sure your pupper gets plenty of exercise, mental stimulation, and a good diet. And don’t delay in getting them on a reliable pet insurance plan so that they can start regular check-ins with the vet from day one.
Fun Fact about the Boerboel ♥
While it can be hard to prove, there are rumours that the Boerboel was at one time crossed with speedy sighthounds like Greyhounds. It would certainly explain how this hulky giant could move so quickly, wowing the judges at agility contests.
These doggos are better sprinters than they are long-distance runners, which is why they would prefer not to be your running partner. But in a race to fetch their favourite toy, their speed will surprise you!
Final Thoughts on the Boerboel
On first sight, it’s easy to mischaracterise the Boerboel. These are huge, powerful dogs with a history requiring toughness and resilience.
Once you get to know these puppers, though, you’ll see that there’s a lot of love under the surface. Sure, they’re brave protectors, but they’re also incredible family dogs who will be particularly gentle with kids.
Even so, these dogs need committed Owners. They need lifelong training and early socialisation, as well as daily exercise and mental stimulation. A true velcro dog, it’s important to leave them in the care of a friendly Pet Minder when you’re out of the home.
As is the case with most dogs as intimidating as the Boerboel, Owners of this breed will tell you that under the bulky exterior is a heart of gold.
