Boerboel | Dog Breed Information & Facts – Pictures

South African Boerboel – a dog with great physical abilities. In the past, such a dog was an invincible fighter participating in battles with dogs and predators. Now he can become a faithful companion, guard and protector of his master.

Its ancestors are the bullmastiff, the Great Dane and the bullensbeisser, the latter an already extinct dog.

[foogallery id=”43948″]

Boerboel is a textured, well-inflated “athlete” with a surprisingly calm and intelligent look. It is a heavyweight and far reaching that gives the impression of an extremely fearsome creature. Despite its large size and heaviness, this dog is maneuverable and fast.

The height at the withers of an average male is 64 – 70 cm with a weight of 65 – 90 kg. Females are slightly smaller at 59 – 65 cm and 50 – 65 kg.

• Head: The head is small, in proportion to the body. The skull is flat between the ears. The transition from forehead to muzzle is pronounced. The muzzle is long, square-like, slightly tapering from base to nose.
• Jaws: The teeth are strong. Scissor bite.
• Ears: The ears are V-shaped, semi-pendulous. Tied high and at a great distance from each other. When the dog is excited, it raises its ears.
• Eyes: The eyes are sunken, rounded. Located at a great distance from each other. Color – dark brown.
• Body: The body is long, muscular. The chest is deep. The belly is badly folded. The back is straight, muscular.
• Limbs: The legs are straight and muscular. The paws are oval, the fingers are collected in a dense mass.
• Coat: The coat is short and hard, but dense. Color: red, brindle, brown.

Despite the power of its jaws, its fearless character and its ability to attack large predators, which have been developed and used throughout the centuries of the breed’s existence, the Boerboel can be a very affectionate and obedient dog with its family. .

This dog is infinitely devoted to his family. He is ready at any time to rush to protect the owner or his property. This dog is friendly and affectionate with all members of the family, but its owner must be an unwavering authority for him, whose word is law.

He is a perfect guard dog. If the owners are not at home, he will not let anyone into the protected area. Noticing the approach of strangers or animals, the Boerboel begins to bark loudly, alerting households and warning strangers that it is his possession. A well-behaved dog must first introduce guests to the house, show them that they are not dangerous. After such acquaintance, he calmly perceives strangers and can even respond

By nature, Boerboel is awarded with good health. The strong immunity and healthy body of these dogs is partly due to the natural selection that the ancestors of modern boerboels were forced to go through.

There are very few diseases characteristic of this breed:

• Vaginal hyperplasia is a genetic disease in which dogs are not allowed to breed.
• Dysplasia – intolerable pains in the joints, the dog begins to limp, may at the final stage generally lose the ability to move.
• Ligament rupture is an injury that is more common in puppies and in older dogs.
• Allergy – the reaction occurs most often on food.
• Otitis – the ear mite, infection, etc. are the culprit of the disease.
• Dysbacteriosis is a violation of the composition of the intestinal microflora.

Boerboels are easy to maintain:

• Short hair should be combed twice a week with a special glove. During the seasonal moulting period, the dog is combed daily.
• Do not bathe the dog more than twice a year. In the cold season, it is better to abandon water procedures. You can clean the dog with a damp towel or shampoo.
• Ears and eyes are examined daily, once a week they are wiped with a damp cloth or chamomile decoction.
• The teeth are brushed 2 to 3 times a month. Nails are trimmed as needed.

• Boerboel dogs crossing the protected area tend to expand its borders, subjugating as much space as possible for control.
• The Boerboel is African and can be translated as “farmer’s dog”.
• After special training, the Boerboel dog is able to help people with disabilities with mobility impairment.
• The Boers are European colonists who established farms in Africa, therefore the mastiffs who served them were called the “Boer dogs”.
• There are many cases when boerboel dogs attacked people. After such attacks, people died or remained disabled. The blame for this behavior lies entirely with the owners, and not with the dogs themselves.

In the large moloss family, South African boerboel is not the last place. The breed is quite ancient. This is confirmed by engravings and paintings discovered in Egypt by archaeologists, paintings with dogs resembling boerboel depicted on them. Similar products have been preserved on the territory of the African continent.

South Africa is considered the birthplace of Boerboel. Although scientific studies have shown that breed roots can be found in all parts of Africa. The history of these dogs dates back to the mid-seventeenth century.

During this period, Europeans began to settle in the African expanses. They organized the first settlements, colonies. In order to survive, they not only had to maintain farms, but also fight with Aboriginal tribes. In this Europeans were helped by bullenbeysers. These powerful dogs guarded the property of the owners and took part in battles with African tribes.

Bullenbeysers crossed with local mastiffs. The resulting offspring possessed great strength, power, endurance and fearlessness. A new type of dog was called “South African Boerboel.” Representatives of the breed were able to tolerate the African hot climate. Also, they did not retreat even before such an adversary as a lion.

Boerboel dogs were brought to European countries. For some time, African dogs were successful, but in the twentieth century their popularity, and with it the number declined sharply. It got to the point that the breed was on the verge of extinction.

The revival, restoration and improvement of the boerboel occurred at the end of the twentieth century. Enthusiasts traveled all over South Africa to find purebred Boer dogs. These animals were used in breeding work. As a result, in 1990, Boerboel dogs regained popularity. Although in some countries the breed is prohibited not only in breeding and keeping, boerboels cannot even be imported into the territory of certain countries.

In South Africa, Boerboel, like the Rhodesian Ridgeback, is in a special position. These dogs are loved and revered. It is here that the best, world-famous nurseries in which purebred representatives of the breed are grown.