South African Boerboel
(Boerboel, South african Mastiff, Bole)
This large, powerful South African breed is claimed by its supporters to be THE guard dog par excellence. It is said to be the only breed in the world specifically bred to guard and protect without being aggressive. Their even character along with a 'sixth sense' that enables them to know what you are thinking, and when you feel threatened, are their main qualities. They are sensitive enough to know when you approve or disapprove of a
stranger, and instinctively recognise your fear. However, they will only act if they detect hostile intentions or if you ask them to do so, rather than confronting everybody entering the house in a crudely aggressive manner as some other breeds of guard dogs.
In the 20th century the breed was nearly extinct, but five founder members of a newly formed Suid Afrikaanse Boerboeltelers Vereniging (SABT) started restoring the breed from the remaining full-blood Boerboels they could find in more remote areas were the dogs had not been subjected to random matings.
Bulldog Information 2003-2007 © All rights reserved.
.
.
.
The Ultimate Book of Mastiff Breeds
Douglas Oliff
History of Fighting Dogs
Dieter Fleig
Boerboels are not as big as English Mastiffs, but bigger than Boxers. They may be compared to large Rottweilers but with a solid color coat. Actually, many coat colors are accepted but breeders tend to obtain solid colors with little or no white, ranging from cream white, pale tawny, over reddish brown, brown and all shades of brindle. Eyes are light or dark brown.
The following books contain a chapter or entry about the Boerboel:
The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds
by Juliette Cunliffe
It descends from the old Boer Dog which itself originated from mastiffs and bulldogs. Originally that ancestral dog was used by the Boers for hunting big game and protecting them on their ranches, but the more recent Boerboel was employed exclusively as a family guardian.
Photo: Werner Leithgöb, South Africa
The Boerboel is loving, calm, obedient and intelligent, with strong guard-dog instincts. Boerboels are self-confident and fearless, requiring a dominant owner. They are affectionate with children and make an ideal child's playmate.
Photo: Werner Leithgöb, South Africa
Generally males grow from 60 to 72 cm tall and weigh approximately 55 to 70 kg. Females are usually slightly shorter around 55 - 69 cm and weigh less, around 45 -60 kg.
Since 2002 the SABT now also accepts the coat colors piebald brown and piebald black.
"Tiamaria"
Photo: Lynne Berridge, boerboels.co.uk
"Lady", 5 months
Photo: Nigel Delo, George, Western Cape
According to historical records, the Dutch East indian Company sent Jan van Riebeeck to establish a trade post at the southern tip of Africa. In 1652 he arrived in the Cape, bringing with him a "Bullenbijter", a large and strong mastiff type of dog. Other colonists also arrived in Southern Africa and with them other molossers and large dogs.
These dog and their descendants doubtless interbred over the centuries with other local and imported varieties of large dogs, and natural and functional selection will have shaped the breed to fit the local conditions.
"Lady", 5 months
Photo: Nigel Delo
The British 1820 settlers also imported mastiff and bulldog types of dogs. Following the Anglo-Boer war at the turn of the century, the locally bred dogs were further cross-bred with various imported dogs, possibly including early varieties of the English Bulldog, the Great Dane, the Saint Bernard, the Bull Terrier and later the Bullmastiff, thereby consolidating the mastiff component of the breed mix which was already present.
"Boesman", 11 months
Photo: Nigel Delo, George, Western Cape
A search covering thousands of kilometers followed and different groups of dogs were identified. In the high-lying areas of the southern Free State and Kwazulu-Natal dogs were discovered that differed slightly from other dogs in the more north-western areas. For example, the dogs from the high-lying areas had longer hair, with thinner legs, smaller feet and sharper muzzles than those in the north-west. The isolation of the different groups can be traced back to the start of the Groot Trek in 1838, which explains why there are so many differences among these dogs. The most representative specimens were identified and selective breeding programs started. The results were not always conclusive but the association persevered in their effort to register the last dog of their forefathers as a pure breed.
The definition of the breed has been achieved since the establishment of the SABT in 1983, and the first nationwide appraisal of dogs which took place in 1990. Now, the South African Boerboel Breeders Association has grown to over 500 members. They are widely spread throughout South Africa and Namibia. They work together with the All-Russian Boerboel Association and the United States Boerboel Association for the preservation and promotion of the breed, and interest in the Boerboel as a highly efficient guard dog is spreading around the globe.
