The Boerboel, also known as the South African mastiff, is a large, powerful working dog breed that was brewed in South Africa. This is a muscular dog breed that has a big and blocky head with a relatively short nose and V-shaped ears that hang down; this dog has a smooth, short coat. The overall appearance of the Boerboel is very intimidating, showcasing power and courage. As one of the mastiff dog breeds, the Boerboel was bred to be a guardian dog. These dog breeds are generally very loyal to their families, although it is a lot of work to handle this breed and consequently not ideal for new dog owners.
Breed Overview
- Origin: South Africa
- Group: Working Group
- Height: The height ranges are as follows: 22 to 25 inches for females and 24 to 27 inches for males.
- Weight: 150 to 200 pounds
- Coat and Color: This short, smooth coat comes in brindle, brown, cream, or reddish brown, with or without white markings.
- Temperament: Courageous, alert, protective
- Friendliness: Medium
- Exercise Needs: Medium
- Energy Level: Medium
- Trainability: High
- Intelligence: High
- Tendency to Bark: Medium
- Amount of Shedding: Medium
- Hypoallergenic: No
- Life Span: 9 to 11 years
Characteristics of the Boerboel
The boerboel is an independent dog that typically has a confident temperament but is a dog that is very affectionate with its family. When properly trained and socialized, the Bb can be very friendly and good around kids, but it’s often wary of other strangers and other dogs that it doesn’t know. This dog’s personality is shaped by its high intelligence, which can sometimes be accompanied by a stubborn streak
History of the Boerboel
The powerful boerboel wasn’t actually fully bred and developed in south Africa as most of us thought, however, the breed was originally developed by Dutch and other European settlers that arrived in South Africa during the 1600s to guard their homes and other properties. The Dutch and Europeans that came to South Africa brought with them their different mastiff-type and bulldog breeds, which then they started interbred and crossbreeding in South Africa with the mastiff dog types and bulldogs they brought with them to give rise to the modern Boerboel that we now also call South African mastiff.
These dogs were now used for guarding, and they could run off lions, leopards, and baboons from the properties of Europeans who settled in South Africa. These dogs were powerful, alert, and courageous, and they wouldn’t back down from any form of threat they encountered.
The Boerboel of today still retains all these characteristics that we have been talking about. However, the breed is generally gentle and friendly with its family. The American Kennel Club first recognized the breed in 2015, and it still remains relatively uncommon in North America.
Boerboel Diet and Nutrition
Boerboels are massive dog reeds that eat a lot, have large appetites, and are required to be fed in large potions. To get your Boerboel to be in good shape, then you must make sure that you feed it a quality canine diet with balanced nutrition, typically feeding them two times a day. If you don’t know the best food that you should feed to these mastiffs to make them meet their ideal weight then you should speak to your vet about the type of food and the amount you should feed them. Know that you might want to consider adjusting the diet based on factors including age, activity level, and more. Also, be very mindful of treats and other extra food you feed to them, and regularly monitor your dog’s weight. Large dog breeds like the Boerboel, in particular, should stay in the range of their ideal weight to avoid putting added stress on their joints.
Boerboel Care
This large and muscular dog breed does well in spacious environments where it can run and play freely every day to stay healthy and happy. Grooming this breed is relatively straightforward, making it manageable for owners. Plus, to ensure that your dog develops into a well-rounded companion, it is important to begin consistent training and regular socialization early so that it can have a good foundation for good behaviour.
Exercise
Exercise is crucial for dogs, so plan to spend at least one hour exercising your Boerboel every day. You can engage in Long walks, jogging, and vigorous playtime as they are all ideal ways to get some of the dog’s energy out. Lots of toys also can present mental challenges for this intelligent dog.
This large dog breed requires ample space for daily exercise. Its grooming requirements are relatively simple. Additionally, early and consistent training, along with socialization, is crucial for a well-mannered dog.
Grooming
The Boerboel is low-maintenance and typically requires only basic grooming. You can brush their coat weekly with a soft-bristle brush or grooming mitt to remove loose fur and distribute skin oils. Be prepared for increased shedding, especially during the spring and fall. During these times, you’ll need to brush your dog more frequently to manage the loose fur.
Bathe your dog approximately once a month, depending on how dirty it gets. Additionally, check its ears weekly to see if they need cleaning. Trim its nails about once a month, and aim to brush its teeth every day for optimal dental health.
Training
To ensure your Boerboel develops good behaviours, it is important to start training and socializing it as a puppy. An adult Boerboel with poor manners would be very challenging to handle considering their size. This intelligent breed typically learns quickly and responds well to positive reinforcement methods, such as treats and praise. However, Boerboels can be stubborn and independent, so you have to be consistent in your commands, and you should not overlook bad behaviours.
Regularly socialize your Boerboel puppies by exposing them to different people, other dogs, and various environments can help moderate their protective instincts. Providing numerous positive experiences with strangers is essential, but it’s important to recognize that they may always maintain some degree of caution around unknown individuals.
Common Health Problems
The Boerboel is overall a healthy breed, but like other large dog breeds, it has a short life span and is prone to some hereditary health issues, including:
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Heart disease
- Ectropion and entropion
More Dog Breeds and Further Research
Make sure to research well on on the Boerboel so as to make sure the breed is right for your lifestyle before bringing one into your household. You can ask around and talk with experienced Boerboel owners, responsible breeders, and veterinary professionals about this breed. And if you might be interested in dog breeds that are quite similar to the Boerboel (South African Mastiff), you can take a look into these breeds:
- Mastiff
- Bullmastiff
Cane corso
FAQs
- Are boerboels ideal family dogs?
Boerboels are typically affectionate with their families and can be good with children if they receive proper training and socialization. However, dogs should always be supervised around young children.
- Are boerboels aggressive dogs?
Boerboels were bred to be guard dogs, giving them a strong protective instinct. They may be cautious around strangers and other dogs and aggressive toward perceived threats. Therefore, proper training and socialization are essential.
- Are boerboels good apartment dogs?
Boerboels are best suited for homes with secure yards where they can run freely. They are generally too large for apartments and may feel inclined to protect their property from strangers in an apartment complex.
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