Boerboel

The Boerboel, also called the "African Boerboel"� or "South African Mastiff"�, is a large molosser type dog bred by farmers in South Africa to be a work dog and guard dog. It has a very powerful, impressive, imposing appearance. The Boerboel is a big, sturdy dog with heavy musculature and substantial bone. The body is strong in appearance without being excessively bulky or heavy. This dog stands from 23 to 28 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs on average between 100 and 200 pounds. The males are markedly masculine and bigger in appearance, the females feminine. It has a massive unique, mastiff-type head which is one of the main defining characteristics of the breed. The snout and jaw is strong and not too short. The large ears are triangular and held folded forward and very close to the head. The skin of the Boerboel is dark on its belly, under its fur, and even on the roof of its mouth; it is believed that this dark pigmentation was favored in breeding because it protected the dog from the strong African sun. A heavily- muscled, arched neck is set high on strong shoulders. The Boerboel's chest is deep and well-developed. The tail is often docked short; when it is left natural it curves gently to the hock. Tradition holds that the tail was docked because marauding baboons plagued the farms over which the Boerboel stood guard, and it was easy for a baboon to grab onto and hold a long tail to restrain the dog. Despite its size and bulk, this dog moves with a graceful, buoyant, athletic, and smooth gait. This breed's coat is short and very dense. It is seen in various colors including red, fawn, brindle, brown, yellow, cream, and black. Some individuals may have a small amount of white on the head, neck and legs. A dark mask over the face is common. The Boerboel has a long history of development in South Africa, and its story is still unfinished, as today it continues to be actively refined amongst its breeders. Its ancestry is complicated and confused, and although there is much documentation it is impossible to know with certainty which breeds contributed to its existence. It is certain that a Dutchman named Jan Van Reibeeck arrived early in the history of South Africa's colonization in the year 1652. With him he brought a large Mastiff type dog called the "Bullenbijter"�, now extinct. His companions also brought large guard dogs, many of the molosser type. It is thought that the crossbreeding of these breeds with the native breeds of the area likely served as the foundation for the Boerboel. Over the centuries following Van Reibeeck's arrival, English, French and Dutch settlers arrived and brought with them various of the mastiff type breeds. It is inevitable that these would have been crossbred into the mix. As the settlers spread over the vast expanse of South Africa, they continued to breed large dogs who were suitable for guarding homesteads and also suitable for hunting large game such as lions. The native Rodesian Ridgeback a lion hunter that originated with the Hottentot tribe, is very likely an ancestor of the Boerboel. Because its history is so diverse and its early breeders scattered over a large geographical area in which several breeds figured into the Boerboel's development, its standard to this day allows for considerable divergence in appearance. The South African Boerboel Breeders Association was established in the 1980's to adopt and promote a standard. Nowadays it requires all breeding stock to be health checked and otherwise approved, in order to prevent crossbreeding that in the past has threatened to destroy the breed's integrity altogether. Today several registries world wide work to breed to strict standards. The Boerboel is increasingly popular in the the United States, and several breed specific clubs have been formed. Most recently the American Boerboel Club was formed in 2006 and in that same year the American Kennel Club accepted the Boerboel in the Foundation Stock Service, pending full approval in the AKC in the future. Due to careful regulation of its breeding and its diverse genetic background, the Boerboel is generally very healthy, living an average 12 years. However, some health issues have shown up in individuals of the breed, including Wobbler's Syndrome, thyroid deficiency, heart defects and disease, and hip and elbow dysplasia. Being a deep-chested dog, the Boerboel is susceptible to bloat (GDV), which is a sudden emergency life-threatening condition. Owners should be aware of signs of bloat and not allow hard exercise in the dog immediately after eating. The Boerboel was bred to work, and it requires daily exercise. A long, brisk walk at least once a day is recommended to expend excess physical and mental energy. This breed must be taught while very young to walk properly on a leash so that it will not be unmanageable as an adult. The Boerboel is very playful and will enjoy a good game of ball. The Boerboel is a large, dominant, territorial breed. It needs an owner who is dog savvy and experienced with large breeds. Early, consistent, firm handling is required with this breed and early socialization by exposing the young dog to a variety of people, situations and other dogs, is highly recommended in order to avoid the development of aggressive behaviors in the future. It is naturally suspicious of strangers and visitors should be advised to approach the dog only with great caution. The Boerboel should be contained in a securely fenced area; if allowed to roam it will psychologically expand its territory and guard places it shouldn't. This breed is known for being affectionate and loyal to its own family, calm and eager to please as a household companion. It thrives on the company of its human pack. With proper socialization it is especially loving to children, and accepting with other household pets. But like any large guard dog, it should not be left alone unsupervised with children under any circumstances.

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