Our conversations when out and about with the pups often go a lot like this “oh she’s beautiful! How old is she?” and then “what breed is she? She’s huge!!” we say “oh thank you, she’s a Boerboel” and then we usually get a confused stare and then “oh I’ve never heard of that”. Which is completely understandable given the minuscule number of them in New Zealand.

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So, what is a Boerboel? A Boerboel is a large Mastiff type dog, with short fur, strong bone and muscular structure. A broad and blocky head, powerful jaws, and thick muscles from neck to rump distinguish the Boerboel as a descendant of the ancient molloser dogs, which are the foundation of today's mastiff-type breeds. In motion, the Boerboel just might be the most agile of all mastiff types. The usual size of a Boerboel is  Height: Male: 60–72 cm, Female: 54–67 cm Weight: Male: 60–79 kg, Female: 55–73 kg. A Boerboel can be both a capable working dog and a loyal companion. Boerboels are intimidating but discerning guardians of home and family who learned their trade while protecting remote South African homesteads from ferocious predators, such as lions, hyenas, and all manner of deadly wildlife while also providing invaluable human companionship.  The imposing Boerboel is devoted to protecting the people and places he loves. He is equally known for being loving, calm, and family-friendly, especially towards human children. That being said, they will need an experienced and confident owner to ensure the correct behaviors of the breed can be achieved.

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As mentioned, the Boerboel breed originated in South Africa, to see more information about the history of the breed please follow the link to the South African Boerboel Breeders Society website. https://sabbs.org/the-boerboel/history The actual breeding and recording of Boerboels only began in the 1980s in South Africa. Then the first official breed standard was written in 1987. From there, the Boerboel as we know them today have been exported and bred throughout the world. However, the breed never extended this far into the South Pacific… until now!

The Boerboels are owned as property guardian dogs and also working dogs in the following fields: Family and homestead guardian, many are decent herding dogs, good for handling touchy cows and calves, and working with stubborn stud bulls. Many can make hunting dogs; however, they are usually better at staying with the hunter, protecting him from charging or wounded animals.

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The Boerboel seems to think he’s a natural leader. He needs an experienced owner whom he can respect and trust, so he doesn’t feel the need to run things himself. This can make him a challenging prospect and not recommended for inexperienced dog owners.

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This is truly just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Boerboels, there are thousands of articles and an endless amount of information out there if you want to look.

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As always, more than happy to chat if you'd like to reach out.