An Introduction to the Boerboel.

Boerboels are large dogs, which have been used for farm and protection work in South Africa. They are obedient, intelligent, self-assured and bred to have an extremely strong guard-dog instinct. Perhaps surprisingly, this does not make the dog a vicious unsociable animal, because the Boerboel was in constant proximity to the farmers and their children, a badly behaved or aggressive dog was unacceptable and would, perhaps rather harshly, have been put down. This very selective and practical breeding ethic has created a loving pet with an even temperament that is happiest in a family environment for which he can put his protective instincts into action when required.

Generally males grow to around 70cm tall at the shoulder and weigh approximately 65 - 70 kg.
Females are usually slightly shorter around 65cm and weigh less than the males at around 50 - 60 kg.

Although this is typical some dogs can be larger and heavier than these figures. Males can go up to 100kg which is 16 stone. If you were a burglar you wouldn't want to mess with one of these! Especially as they are reputed to be much stronger than most other large dogs pound for pound.

The Boerboel has a colourful history and is thought to be made up of European holding dogs and native South African dogs.
The European dogs that were brought to South African by Soldiers may have been Boarhounds, Broholmers, and Bullenbijters, Boerboels may have some ancestry from these as well as the blood from the native dogs such as the I-Baku, I-Twini, I-Bansi, and Sica Dogs.
The Boer dogs were originally used for hunting, as holding dogs but in recent years they have become valuable farm dogs, the name Boerboel literally means "Farmer's Bulldog".

In 1990 the Boerboel breed was in danger of being lost, a group of fanciers started scouring South Africa for eligible dogs to use as a breeding base, of the hundreds found 72 were and registered, in the following years, to widen the gene pool dogs were allowed to included on the development register, this register has now closed.

As the dogs were bred for a purpose and used by farmers they have developed with a vigorous constitution, and have few major heath problems. However the Boerboels can suffer infrequently from Hip or Elbow Dysplasia, vaginal hyperplasia, and Entropion.

The Boerboel is not registered with the UK Kennel Club, therefore you cannot get KC papers for your dog. There are two recognised organisation where your dog can be registered. The SABT and the HBSA.
We will use the SABT as an example:

Every Boerboel is supplied with a birth certificate stating his pedigree. However, in order for it to be registered, it must be assessed and rated by an official S.A.B.T. judge. A Boerboel is assessed by subtracting points for each deficiency in comparison to the S.A.B.T.'s official breeding standard. When your dog is judged you will get a scored which is a percentage. If your Boerboel rates 85% or more, you have an excellent dog! If your dog rates between 75and 84%, you have a good dog and if you breed from it, as long as the mating partner also has scored over 75% you will be eligible to receive certificates for the puppies. This ensures only high quality dogs are used to continue the breed.

Please note that dogs must be at least 9 months old before being graded, therefore if someone tells you that they have a Boerboel puppy for sale that has a score - this is NOT an official recognised score and you should be very suspicious about the pup and breeder.

 

Boerboel Breed Standard - 2004.

BREED

Boerboel

ORIGIN

South Africa

UTILIZATION:

Utility / farm dog

GENERAL APPEARANCE

The Boerboel is a big strong dog, well balanced, with good muscle development and buoyant in movement. The dog should be impressive, and imposing. Male dogs appear noticeably masculine and bitches feminine.

IMPORTANT MEASUREMENTS (PROPORTIONS)

The Boerboel is a perfectly balanced dog - all parts of the body should be in proportion.

 

SIZE:

The ideal size of the male dog is 66cm. The height can vary between 64cm and 70cm.
The ideal height of the female is 61cm.The height can vary between 59cm and 65cm.

TEMPERAMENT (character behaviour)

The Boerboel is reliable, obedient and intelligent, with good watchdog instincts. He is self-confident and fearless.

GENERAL HEALTH:

As a result of natural selection the general health of the Boerboel meets high standards.

GAIT/MOVEMENT:

A Boerboels movement should be comfortable, easy, smooth, powerful and purposeful, with good propulsion by the hindquarter and parallel movement of the legs. In movement, a straight top-line should be maintained.

HEAD AND SKULL

The head is one of the most important features of the Boerboel, as it represents its whole character. The head is short, broad, deep, square and muscular with well filled cheeks. The section between the eyes must be well filled.

CRANIAL REGION:

OCCIPUT:

The top of the head is broad and flat, with prominent muscle development.

FACIAL REGION:

The face should blend symmetrically with the head, and can be with or without a black mask.
 

STOP:

The stop should be visible, but not prominent.
 

NOSE:

The nose is black only with large, widely spaced nostrils.
 

MUZZLE:

The muzzle is straight and parallel to the occiput. It is deep, broad and it tapers slightly to the front. The nasal bone should be 8 - 10 cm long.
 

LIPS:

The upper lip is loose and fleshy, and should not hang lower than the lower jaw. The upper lip (beneath the muzzle) should cover the lower lip. The bottom lip is not too loose & fleshy - in other words it should not have excessive lip.
 

JAWS:

The jaws (mandibles) are strong, deep and broad, and narrows slightly to the front.
 

TEETH:

Teeth should be white, well developed, correctly spaced, a complete set (42 teeth) and should have a scissors bite.
 

EYES:

The colour of the eyes can be any shade of brown, but darker that the coat. Eyes must be set on the same horizontal level. they are widely spaced with firm, well-pigmented eyelids.

EARS:

The ears should be of medium size, V-shaped and should be in proportion with the head. They are set quite high and wide against the head. When the dog is attentive, the ears should form a straight line with the occiput.

NECK

PROFILE:

The neck shows a noticeable muscle arch, with high attachment at the shoulder.
 

LENGTH:

The neck is of average length and in proportion to the rest of the body.
 

SHAPE:

The neck is strong, muscular, and firmly attached to the head this attachment gradually broadens up to the point where it is attached to the shoulder. The neck, forms a unit with the head and shoulders.
 

SCRUFF:

The skin of the neck is loose under the chin and becomes taut between the front legs.


BODY:

The body of the Boerboel slightly narrows at the loins.
 

BACK:

The back is straight, broad and in proportion, with prominent back muscles and a short loin.
 

CROUP:

The croup is broad and strong, with well defined musculature.
 

CHEST:

The chest is muscular and strong. The chest should be broad, and deeply set between the forelegs, with well attached and rounded ribcage. The width of the ribcage should be in proportion to the chest.

TOPLINE

The top line should be straight & level.

TAIL

The tail is attached high to the body. It should be straight and preferably short (three joints). Long tails are acceptable.

FOREQUARTERS

The forequarter is strong, muscular and in proportion to the rest of the dog.
 

SHOULDERS:

The withers should be well attached, correctly angulated and with good muscle development.
 

UPPER ARM:

The upper arm should have well defined musculature.
 

ELBOWS:

Are parallel with the body.
 

FOREARM:

The front legs should be thick, strong, muscular and should stand perfectly vertical.
 

PASTERN JOINTS:

 

PASTERNS:

The front pasterns are short, strong and a vertical extension of the front legs and pastern joints.
 

FOREFEET:

The front paws are large, well padded and ball shaped (cat like) with strong, dark and curved toenails. The paws should point straight forward.

HINDQUARTERS

The hindquarter should be strong, firm and muscular and in proportion to the rest of the dog, and with the ability to move effectively.
 

UPPER THIGH:

The upper thighs are broad, deep, well formed and muscular.
 

GASKIN:

The second thighs should be well developed with prominent muscles.
 

STIFLE:

The knees are strong, firm and correctly angulated.
 

HOCK JOINTS:

The hock joints are strong, firm with the correct angle.
 

HOCK:

The hocks are relatively short, strong and thick. The hocks are parallel with each other. (Dew claws should be removed).
 


HIND FEET:

The hind paws are slightly smaller that the front paws. The should be well padded, well formed and should point straight forward. The nails are strong, curved and dark in colour.


COAT

HAIR:

The coat is short and smooth with dense pelt.
 

SKIN:

The skin is thick, loose and well pigmented, with slight wrinkles on the brow when the dog is attentive.
 

PIGMENTATION:

The Boerboel is well pigmented, especially the lips, eyes, footpads, toenails & genitals.

COLOUR

Recognised colours are yellow, tawny, reddish-brown, brown, and all shades of brindle.
Piebald is also acceptable.

FAULTS
DISQUALIFYING:

1.       A Dog that is too small

2.       A Dog that is too big

3.       An overly aggressive dog

4.       A too small and nondescript head

5.       A liver-coloured nose

6.       A mouth that bite more than 1cm short

7.       A noticeable overbite

8.       A narrow mouth

9.       A long mouth

10.   A sharp mouth

11.   Blue eyes

12.   Vertical ears

13.   A too narrow chest

14.   Bandy legs

15.   A hollow back

16.   Serious cow hocks

17.   Sickle hocks

18.   Straight hocks

19.   Clumsy & unbalanced movement

20.   Any sign of another dog breed

21.   A piebald dog without sufficient pigmentation

22.   A piebald dog without any of the five acceptable colours around both eyes and on both ears.

NOTES:

Male dogs should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
   
  text from the uk-boerboelclub (a very good, informative website)
   
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