History of the South African 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 (27.6 in) tall at the shoulder and weigh approximately 65 – 70 Kg           (143.3 – 154.3 lbs).
Females are usually slightly shorter around 65cm (25.6 in) and weigh less than the males at around 50 – 60 Kg (110.2 – 132.3 lbs).

Although this is typical some dogs can be larger and heavier than these figures. Males can go up to 100kg        (220.5 lbs). 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 history of the Boerboel is a fascinating story, which can trace its beginnings way back to ancient times. We take up the Boerboel story in about 640 BC, in Assyria.

Two Assyrian Kings, King Asarhaddon and King Ashurbani-pal, were recorded as having used large dogs to hunt lions and wild horses. This information is evident from the Assyrian chambers at the British museum. Later we find evidence that the King of Albania gave Alexander the Great a gift of a large dog.

Canus Molossus has had an important effect on the large dog breeds of today. It was originally used in the times of the Roman games. The activities of the Romans resulted in the spreading of the breed throughout Europe, including the British Isles. As trading between East and West started developing and the trading routes around the Cape of Good Hope started being established, Jan van Riebeeck was sent by the Dutch East India Company to establish a trading post at the southern tip of Africa. For his protection, van Riebeeck brought with a "Bullenbijter". Other colonialists brought other large mastiff-type dogs with them.

This is where Europe met Africa in the dog sense. The large European dogs crossed with the strong African bloodlines. These dogs then accompanied the Boers on the Great Trek into the northern parts of South Africa.

The African side of the Boerboel story starts in southern Ethiopia, where a tribe called the Cynomones used dogs described as "Indian Dogs". These dogs had their origin in Babylon. They are described as large, strong dogs, able to fight with lions. The Cynomones used their dogs to protect them from migratory wild animals as well as for hunting. They even used to milk the bitches. Folklore, or maybe just ancient marketing techniques, suggested that these Indian dogs were a cross between a dog and a tiger. As many African tribes migrated southwards, they brought their dogs with them.

Modern Boerboel

Since 1980 and with the forming of the SABT and later the HBSA and the EBBASA, selective breeding of the dog has resulted in what we know today as the South African Boerboel. 

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 a rare breed dog and is registered with 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. 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 recognized score and you should be very suspicious about the pup and breeder.

Sources: SABT, HBSA and EBBASA news letters

UK Kennel club
The Mastiffs - The Big Game Hunters - their history, development and future -by Colonel David Hancock MBE