Boerboel

While the Boerboel is no teddy-bear, a combination of laziness and loyalty make cuddling a possibility; towards children, we can certainly say that affection is not unknown. Indeed, he will suffer if not gladly welcomed into the bosom of the family.

He is an intelligent and engaged dog, accustomed – through genetic heritage – to working closely with humans. But the Boerboel is not all serious, so constructive collaboration can easily give way to playful tomfoolery if you have the time and inclination.

When the going is good, the Boerboel is a calm and even laid-back sort of a person.

Naturally intelligent, the Boerboel’s mind should be stimulated with informed and purposeful training from a young age, else his intellect will go to waste and his behaviour become unruly.

The mastiff family is said to have been used to hunt wolves and even lions. But the Boerboel has evolved to be more of a guard dog than a safari enthusiast. Even in his heyday, this formidable creature would have struggled against a lion – although the occasional leopard may have come out the worse for wear. However, his hunting impulse may still lurk deep within, so should a cat or a squirrel cross his sights in a hurry it is possible his dormant instincts may resurface.

This dog is not easily rattled. Although he tends to stay close to his owners, he will not usually be unsettled by outsiders. His guarding instincts, however, are likely to be roused by intruders to the property or his family’s personal space; he is usually wise enough to discern a threat from a non-threat.

While the Boerboel is independent by nature, he requires a great deal of interaction and care from his human companions in order to develop into a well-behaved and socialised adult. Your Boerboel may think for himself, but he will seek your society, companionship, and play.

The big lug can become lonely and destructive if left alone for long periods of time.

The Boerboel is generally intelligent but he does require a great deal of training in order to ensure that he does not use his considerable might against the powers of good. He will enjoy training since he is fond of spending quality time with his peers, so long as a responsible, positive-enforcement style education is employed. Those who are not confident trainers of dogs should not consider the Boerboel a good option when looking for a dog to invite into their lives.

The Boerboel is no more or less verbose than the average dog.

This character is keen on family time and loyal to his owner, and thus is unlikely to exploit the opportunity to roam unless a specific temptation draws his attention.

Keep the Boerboel company, and he will not become too destructive. However, leave him alone for too long and he will become bored and even anxious. You should not be surprised if he responds to excessive loneliness with acts of destruction. And because this dog packs quite a punch, destructive behaviour will not be subtle. This dog has the strength to wreck everything.

The Boerboel does have a tendency towards becoming overweight, so his meals should be carefully measured and his requests for extra treats considered in depth.

 A guard dog par excellence, the Boerboel may tend towards over-protectiveness, which is why he may be more suitable for professional duty than life in a family home. He may become accustomed to regular guests, but will need the ‘nod’ from his owner if he is to tolerate them; he may remain wary towards these outsiders all the same.

This is not recommended as he is an extremely large dog who needs space to manoeuvre and also a reasonable amount of exercise. Ideally, the Boerboel will have free use of a yard in which he has space to build up a gallop, but which is strongly-enough fenced to prevent his venturing beyond the property borders for extracurricular guard dog activities.

This chap needs at least one hour of solid exercise a day. Long walks, obedience games, even weight-pulling and agility contests can help make up the workout he needs – particularly since park life is not especially recommended (he responds aggressively to challenges from other dogs and shouldn’t go off-lead).

He’s a big old dog so you may have trouble fitting him in your car – especially when he becomes too elderly to leap to the boot. Other than that, there are no particular transport considerations to consider.

While he can be fine with cats, the Boerboel’s size and repressed hunting instinct may be a recipe for disaster if your cat happens to get startled and dash across the room or garden. Especially if it looks like a leopard.

If your Boerboel grows up alongside another dog they may continue to get along just fine. But extreme care should be taken when introducing the lad to unfamiliar dogs. The Boerboel is known to respond dramatically to dominant behaviour from other dogs, especially big ones. And in any case, socialising the dog with other creatures when he is still a pup is a very good idea.

The Boerboel is known to be generally friendly and even protective of children he knows. He will also tolerate other kids as long as he is acclimatised to the company of human pups while he himself is still a puppy. However, extreme caution should be observed at all times, since the Boerboel can be both massive and over-protective. Never leave a Boerboel (or any dog) alone with a young child. And beware that very small children are susceptible to squashing, regardless of aggression.

The Boerboel’s heft and requirement for intensive training may make him unsuitable for older owners if they’re frail, although a similarly hefty and pedagogically-inclined elder human may appreciate the creature’s keen attitude to companionship.

It is not recommended to take the Boerboel into your home as your first dog. A strong and unwieldy beast, he is potentially dangerous if not raised in optimum conditions by an experienced and knowledgeable owner who can train him in a good and proper way.