Boerboel
Working Group

Height at Shoulders
Females 22-25 in, Males 24-27 in
Weight
15-200 lbs
Life Expectancy
9-11 yrs
History
The Boerboel originated in South Africa, likely during the 17th century. It was around this time that Dutch, German, and French immigrants were settling in South Africa. They brought large mastiff-type and bull dogs with them as protection, and over the years, these dogs were bred to native South African dogs and other breeds to produce the Boerboel. The Boerboel's exact breed makeup is unclear, but they likely also had European breeds mixed in once European settlers came to the region. It is believed the Boerboel was being refined all the way up to 1928 when diamond miners imported Bullmastiffs to the region to breed with Boerboels to protect their mines. The breed's name come from the Dutch word "boer", meaning "farmer", and the Dutch/ Afrikaans word "boel", which is a slang word for "dog".
Breed Characteristics
While not all Boerboels share the exact same personality and temperament, there are certain generalizations that can be made about the breed. In addition to genetics, a dog’s environment, training, socialization, and many other factors all contribute to their personality and behavior.
Intelligence
Affection Towards Family
Friendliness Towards Strangers
Friendliness Towards Other Dogs
Exercise Needs
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Energy Level
Sensitivity
Noise Level
Prey Drive
Shedding
★★★☆☆
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Intelligence
★★★★☆
Affection Towards Family
★★★★☆
Friendliness Towards Strangers
★★☆☆☆
Friendliness Towards Other Dogs
★★☆☆☆
Exercise Needs
★★★★☆
Energy Level
★★★☆☆
Sensitivity
★★★☆☆
Noise Level
★★★☆☆
Prey Drive
★★★☆☆
Shedding
★★★☆☆
Common Traits
Calm and affectionate with family, and especially love children
May become destructive or anxious if not given sufficient mental stimulation or exercise
Protective and territorial, making them great guard dogs
May be uneasy around other dogs and strangers unless sufficiently socialized when young
Tend to be dominant- need firm and consistent training from a confident caretaker and plenty of early socialization
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