If you’re a dog person, it’s impossible to walk past a Boerboel puppy without scrunching up his squishy face, stroking his gorgeously bulky body and shaking his huge paws. Boerboel puppies are like little bears, so it’s no wonder that they’re so easy to love! These puppies are proudly South African, with the Boerboel breed having been tailored as the ultimate farm (“boer”) dog (“boel”) since the days of the early settlers in the 17th century.
Here’s what you need to know about the Boerboel before adding this puppy to your family.
Is the Boerboel a good family dog?
Boerboel owners will tell you that this breed makes an excellent family dog because they come with equal parts loyalty and protectiveness. Their sheer adult size (from 60 kg up to 80 kg or more!) gives them a fearless appearance to outsiders, but if respected and trained properly, the Boerboel is a big, slobbery, lovable bear to his family and those he trusts. Bear in mind that you need a big property for this huge breed.
Healthy Boerboels can have a lifespan of 10 to 12 years, so you will have plenty of time to love and nurture your relationship with this fantastic breed!
Do Boerboels drool a lot?
The Boerboel has a large, sloppy mouth and – like other large-jowl dogs – he will drool and slobber quite a bit. Don’t be surprised if you need to clean yourself off after a play session with your Boerboel!
How much do Boerboel puppies cost?
It’s important to buy a Boerboel puppy from a registered breeder so that you know you are getting good genes that carry all the positive traits of this breed. Breeder puppies can range from R6 000 to R7 000, while unregistered puppies can be found for between R2 500 and R3 500. Keep in mind, however, that many Boerboels are also surrendered to the SPCA and animal shelters for various reasons – from owner deaths to families relocating to smaller properties, or to countries that don’t allow the large Mastiff breeds. As the Boerboel is a popular breed, you are highly likely to find purebred adults or puppies at your local animal shelter.
Beware of the Boerboel
Every Boerboel puppy needs to be trained and socialised daily to ensure he makes a great family pet. Boerboels love lots of positive reinforcement in their training, so communicate in a positive way using lots of praise and treats to let him know how you want him to behave. Trying to train your Boerboel in a punitive way or teaching him to fear you will only result in a destructive dog.
Indiscriminate and unregistered breeding has led to breed-specific problems like hip and elbow dysplasia, eyelid issues as well as juvenile epilepsy, so if you are interested in a Boerboel puppy, insist on a health certificate from the breeder and ensure all the proper health checks are done.
