Page 26 - Oct - Dec 2023 Edition

BREED OF DOG:
BOERBOEL

By Nada Andersen (CAU Chairman)

You must have seen a large brown dog with a huge, mean head around
many homes in Uganda. This is the Boerboel, a dog originating from South
Africa and registered as an indigenous South African breed. The Boerboel
breed was developed from Mastiffs and Bulldogs taken to South Africa in the
early 1900s by European settlers. The deliberate breeding of Boerboels
started in the 1950s and is controlled by the South African Boerboel Breeders
Society, or SAABS, who jealously guard the global registry of this magnificent
breed.

A Boerboel is a family guard dog. But make no mistake with the word family,
because Boerboel's character is far from a Labrador or a Golden Retriever. A
Boerboel knows who his family is and is not keen on loving new people.
Incredibly loyal to his own people, Boerboel is a protective, disciplined, and
highly intelligent dog. Boerboels have strong guarding instincts; in the past,
they were used for protection from wildlife. Boerboel will gladly enter a fight
with a baboon or a leopard and will likely emerge as a winner. The strength
of this dog should never be underestimated.

Dublin, with judge Richard Paquette and owner Henry Jabo A typical strong female Boerboel of quality breeding
- winning the “Best in Show title 2022”
According to the breed standard, Boerboel is a large dog of Mastiff type,
with a large head and well-defined muscular body. Adult males are 60-78cm
tall in the withers, while females are 55-70cm tall. The dog should be
pleasantly proportioned, longer in relation to its height, not square as a table.
The real beauty of the Boerboel is in the head, which should be broad,
strong, muscular, short, and with a slight frown on the forehead when the
dog is alert. The head shows the dog’s character, so a strong, determined,
alert, and confident appearance is desirable. Well-pigmented, dark areas
around the eyes and the nose are a must. Boerboel’s head can be the same
colour as the body or have a black mask, making the dog look even more
serious and authoritative. Boerboels come in all colours, making the breed so
interesting.

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