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Date Posted: 18:08:18 05/09/09 Sat
Author: Jen Sider
Subject: What is the Boerboel for?

This board certainly has been exciting in the past little while; but lest anyone think that this is unusual and specific to the Boerboel breed can I just say that I have seen similar conversations in the Central Asian Shepherd breed, the Quarter Horse breed and just about anywhere humans and animals come together.

On to Boerboels. The conversations/discussions that erupted on the board caused myself to ponder a few things; and initiated a number of conversations with my pup's breeder and my trainer. Just a little background; I've been in the horse game (and that is truly what it is) for about 30 years; the dog game (and it is too) for about 15 years and Boerboels for 11 mos. Yup; my pup is coming up on her year birthday. So I am Boerboel novice; but certainly not animal novice.

From Proudfoot's Tad Bit O'Tina


I did not go looking for my Boerboel; she happened to me and I could not have met a more perfect match.

Anyone who has met me understands why I chose a mastiff breed; I need that phlegmatic (having or showing a slow and stolid temperament) dog. I work 2 jobs, run my own small business; am raising 2 lovely children (one above with Dora; the other below), board my horse at another person's property, am married, have another dog and a small cat. All this is done in town; nearest neighbour is 16 ft. behind me; 33 ft. to the left and 33 ft. to the right. My life is chaos in a carbonated bottle. I am a bitch, intense, high drive; and tough. I would love to work with a Mali, Dobie, GSD, Dutchie, etc.; but all the dogs that attract me in those breeds; we would kill each other in a matter of minutes. So my Boerboel happened to me; best damn thing in the world.

From Proudfoot's Tad Bit O'Tina


What is a Boerboel for? Are they truly JUST property guards; or can they without watering down temperament; visit places and guard their human as necessary.

I have a versatile Boerboel; and I'm sure there are others out there that also have Boerboel that can participate in many different events and situations.

When I was offered my pup; I was asked what I would like in a Boerboel. Interesting question; since I didn't know I even wanted one. APBT are my first love; but my province doesn't allow them; so the bully body was something I liked. I also wanted a protective dog (APBT are not known for their protective instincts). I wanted a dog that was oriented to their human (my other dog is a cat in dog clothing). Wanted a dog that could work with horses. Wanted a dog that liked kids and husbands (since getting rid of them is inappropriate). Wanted a dog that could travel with me and protect me when necessary(I teach driver's ed, attend horse shows, camp, etc.). Wanted a dog with an off-switch; when I'm done dealing with 30 X 16-year olds, my two kids, my life in general; the dog better be happy to lay at my feet. Healthy preferred; colour not important. Not a stumbling block; but Dora's breeder did mention that some lines carry dog aggression; but I am familiar with the intense breeds having same sex aggression; so could deal with it.

When I went to test puppies (and yes the test was similar to what others here have mentioned); there was a lot of uniformity and then verifiable and useable differences between littermates.

Dora was a choice agreed upon by myself and the breeder.

From Proudfoot's Tad Bit O'Tina


As I said; I'm a novice to the Boerboel breed; but my understanding was that they were a utility breed used in the harsh conditions of Africa; mainly as a defense of property dog (including human defense). Beyond that; there were no clear indications to me that they were stock dogs; although there was a kennel in Australia who took them out on hog hunts and Harris had them on a cattle ranch; and then there were some holdings in South Africa that had livestock. So not inappropriate to working with livestock (although I don't want any dog "working" my horse or the horses on the farm where I board at). I hadn't seen any in structured protection sports - Schutzhund; etc.; but had heard of them used successfully; just wasn't a widespread phenomenon.

Did I get what I wanted? In spades.
From Proudfoot's Tad Bit O'Tina


Dora is beautiful; immaterial as to performance; but I don't do ugly; so that was a nice bonus.

Performance; excellent with the horses; respectful and steady. Excellent with the kids loving, playful and guarding, extended family; quiet and solid in both grandparents houses; guarding as needed. Property guardian; excellent; both stationary (house) and moving (vehicle).
Oriented to me; where I go; there is a Boerboel. Off-switch - she has one; she's ready to go when I go; but she is not up my ass to do things; which is refreshing.

Smart - I am so busy (and please don't anyone tell their puppy buyers this); but I train Dora specifically maybe once every 3 weeks or so. We've attended maybe 4 or 5 obedience classes in the past year; but this dog has it going on upstairs; she tries hard to get things right, and she tries hard to assimilate herself into the situation she is in. She also obeys conversational commands very well.

Taken her to driver's ed class - said hi to all the kids; then lay down at the front of the class.
Horse Barn - tours the barn; says hi to the owner and the horses, suitably ignores their crotchety border collie and leaves their little geriatric cockapoo alone.
Horse Shows - sleeps at the trailer; alerts when strangers get too close (we are just travelling companions to provide protection and a helping hand) goes to the arena to watch the show.

I could go on; there hasn't been a place that I couldn't take her, she is so personable and so well behaved that she is welcomed in houses with open arms. She is respectful of the owner's possessions and their pets.

Health - gold star right now; granted she's only 11 mos.; but no current health issues.

I completely understand why people use these dogs as Therapy dogs; why they are used with livestock, why they guard houses and possessions and humans and babies. They are a versatile breed.

The people that train and show photos and videos are representing what they believe the Boerboel to be; and with training and the correct choice of Boerboel; they can be all these things that are videoed and photographed.

The people that are too busy living their lives to document every occasion that their dog excels in; are also representing the Boerboel breed to be what they think it should be.

I think there are Boerboels out there who will be best left at home to guard their property; and who have no interest in visiting other places; and they aren't poor examples of the Boerboel breed. I know there are Boerboels (who are not weak in temperament)who can go other places and visit; and they aren't poor examples of the Boerboel breed. There are dogs of every breed who exhibit the same difference in personality; and in many breeds; either type would be fine.

I was lucky; the type of dog I wanted was accomplished by the breeder who contacted me. The individual dogs she used and the bloodlines she chose created that do-everything Boerboel. Dora isn't alone in her demeanor; she has siblings with the same go anywhere; do anything mentality. Had I wanted an agility/obedience dog; there are breeders out there who fulfill that need; had I wanted a dog that could work my livestock -- there are those breeders too. I'm guessing if I wanted solely a pretty dog to look good on my lawn; those breeders were out there too.

To everyone who has suffered a dog loss due to health or temperament problems; shit happens. I'm not trying to be a smart arse; but these are dogs; not machines. I agree with Norman; it is damned hard to find a healthy dog with the drives you want who isn't a spook or isn't over the top aggressive. Welcome to the real world; they are dogs not robots; you have the same problems in Malinois, German Shepherds and other breeds. If you ever doubt what you are doing with your Boerboel; go hang out on one of those boards (if you aren't out having fun with your dogs) and see the emotional drama that gets spilled when your high-drive #$$-chewing GSD, imported from BelgiWestDutczech (or out of same type parents) that is going to make a great SchH dog is diagnosed with epilepsy, brain tumour, or osteoporosis. The concerns bantered about here are not unique to the Boerboel breed and it is not all doom and gloom.

Of course breeders should breed carefully and screen buyers. Of course buyers should participate in training with their dogs. Of course the dogs should find their family and be loved.
It is achievable without the drama. There are people who read this board who are doing that now. Let's share information without prejudice; and avoid couching private concerns within "innocent" questions. Let's take to private email; that which should be private, let's go play/work with our dogs.

Peace out; gotta rest up for horse show 5:30 a.m. on Mother's Day.

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