What distinguishes the Boerboel from other dog breeds?

The short answer to this question is: its origins. No single breeder or group of breeders created the Boerboel as their "own work." It is a centuries-old breed, descended from ancestors whose physiognomy and characteristics are now extinct and forgotten. No one can reconstruct this pedigree, and many attempts to do so have already proven to be a dead end.

Boerboel expert Johan Swart reports on the results of his ten years of research in his book "The Breed Identity of the Boerboel." Today, on our Boerboel blog, we take a look at this standard work to get to know the Boerboel in a new way. It's not just about its extraordinary history, but also its striking physiognomy and strong character.

How did the Boerboel really come into being? In a nutshell, Dutch settlers in South Africa bred this alert and loyal breed to put their farms in trustworthy paws. But according to Johan Swart, the ancestors of today's Boerboel were already "sown" on site before the Dutch arrived, by other European explorers - and that was 400 years before the first registered breeding association even came into being. All other theories circulating about the evolution of the muscular South African breed proved to be fictional myths in the course of Swart's research.

The Boerboel is not related to the modern Perro de Presa Canario (or Dogo Canario / Canarian Dog) or to other mastiffs known today. The author describes the original stock as "extinct" - and obviously no one used the Boerboel to revive today's Canarian dog breeds.

These facts alone make the farm dog unique. But even its appearance, as much as it resembles other mastiff types, makes it stand out as a striking one-of-a-kind when viewed more closely.

The breed description: What makes a genuine Boerboel? In order to distinguish one dog breed from another, a precise breed description is required. The United Kennel Club (UKC) summarizes the characteristics of the Boerboel in the introductory paragraph as follows:

"The Boerboel is a medium to large dog with a strong bone structure and well-developed musculature. The Boerboel has an impressive appearance, which is created by a combination of physique, posture, self-confidence, and powerful, lively, and unhindered movements despite its size. The Boerboel is a well-proportioned dog in which all parts of the body are in proportion to each other."

Since all breed characteristics together make up the special physique of a Boerboel, we will go through the most important characteristics individually. Physical feature no. 1: size Terms such as "medium-sized" and "large" are not fantasy terms in breeder terminology. "Large" ends at around 70 centimeters and a weight of approximately 70 cm. Above that, the "giant breeds" begin - and the Boerboel is not one of them, even if some claim it is. Its impressive appearance is not based on the fact that it can look humans directly in the eye when standing, but rather on its other characteristics, which make any uninvited guest tremble.

Physical feature no. 2: bone structure Its strong bone structure forms the basis for the Boerboel's imposing appearance. As an important addition, we read something about "powerful, lively, and unhindered movements." So we are not looking at an immobile block with tree trunks for legs and a warship for a torso. Of course, the legs should not be thin twigs either, but the breed description goes into more detail later on, which we do not want to list here. Physical characteristic no. 3: the musculature Yes, the Boerboel is a muscleman - but not in the style of a bodybuilder, rather like a gladiator. The musculature must be strong and functional, well distributed and in proportion to the skeleton. Overly pronounced muscles can even hinder movement - this is not the case with a genuine Boerboel that meets the breeding standard. Features 2 and 3 together result in a balanced body structure, without showiness, but with a defined purpose.

Physical characteristic no. 4: appearance What else is behind the term "impressive appearance" besides physiognomy? Certainly not malicious aggression, but rather healthy self-confidence, an upright posture, and calm, purposeful movement. This requires an optimal mix of the right physical characteristics, inherited temperament, and professional socialization. Every Boerboel is a complete package of body, mind, and canine soul--made as a working dog to faithfully perform its tasks. Physical characteristic no. 5: head structure The true hallmark of any dog breed is the head: most animals can be classified very quickly based on their head structure, and this is also true of the Boerboel. Of course, it has a large, broad head, but always in proportion to the rest of the body if it meets the breed standards. Heads that are too massive contradict this standard; they are only meant to make an impression, but to be honest, they don't really look good and disturb the overall balance. The UKC describes the ideal Boerboel head as a distinctive feature:

"The head is large, muscular, and cube-shaped. When the dog is alert, the upper surface between the ears appears flat." Physical feature no. 6: the balance between head, neck, torso, tail, and legs: Each part of the body has its own place in the breed description - and the sum of the parts must fit together perfectly. No disproportionately large skull, no square torso, no legs that are too long or too short. Again, this is much more than just appearance, because a balanced physique is conducive to an animal's mobility and health.

Physical characteristic no. 7: sexual dimorphism Anyone with a reasonably trained eye can distinguish between male and female Boerboels at first glance - without even looking at their genitals. According to the breed standard, this breed scores highly with its clear sexual dimorphism, i.e., a striking difference between the two sexes. Boerboel males are generally larger and heavier than the females - although the females are not exactly petite, they do have a different body structure in detail. They also differ in temperament: the more affectionate and gentle females are the perfect complement to the more dominant males.

Character and temperament: What is so special about the Boerboel? It's not just the packaging that counts, the content is just as important - also in terms of distinguishing it from other, sometimes similar dog breeds. What does the Boerboel have that others don't? Again, it is a combination of different characteristics, this time in terms of character, and not a single outstanding feature.

According to the breed standard, the Boerboel is... * Intelligent * Trainable * Leader and obedient * Loyal * Calm and steadfast * Balanced and self-confident
* Protective By no means does every intelligent breed have such a strong protective instinct and unwavering loyalty. When you add calmness and steadfastness to the mix, many other dog breeds are ruled out. All of the Boerboel's character traits combine to create the ideal conditions for a strong protector that never loses sight of the house, yard, and people.

Boerboels? Boerboelz! If you want real Boerboels, take a look at Boerboelz: as breeders with decades of experience, we serve this wonderful breed as well as the people who fall in love with Boerboels. Healthy, strong, and perfectly balanced: that's how the puppies from our kennel are. Real Boerboels that don't need to emulate any other breed or follow any modern trends. There is so much wisdom and organizing power in the long history of this dog that we simply want to preserve this treasure and pass it on from generation to generation.

Did you know? We also offer healthy, nutritious food for your dog, whether it's a Boerboel or another breed. Because when it comes to appetite, they're all the same - and Puro appeals to every four-legged friend. And if you have something to celebrate, we're also happy to be there and organize your big or small party as the Finnegan Events team. Versatility is not magic, but rather our expertise and a matter close to our hearts.

Textwerkstatt Alber
Alte Kreipe 2
06493 Ballenstedt
Germany

https://textwerkstatt-alber.de/

Herr Fabian Philip Alber

info@textwerkstatt-alber.de

Never stop. That is our motto. We are passionate about one of the most fascinating dog breeds in the world: the Boerboel.

This release was published on openPR.