History of the Boerboel
The Boerboel is a large, working molosser breed of dog from South Africa. The word "Boerboel" derives from "boer", the Afrikaans/Dutch word for "farmer"; Therfore "Boerboel" translates as "farmer's Dog" or "Boer's Dog". They are also commonly known as "South African Mastiff". The boerboel was bred in South Africa with the purpose of guarding the homestead.
Character of the Boerboel
The Boerboel is a very dominant but intelligent breed, with a strong watchdog instinct. They are self-assured and fearless, but responsive to the needs of the family, displaying an intuitive ability to sense if the family is in danger. They will guard their family and home with their life. Boerboels are very gentle with children and very good with most other animals. There have been many stories that have been told about a Boerboel spending countless hours guarding over a baby in a bassinet. The Boerboel breed thrives on love and attention and need constant companionship from their owners. They are very affectionate and playful. However, they do want to be with the family constantly and cannot be left alone for extended periods of time without becoming destructive or dangerous.
Family life with the Boerboel
Dogs are a "pack" type animal; in that they do not like to be left alone. They prefer being in groups, in a family setting with the owners being Alpha, or in a group of dogs with one Alpha dog. This breed requires a dominant owner that will become the "Alpha Male/Female" of the pack. The Boerboel does not bond with just one person, but they bond with the entire family, taking in the responsibility to guard the family. They understand that it is their sole purpose to protect the family at all costs.
