Overview
The Boerboel was developed by Dutch, German and Huguenot settlers in South Africa from the seventeenth century onward, bred to protect remote homesteads from leopards, baboons and people. It is a large, muscular mastiff with a short coat, a broad head and a steady, confident temperament. Adults commonly weigh more than their handlers.
This breed takes guarding seriously. With its family it is affectionate and often gentle with children, but it is wary of strangers and quick to decide who is welcome. For a walker, the question is less about exercise than whether the dog will accept you, and whether you can physically hold it if it does not accept someone else.
Exercise and walking needs
A moderate hour or so a day suits most adults, split into two outings. They are not high-stamina dogs and do not need running; steady lead walks with some mental work suit them best. Young dogs need gentle, controlled exercise while the joints grow.
Heat is a factor despite the breed's origins. A heavy dog with a broad head overheats quickly, so plan summer walks for the cooler hours.
On the walk
- Control: You need equipment you trust and a dog that respects you. Use a strong, well-fitted harness or a headcollar the owner has trained, a fixed lead, and never a retractable.
- Strangers: Keep people at a distance. Do not let anyone approach to pet it without the owner's say-so, and read the dog's body language before anyone gets close.
- Other dogs: Many Boerboels are intolerant of strange dogs, particularly large ones of the same sex. Walk alone, on lead, on quiet routes.
- Insurance: The breed is restricted in several countries. Make sure your own policy covers large guarding breeds and that the owner's does too.
Tips for professional walkers
- Arrange at least two introductions with the owner present before walking alone, and let the dog set the pace of the acquaintance.
- Keep walks calm and predictable. Quiet routes at quiet times reduce the number of judgements the dog has to make.
- Carry water and a bowl; a dog this size drinks a lot after even moderate exertion.
- Watch the joints. Heavy breeds stiffen easily and hips and elbows carry a lot of load.
What to ask the owner
- How does the dog react to strangers, children and other dogs on a walk, and what does it look like when it is uncomfortable?
- What control equipment does it wear and what commands has it been trained to?
- Is there anything the owner knows the dog dislikes, such as men in hats, bikes or other large dogs?