The Piebald Boerboel by Lucas van der Merwe

I am sharing this article written by Lucas van der Merwe about the piebald Boerboel and its influence on the Boerboel when these dogs were getting recognized as a breed in the mid-1980's.  

Lucas van der Merwe grew up with Boerboels in the Northern Free State in South Africa.  In those days, the term 'Boele' was used and people only started talking of 'Boerboels' in the early 1950s).  Lucas was a founding member of SABBA (member number 3) and an honorary life President.  He was also the co-founder of HBSA (the Historical Boerboel Association of South Africa).

Piebalds were part of the national heritage.  There are many more Boerboel registries now than there were in the 1980's, and hopefully some will save the piebald color due to its historical significance during the creation of this magnificent breed.

Hillside View Devi - Short Life of a Boerboel

I am sharing this video to celebrate the life and death of Hillside View Devi, a Boerboel that passed away at the tender age of 17 months old.  Hillside View Devi (Middelpos Alpha x Löwenklein Witwal Belladonna) was imported from South Africa to Germany. She was infected with Babesiosis rossi, rickettsiosis africae, trypanasomiasis, and borreliosis when she left South Africa as a puppy.  She was diagnosed by her owner's veterinarian when she started to show symptoms of the disease.

It is important to fully research breeders before you make a commitment to buy or import a Boerboel puppy.  Just because a puppy is out of parents with high appraisal scores does not mean they will be healthy.  There are good breeders who take care to make sure all of their dogs and puppies are as healthy as possible, and will do everything possible to make restitution if something goes wrong.  If you are considering adding a Boerboel puppy to your family, make sure you find a breeder with an excellent reputation.  

For additional information about Hillside View Devi, please visit her Facebook page:  

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1978819545678702/

Health of the Boerboel

I wish I had better news.  Truly, I do.  I own two Boerboels who have enjoyed great health, but the general health of the breed overall is in the shitter.  No kidding.  Breeders claim on their websites that the Boerboel is one of the healthiest of the mastiff breeds, and that they don't have the health problems of the other mastiffs.  Don't believe it.  It's simply not true.  In fact, quite the opposite is true.  

OFFA, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, promotes the health and welfare of companion animals through a reduction in the incidence of genetic disease.  At the end of every year, they release statistical data from each breed.  The Boerboel breed is currently only ranked on hips and elbows, as there isn't a large enough sampling to be ranked on the other genetic diseases.

At the end of 2015, the Boerboel is ranked 7th worst breed in terms of hip dysplasia with The fact is that as of the end of 2015, 43.7% of Boerboels have been diagnosed with HD.  That means that nearly half of the Boerboels have HD.  

OFFA Hip Dysplasia Statistics and Ranking by Breed

The Boerboel is ranked 4th worst in terms of elbow dysplasia at the end of 2015.  Sadly the statistical information from OFFA show that 37.2% of the Boerboels have ED.  

OFFA Elbow Dysplasia Statistics and Ranking by Breed

Before you spend a lot of money buying a Boerboel puppy, ask the breeder if they can provide proof of the hip certificates and the elbow certificates.  If not, why not?  Don't accept excuses.  If the breeder doesn't have the certificates, then walk away.  Better yet, run as fast as you can.  

Ask yourself if you can afford the expense of hip or elbow surgery?  Ask yourself if you are prepared for the emotional turmoil of owning a dog that may get arthritis before it hits its prime.  Don't get conned.  Don't be a victim.  Don't believe their word that the breeding parents are "healthy" or that their hips and elbows are good.  Get copies of the certificates.  If the breeder cannot provide the proof, then hightail it out of there.  Don't be a victim of the next puppy scam. 

Sure, Boerboel puppies are cute, but not if they cringe when they walk.  Not if they bust your bank and credit cards to keep them sound.  Not if you need to pump them with pain killers and supplements.  It's not worth it.  Demand the best.  If the breeder makes excuses, go elsewhere.

I wish I had better news.  

Jaf, a Boerboel Puppy

I took this photo of Jaf on his second day in the US.  He was born in the Kwa Zulu Natal region of South Africa.  He was a trooper on his flight over from RSA.  He was hungry when he got off the plane, but none the worse for the wear.

I shot this picture on my property on his second day in the United States.  He was 9 weeks old.  This picture has been making the rounds on the internet and Pinterest, so I know a few people like my photo!  It is a nice enough photo that I thought I would share it again.

Jaf, the Boerboel puppy, owned and loved by Sharon B.

Jaf is a red male Boerboel.  He has his SABBS birth certificate/registration, and he is also registered with AKC.  I expect to register him soon with UKC.  He is a farm dog that enjoys life on the farm.  

Copyright Notice

Apparently the copyright notice on this website needs repeating!  

All images and content on this blog are copyrighted and cannot be used without prior written permission.  If you are interested in using one of our pictures or articles, please contact the webmaster.  

© 2007 - 2016   BoerboelFarmDog.blogspot.com - All Rights Reserved

Boerboel Romps with Arabian Horse

I absolutely love this photo of a Boerboel romping with an Arabian.  

All of the credit for this photo goes to Gabriele Boiselle Horse Photography.  If you like horses, visit her gallery of some of the best horse photography I have ever seen.  

This is her Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/editionboiselle.de/.  I started to follow her on Facebook, as she has a ton of information on how to improve your photography, especially as it relates to equine photography.  Enjoy!

Black Boerboel Rejected by Registrar of Animal Improvement in SA

Important news if you are considering purchasing a black Boerboel or if you own a black Boerboel!

Black has been rejected for the Boerboel by the Registrar of Animal Improvement in South Africa.  The Boerboel is a protected landrace in South Africa through the Department of Agriculture, Forestries and Fisheries.

"The Registrar of Animal Improvement‚ Joel Mamabola‚ has ordered breeders of black Boerbul to bring him “scientific proof” from an internationally accredited institution that the colour is as acceptable as fawn‚ brown‚ or brindle for the breed‚ which is widely considered the most agile of the mastiff-type dogs."

This is important to know since it impacts registration of black Boerboels.  Currently black dogs are not eligible for registration with AKC or UKC in the US, and now registrations are currently being withheld for black dogs by SABBS in South Africa.

This article was published on January 22, 2016 outlining the issue: 

Black dog breed rejected by South African animal inspector

If papers and registration certificates are important to you, please verify directly with the organization that you will be able to get completed certificates for your Boerboel.  

 

How to Pronounce Boerboel

Irene and her Boerboel, Misty, made this short video to help people understand how to pronounce the name Boerboel.  Irene is from South Africa, and Afrikaans is her first language.  Enjoy the video.  It is well done!

Boerboel Puppies for Sale - Buyer Beware!

When a breed has a sudden rise in popularity like the Boerboel, there are bound to be scammers and backyard breeders coming out of the woodwork.  I stumbled upon a PuppyFind ad by a breeder of Boerboels in Alabama.  Their PuppyFind listing claims the puppies have Show Potential and Champion Bloodlines.

When I contacted the breeder to inquire where the pups were registered, they responded that they were registered with ICR (International Canine Registry).  I had never heard of ICR, so I tried to find some information.  It turns out that ICR is one of those bogus registries that just issues papers on any dog.  You can't do anything with these papers, and they are not recognized by any US registries or international registries.  They don't have any shows like AKC or UKC, so there is nowhere to show these show potential pups.  Minor detail I guess.

So my next question was about the bloodlines of the sire and dam.  The breeder would not disclose this information.  The ad states the pups have Champion Bloodlines, but yet there is no way to confirm this.  Minor detail I guess.  As an fyi, the Boerboel breed obtained full recognition with AKC in January 2015, and there are only a handful of Boerboels that are conformation show champions.  UKC gave the Boerboel full recognition effective January 1, 2016, and no Boerboels have been shown to date with UKC.

The worst part about this breeder is that they are allowing puppies to go to their new homes at 4 - 5 weeks old!  Everyone knows that a puppy needs to be with its mother and siblings at least until it is 8 weeks old, preferably longer.  This is proudly displayed on their Facebook page:  

Here is a link to an excellent article by Dr. Becker that outlines the reasons puppies should stay with their litter until at least two months of age. 

Puppies Taken from Litter Too Soon Develop Behavior Problems as Adults 

According to the article, research showed some serious behavioral issues with pups that were separated from their litters at too young an age:

• 68 percent of the dogs were attention seekers – they nuzzled, pawed or jumped up on family members looking for attention and physical contact
• 60 percent showed signs of fear when exposed to loud noises

It is important for puppy buyers to thoroughly research breeders and bloodlines before they make a decision on bringing that new Boerboel puppy into your home.  Boerboels are a dominant breed, and it is crucial that you find a breeder who is breeding for health and temperament.  Tip-offs that you are talking to a backyard breeder include: 

• pushes puppies out the door when they are under two months old
• won't disclose the bloodlines of the dogs
• makes outlandish claims that cannot be true (champion bloodlines from pups that are not registered with either AKC or UKC)
• doesn't health test or can't show results of health tests (check the OFA database)
• doesn't show proof of working abilities and/or results of temperament tests.

Knowledge of the bloodlines of a pup are also crucial.  Certain bloodlines are more dominant and territorial (not a good fit for a suburban home), some are dog aggressive (not good for a family that has other pets), some are good in packs, some are good with children, and some are not.  If a breeder is unwilling to discuss the bloodlines of their dogs, run don't walk!  If they don't know the difference between Mizpah and Grasland, or Cabaret and Nostras, or Dopper and Baden, then they really either don't know anything about the breed or they just want to make a sale.  Cha-ching!  

Most importantly, beware of breeders willing to rehome underage puppies.  Alabama does not currently have a law against selling underage puppies, but good sense would dictate that a responsible would not release puppies until they are at least 2 months old, and preferably longer.

Good luck!  

Stolen Boerboel Alert!

Stolen Boerboel Alert!

This intact male Boerboel is believed to have been stolen from a farm in VA.  The owner has filed a police report, and the police believe the dog has been stolen.  Please keep an eye out for him and contact the owner if you have any leads, sightings or information that will help us find him and bring him home safely.

With the public's help and social media, you can help bring Adoons closer to home.  He is a brown, intact male Boerboel.  He is very sweet and playful.  He weighs 176 pounds, and he is micro-chipped and DNA'd.

His owner is worried about his welfare, and just wants him to come home.  We are certain he is with a pet thief.  He could be tied to a chain, being tortured, left in the weather, starved, beaten, used in fighting, no shelter, etc.

Please share this post everywhere.  We are very thankful for everyone's help.  Adoons needs us all right now to help find him and bring him home to safety where is loved and well cared for.

If you have any sightings or information that may be helpful in finding Adoons, please contact Terry Allen at 804-393-1327.  You can also contact any police, vet or shelter in North America.  Thank you for your help.

Heart Problems in Boerboels

Heart and Cardiac Problems in Boerboels

Cardiac problems in dogs are usually genetic in nature.  Unfortunately, the Boerboel is known to be a breed that has been diagnosed with heart issues, including DCM (Dilated Cardiomyopathy) and SAS (Subaortic Stenosis).  Canine Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis (SAS) is an abnormal, congenital heart murmur caused by subaortic stenosis (SAS). There is a relatively high incidence of this condition in the Boerboel.  There is evidence that the disease is genetic and passed on from generation to generation.

Before you plunk down your hard-earned cash to purchase a Boerboel puppy, make sure that the breeder has had cardiac tests done on the dogs they use in their breeding program.  Some breeders have submitted the results of their testing to OFFA (Orthopedic Foundation of America), and you can easily follow this link for the list of Boerboels in the US that have had cardiac tests done.  Please remember that the list may not be comprehensive.  It is not compulsory for an owner to submit the results of cardiac tests to OFFA.  The most important thing is to make sure your breeder has had cardiac tests on their breeding dogs, and ask for a copy of the results or the certificate.  A reputable breeder will do cardiac testing on their dogs, and will be happy to provide proof of the results. 

List of Boerboels with OFFA Cardiac Tests

I wanted to share this blog story about a Boerboel puppy that was diagnosed with SAS at 5 months of age.  His parents were not health tested, even though the breeder assured the buyer they were healthy.  He passed away from heart disease before he reached one year old.  This blog is an account from his owner during the process of diagnosis, treatment, through the final end.  She shares her heart-wrenching journey of trying to do what is best for her pup.  Have your tissues handy, as this is a tearjerker!

Island Zahlman, a Boerboel puppy, was diagnosed with SAS at 5 months of age.  RIP, Zahlman.

Boerboel Puppy Diagnosed with Heart Problems

Most importantly, make sure you are buying from a reputable breeder that does a full screen of health tests, including HD, ED and Cardiac.  Most breeders are charging premium prices for their Boerboel puppies, so be sure not to reward a breeder that doesn't have the welfare of the breed at heart (no pun intended). 

There is also the option to rescue a Boerboel in need.  There are several sites that list Boerboels available for adoption in North America.  Here are a few:

Boerboel Rescue -- networking site for Boerboels available for adoption

Boerboel Rescue North America -- Facebook page for networking Boerboels in need

Boerboel Rescue, Inc -- non-profit 501c3 dedicated to the rescue of Boerboels

Good luck! 

Azaan has her eye on the butterfly. 

Copyrighted Photos of Boerboels

I found one of my photos on Pinterest.  I don't mind that people share the photos, as long as they give credit to the owner or point back to one of my websites.  In this case, the photo was posted on someone's website without permission first.

Here is the photo that was used on a competing website without permission.  This is Jaf enjoying the water in the Big Sewickley Creek in SW Pennsylvania.  I added a watermark for ShopForPuppy.com, which is our online pet supplies store that gives back to the rescue community in terms of a donation from each sale. 

Boerboels in Snow

Fiona Needs Help

Fiona is a purebred female Boerboel with a rare genetic disease called osteochondrodysplasia (dwarfism).  OCD is a growth and developmental abnormality of the bone and cartilage, which results in lack of normal bone growth and bone deformities.  The photo shows Fiona with her normal sized littermates.   Fiona should not be bred as she carries this condition and may pass this on to her puppies.

Fiona is barely one year old, but her original owner breached the contract and sold her to an Amish puppy mill.  She was sold to her first owner as pet quality, with no papers and no breeding rights.  She is gorgeous and loving, but she is now at risk through no fault of her own.

Can you help us to help Fiona?  We have some loving, lifetime homes that want to adopt her where she will be spayed and live her life as a pet.  We need financial help to buy her back from the situation she is in, as her "newest" owner is seeing dollar signs from what he can make by using her to produce puppies for him. 

Please help!  All donated funds will be used to help pull Fiona from the situation she is in, vet checks and spay, and transportation to her new home.  Every dollar helps!  If you cannot donate, please share this post on social media so that we can help save Fiona.  

Donations can be sent via PayPal to info@shopforpuppy.com.  Make sure you mark it as a "gift" and specify that it is for Fiona.  We are also accepting donations through GoFundMe.  Thank you for your help. 

Boerboels in Snow

The dogs enjoy playing in the snow. They like it much more than I do!

Jaf (Quo Vadis Barracuda) in the snow

AKC-registered breeders raising dogs in 'miserable' conditions

I found this expose' on ABC's Today Show about the conditions of some dogs bred by AKC breeders.  Not all AKC breeders are bad, of course, but as the news story shows, it is important that you inspect the kennel where you are buying your next puppy before you send that deposit. 

New accusations that one of the country's largest organizations dedicated to dogs, the American Kennel Club, isn't doing enough to protect animals. TODAY National Investigative Correspondent Jeff Rossen reports.

http://www.today.com/news/akc-registered-breeders-raising-dogs-miserable-conditions-6C9640008http://www.today.com/news/akc-registered-breeders-raising-dogs-miserable-conditions-6C9640008

Many people are buying Boerboel puppies sight unseen from internet websites, and many of these online breeders of Boerboels are not taking good care of their dogs.  The best practice is to visit the breeder in person and meet the breeding parents of your next pup. 

The first Boerboel puppy that I purchased was registered with AKC, but I visited the breeder, met the sire and dam of my pup, and saw the pup in person before I made a decision.  She was raised in a home environment, and not a kennel.  Now she has multiple obedience titles and is a registered Therapy Dog.   She will be 7 years old on Saturday, November 15, 2014, and is very healthy.  I couldn't be more happy with my girl! 

Don't forget to go out and have fun with your dog!  The photo above is Azaan, my first Boerboel, focused on her handler (me) on the pause table during agility training on the second floor of an Indoor Soccer Arena. 

Great Pyrenees - LGD

Great Pyrenees - Livestock Guardian Dogs

These photos were taken in Northern California near Cloverdale, which is about 2 hours North of San Francisco.  I was on my way back to the Bay Area from a trip to Mendocino and Ft Bragg, and saw these Great Pyrenees watching over their charges.  I love the history of farm dogs, so even though these aren't Boerboels, they are images of working farm dogs.  Real dogs.

This was my greeting as I pulled off on the side of the road with my camera.  I think he is serious.  He did not hesitate to come charging at me, and then stopped at the fence line with a low warning.  When I turned to leave, he went back to protecting his cattle. 

In the last photo, you have to look real hard but you will see one that is just a tad bit different than the others.  It took me about 5 minutes before I saw him.

These Great Pyrenees are true working farm dogs.  There were some dogs in the pastures with cattle, and different dogs in the sheep pastures.  The dogs in the cattle pastures seemed much more interested in making sure I was not going to advance on them, while the dogs in the sheep pastures stuck close to their charges. 

Recognition of Boerboel as a Breed in UKC

The Boerboel breed will be officially a recognized breed within UKC (United Kennel Club) effective January 2015. For those of you who are not aware, here is a quick bio of UKC from their website:

Established in 1898, the United Kennel Club is the largest all-breed performance-dog registry in the world, registering dogs from all 50 states and 25 foreign countries. More than 60 percent of its nearly 16,000 annually licensed events are tests of hunting ability, training and instinct. UKC prides itself on its family-oriented, friendly, educational events. The UKC has supported the "Total Dog" philosophy through its events and programs for over a century. As a departure from registries that place emphasis on a dog’s looks, UKC events are designed for dogs that look and perform equally well.

Now owners and breeders of Boerboels have more options to register their Boerboels. UKC is a nice alternative to AKC since the primary focus of UKC is on performance events, rather than looks and conformation shows. Many people believe that AKC has been ruining breeds by their emphasis on looks rather than function.

From now until October 31, 2014, you can register your Boerboels for a reduced rate of $10.00. After October 31, 2014, the price will go back up to the regular rate of $35.00/dog. Since the Boerboel is in the initial stages of acceptance within UKC, new registrations are being organized by one person who will collect payments and registrations for preparation for submission to UKC. The application, 3 photos of the dog (side, back and front) and the payment should be mailed to:

Victoria Clausell
52072 Copper Creek Ct.
Chesterfield, MI 48047

The form can be downloaded here, and filled out and mailed to the above address. Click on the red button marked "Download Form Here":

UKC Registration Application - Boerboel

Mizpah Pups for Sale

I wanted to post this very cute photo of a pup nicknamed River from the authentic Mizpah Boerboels in South Africa.  As of December 3rd, 2013, he is still available for purchase.  The contact information for this pup is listed on the flyer.

River is the pup in the front.  He is simply gorgeous!