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Breed profile

Boerboel

A South African farm guardian: massive, muscular and devoted. Needs early, consistent training and a confident handler.

Fawn Boerboel standing in profile on a grassy field
A muscular fawn Boerboel standing square.Photo: Jln115 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Weight
65–90 kg143–198 lb
Height
55–69 cm22–27 in
Lifespan
9–11 yrs
Group
Working
Origin
South Africa
Popularity
#112 USNot ranked in UK · 2025

Known for: WatchdogsLow grooming

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Confident, Protective, Calm, Loyal.

Health problems to know about

  • Hip and elbow dysplasia
  • Entropion and ectropion
  • Dilated cardiomyopathy
  • Bloat (GDV)
  • Juvenile epilepsy

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

Daily walks and controlled play, avoiding hard exercise while young. Early socialisation and lifelong training. A weekly brush.

A good fit for

Experienced owners with secure space who want a guardian.

Probably not ideal for

First-time owners, flats, households with frequent visitors.

Sources

  1. American Kennel Club: Boerboel
  2. PetMD (vet-reviewed): Boerboel
  3. Wikipedia: Boerboel

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

Similar breeds

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Bullmastiff

A powerful English guard dog bred to stop poachers. Devoted and gentle with family, wary of strangers, and a heavy drooler.

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Rottweiler

Calm, confident and devoted. Powerful, so training is non-negotiable.

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