Wilby Boerboels - We put family first


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Temperament and Health:

The boerboel is a very loving, loyal dog. They are family oriented and great with kids. The will readily accept anyone that you accept. If you are not ok with someone, then they are not ok with that person. They are not a ticking time bomb like some other breeds, but rest assured that when you need protected, they are there.

The boerboel is an active dog. More so than most giant breeds. Exercise is a must and it can't be just a quick walk up the street. Don't get me wrong, they are by no means hyper, but they do need room to run.

They want nothing more than to please you, so that makes them very easy to train. However you start them off as a puppy is what you are going to be dealing with as a full grown adult. If you don't want a 150 lb dog on the couch, then don't allow them on the couch when they are little puppies. The boerboel won't understand why it was ok one day and then the next day it isn't.

Boerboels are very intelligent. I often say that they are too smart for their own good. If they want something, they are typically going to figure out a way to get it. They literally "think". I honestly don't think they realize they are dogs!

The boerboel is also a very strong dog. Now I am not talking about physical strength, even though that applies also, I am talking about their temperament. And I also don't mean strong in a negative way. I mean that they are not for the first time dog owner. The boerboel requires an experienced dog owner.

Being such a rare breed, the boerboel is a pretty healthy dog. Careful and responsible breeders are going to great lengths to make sure the breeding stock they are using, is healthy and free from genetic defects. There still are a few concerns though. As for all giant breeds, HD is a concern. Entropion and ectropion are also things that should be tested for before breeding. Vaginal hyperplasia and prolapse is a growing concern in females. These are all things you should ask your breeder about before you purchase a puppy.

SABT Breed Standard

1. GENERAL APPEARANCE
The Boerboel is a big strong dog, well balanced, with good muscle development and buoyant in movement. The dog should be impressive, and imposing. Male dogs appear noticeably masculine and bitches feminine.

2. BALANCE - The Boerboel is a perfectly balanced dog - all parts of the body should be in proportion.

3. TEMPERAMENT AND CHARACTERISTICS - The Boerboel is reliable, obedient and intelligent, with a strong watch-dog instinct. It is self-assured and fearless.

4. THE HEAD - The head is the most important feature of the Boerboel, as it represents its total character. The head is short, broad, deep, square and muscular with well filled cheeks. The part between the eyes must be well filled.

5. TOP-LINE OF THE HEAD/OCCIPUT - The top of the head is broad and flat, with prominent muscle development.

6. FACE - The face should blend symmetrically with the head, and can be with or without a black mask.

6.1 Stop - The stop should be visible, but not prominent

6.2 Muzzle - The muzzle is black with large nostrils which are widely spaced.

6.3 Nasal Bone - The nasal bone is straight and parallel to the top-line of the head. It is deep, broad and it tapers slightly to the front. The nasal bone should be 8-10 cm long.

6.4 Lips - The upper lip is loose and fleshy, and should not hang lower than the lower jaw. The upper lip (beneath the muzzle) should cover the lower lip.

6.5 Jaws - The jaws (mandibles) are strong, deep and broad, and narrows slightly to the front.

6.6 Teeth - Teeth should be white, well developed, correctly spaced, a complete (42 teeth), and should have a scissors bite.

6.7 Eyes - The color of the eyes can be any shade of brown, but darker than the pelt. Eyes should be horizontally set. It should be broad spaced with firm, well-pigmented eye-lids.

6.8 Ears - The ears should be of medium size, V-shaped and should be in proportion to the head. They are set fairly high and wide against the head. When the dog is interested, the ears should form a straight line with the top of the head.

7. NECK

7.1 Profile - The neck shows a noticeable muscle curve, and is attached high at the shoulder.

7.2 Length - The neck is of medium length and in proportion to the rest of the dog.

7.3 Appearance - The neck is quite strong and muscular, firmly attached to the head and gradually broadens up to the point where it is attached to the shoulder. The neck, head and shoulders should form a unit.

7.4 The skin of the neck - The skin of the neck is loose under the throat and becomes taut between the front legs.

8. BODY - The body narrows slightly towards the loin.

8.1 Top line - The top line should be straight.

8.2 Back - The back is straight, broad and in proportion, with prominent back muscles and a short loin.

8.3 Rump - The rump is broad and strong, with good muscle development.

8.4 Chest - The chest is muscular and strong. The chest should be broad, deeply set between the fore-legs, with well attached and curved ribs. The rib-cage should be in proportion to the chest.

8.5 Tail - The tail is attached high to the body. It should be straight and preferably short (three joints). Long tails are acceptable.

9. FORE-QUARTER - The fore-quarter is strong, muscular and in proportion to the rest of the dog.

9.1 Shoulders/Withers - The withers should be well attached, correctly angulated and with good muscle development.

9.2 Upper arm - The upper arm should have good muscle development.

9.3 Front legs - The front legs should be thick, strong, and muscular and should stand perfectly vertical.

9.4 Front pasterns - The front pasterns are short, strong and vertical extension of the front legs and pastern joints.

9.5 Front paws - The front paws are big, well padded and rounded with strong, dark and curved toenails. The paws should point straight forward.

10. HIND-QUARTER - The hindquarter should be strong, firm and muscular and in proportion to the rest of the dog, with the ability for effective propulsion.

10.1 Upper thighs - The upper thighs are broad, deep, well developed with prominent muscles.

10.2 Second thigh/Gaskin - The second thighs should be well developed with prominent muscles.

10.3 Knee stifle - The knees are strong, firm and correctly angulated.

10.4 Hock Joints - The hock joints are strong and firm with correct curving.

10.5 Hocks - The hocks are relatively short, strong and thick. The hocks are parallel. (Dew claws should not be present).

10.6 Hind paws - The hind paws are slightly smaller than the front paws. They should be well padded, rounded and should point straight forward. The nails are strong, dark and curved.

11. MOVEMENT - Movement should be easy, smooth, powerful and purposeful, by means of good propulsion of the hindquarter and parallel movement of the legs. In the movement, a straight top-line should be maintained.

12. SKIN - The skin is thick, loose, well pigmented with moderate wrinkles on the forehead when the dog is interested.

13. PELT/HAIR - 13.1 The pelt is short, sleek and dense

13.2 Recognized colors are cream white, pale tawny, reddish brown, brown and all shades of brindle.

14. SIZE

14.1 Male Dogs - The ideal height for a male dog is 66 cm. It can, however, vary between 64 and 70 cm.

14.2 BITCHES- The ideal height for a bitch is 61 cm. It can vary between 59 and 65 cm.

15. GENERAL HEALTH - The Boerboel enjoys exceptional health, due to natural selection.

16. PIGMENTATION - The Boerboel is well pigmented, especially on the lips, paws, toe nails and genitals.

17. DISQUALIFICATIONS

17.1 A dog which is too small
17.2 A dog which is too big
17.3 An overly aggressive dog
17.4 A head which is too small and nondescript
17.5 A liver colored muzzle
17.6 An under-bite of more than 1 cm
17.7 A noticeable over-bite
17.8 A narrow mouth
17.9 A long mouth
17.10 A sharp mouth
17.11 Blue eyes
17.12 Erect ears
17.13 A narrow chest
17.14 Bandy legs
17.15 A hollow back
17.16 Cows hocks
17.17 Sickle hocks
17.18 Straight hocks
17.19 Clumsy and unbalanced movement
17.20 Piebald without sufficient pigmentation
17.21 Piebald without any of the five acceptable colors around both eyes and on both ears
17.22 Any sign of another dog breed