Hound Type

• Many Boerboels can be tall with a pronounced tuck up underneath, these dogs are often narrower in the chest, they have flatter sides, they have well constructed fronts that are straight, nicely shaped feet and have good rear angulation.  They have longer ears and muzzles which taper inwards towards the end.  The circumference of the male’s head is usually 2 to 3 inches less than the height at the shoulder; this type of Boerboel is displaying a lot of the hound influence.  I owned a bitch like this and I used her for hunting Boar.  I found her to have a good nose on the ground and good stamina and speed for her size.  Quite a few dogs of this type have been widely used in modern times eg. Piona Rampai, Caberet Klein Buks.

  Caberet Klein Buks

Bulldog Type

• The opposite of the hound type is the Bulldog type.  These dogs are shorter and broader; they have more concave lines showing more spring or roundness to the ribs, this also carries to the front of the dog as they usually have bigger chests so the elbows are sometimes slightly out to accommodate the chest.  The front legs move slightly towards the centre line and pasterns and front feet turn slightly out to balance this heavier front.  The front feet are often large and open, the Bulldog type tends to have a lot of volume in the body, shorter muzzles and are undershot.  The head is usually equal to or greater in circumference than the height at the shoulders up to 3 inches greater in some cases.  The ear set is high in this type, examples of this type of Boerboel are Avalonia Waldor (RIP) and Driefontien Grootpraat.

Avalonia Waldor

• Avalonia Waldor

Driefontein Grootpraat

Driefontein Groot praat

Terrier Type

• Next type is the Terrier type.  Most likely Bull Terrier influence as I have seen stud book entries from 1950 that shows the Bull Terrier being bred into the Boerboel.  The Terrier type has thinner legs and is shorter in back length.  Can be hyper-active and more prey-driven than most other Boerboels.  They have tight feet and the musculature can appear more prominent because of the smaller bone, shorter coat and tighter fitting skin.  The head is usually clean of wrinkles, they have scissor bite and good teeth, and they are usually long lived.  Examples that have been used a lot are Ysterberg Storm and Mouzer Adolf/Adolph.

Ysterberg Storm

• Mouzer Adolph

Mastiff Type

• The last type is the Mastiff type Boerboel.  These dogs have thick legs, broad muzzles, usually an excess of lip and wrinkle.  The head is large and usually equal to the height of the dog at the shoulder or a little more.  They are quite heavy dogs; the Mastiff type has thicker skin.  It is tall and flat sided and usually doesn’t live as long as the other body types.  Modern examples are Dandaloo Mack (RIP) and Ysterberg Troffel.

• Dandaloo Mack

  Dandaloo Mack. Pic in centre shows him at 7 weeks

Ysterberg Troffel

Ysterberg Troffel

Ysterberg Troffel

These are all extremes that have been talked about; most dogs are a combination of the types, just as human bodies are a mix of Endomorphic, Mesomorphic and Ectomorphic body types.

If we keep moving towards unifying the Boerboel’s body type and conformation, which of the extremes of variation do you think we should cull?  By limiting the diversity within the breed we lessen its appeal and its range of functions in the community.  How in the future do you increase volume in your dogs if nobody has the Bulldog Boerboel type anymore? And if you only have the Bulldog type Boerboel how do you straighten your fronts and get rear angulation without Terrier or Hound type?  Where will you bone and muzzle thickness come from without the Mastiff type?  The farmer who wants a dog that can cover ground has no need for a big 80kg bucket head; he needs a Terrier or a Hound type.  Every type has its place and they are all of equal importance, sometimes I breed combinations that will produce large Mastiff Bulldog type Boerboels, the males are prized for their imposing structures and are bred on with, the bitches can sometimes be too masculine and are often poor mothers.  I also breed Terrier/Hound type combinations, the females are great athletes and have good construction, and both the males and females have drive and are good for working pursuits as long as they don’t get too much over 55kgs.

The source for the above text (not photos) is http://www.boerboelaustralia.com. For a complete list of my Boerboel posts, click here

Talking about black Boerboels (BBBs) is like bringing up the subject of  last wills and testaments, abortion or religion round the table at Sunday lunchtime. Always ends in a fight. Very controversial. Can split families forevermore.

I’m South African. Know Boerboels well and have done all my life. Never seen a black one. Or an old photo of a black one. Ever. So nope, I don’t think they ever existed. Just my opinion.

I am not into the high prices charged for them because they are ‘rare’. I don’t agree with the ‘they blend into the background and you can’t see them’ school of thought. Put a black one in the veld in the middle of winter and it will stick out like a sore thumb day and night.

But, there is no denying that some of them are stunningly beautiful dogs (to me they are not Boerboels though, sorry). And they have many fans all over the world.

This site I like for the beautiful photographs - their dogs are stunning. Note that they do breed black hybrids so check on the page to see if you were looking at a pure ‘Black Boerboel’ or not. All the dogs on this site are magnificent.

I love black dogs and have a special fondness for Rottweiler-Doberman crosses because my family has had 6 generations of them – all called BlackJack. Lots of people like ‘Black Boelies’ because they like black dogs. In many countries people are terrified of black dogs because of local superstition, which is why many people get black dogs as guard dogs. Unfortunately many people also get rid of black dogs, which means shelters are overflowing with them. If you do get a ‘Black BB’, make sure it’s for life.

For a complete index of my Boerboel posts, click here

Mighty Bonzo

This is a question that comes up fairly often. And worryingly, it often comes up AFTER someone has bought one.

The trend for people to buy large ‘kickass’ dogs to parade around the streets in order to look tough worries me. It actually got so bad in an area near me that the municipality began offering dog training classes for people who were unable to control their dogs. There was one guy who was terrified of his Rottweiler and I saw him once being dragged across the football pitch during one of these lessons.

And all dogs have the possibility to hurt someone. Admittedly Chihuahua less than a Doberman. Never leave any dog alone with babies or small children – ever.  There is no getting away from the fact that Boerboels are large muscular dogs (extremely large and muscular in some cases) and  were bred to guard and protect. They are not lapdogs. They are not a mass-market breed. Because of their working origins, any unstable or aggressive specimens were euthanized immediately so the breed tends to be stable and non-aggressive as a whole but bad breeders and inexperienced owners wanting a ‘trendy’ dog have caused problems though and these problems tend to be perpetuated with time. More and more Boerboels are being sold but more and more are ending up in shelters because they are badly bred and bought by people who do not understand the breed. This is not a breed for an inexperienced owner with an unsuitable home. Or for unscrupulous breeders out to make a buck either.

The Boerboel is a dominant but intelligent breed, with a strong watchdog instinct. The Boerboel should be self-assured and fearless, but responsive to the needs of the family. For the most part, responsibly bred, well socialized Boerboels are even tempered and aim to please their family. Any person interested in making a Boerboel part of their family should be prepared to spend much of the first year training the animal. Obediance classes with a reputable local trainer can greatly reduce the chances of a dog bite in the future. Even so, the Boerboel should never be left unsupervised with young children they don’t know well or strangers. It is a very rare circumstance that a Boerboel will bite a person, and it should be said that when this (or any large breed) dog attacks, it can easily tear through muscle, tendons and, in some cases, bone. To avoid aggression, the Boerboel should be socialized with many people, children, friends,extended family members and other dogs as a young puppy, as well as throughout their lives. Only dogs of the correct temperament should be selected for breeding and should be temperament tested prior to breeding. These dogs thrive on love and attention and need companionship from their owners. As with many working breeds, they should not be left alone regularly for extended periods as they can become destructive without the opportunity to fulfill a well defined role.

You should choose a reputable breeder who checks the home the pup is going to. Anybody breeding and selling any large powerful dogs should ensure they are going to the right homes. The responsibility for the dog lies with the person who bred it.Boerboels are only recently exported and are still very close to their working origins. They do not tend to make good family pets or dogs for first time owners.  There is still very high same-gender dog aggression and responsible breeders are more careful who they sell to. Your dog needs to be properly socialised and well exercised.

A Boerboel can weigh over 200 lbs and have biting power of over 700lbs per square inch so under the right (or wrong) circumstances that is a really dangerous dog. The question is if you want that on your side or against you.

Here is an excerpt from another article on my site

TEMPERAMENT: 

Due to discrepancies in breeding practices, Boerboels are somewhat variable in temperament, with certain lines being considerably more aggressive than others.  However, carefully bred Boerboels usually have fairly predictable temperaments.  This breed is known for the intense bonds that it forms with its entire family, whom it cares for greatly.  Boerboels were greatly valued by early settlers for their intense loyalty and devotion.  Some Boerboels are openly affectionate and come to think that they are lap dogs, while others are considerably more restrained.  Almost all of these dogs want to be in the constant presence of their owner, and this breed can suffer from severe separation anxiety and boredom if left alone for long periods on a regular basis.  The Boerboel tends to be very dominant, even with those it knows best, and this breed is definitely not recommended for a novice dog owner.

 Most breed members are very good with children that they know well.  This breed is willing to put up with a great amount of rough play, and can handle a fair amount of a child’s well-meaning “abuse.”  As is the case with any dog, a Boerboel that has not been exposed to children may have an unpredictable reaction to them.

 Boerboels have a very strong protective instinct, and in fact are considered among the most protective of all dogs.  With proper training and socialization, most Boerboels become discerning and accepting of strangers, although most always remain reserved and politely aloof.  Socialization is extremely important to these dogs as without it they may become aggressive, though overly protective is probably a better description with regards to this breed.  Owners must be aware that the severity of even the mildest human aggression is greatly magnified by the massive size and power of this dog.  Although relatively slow to make friends, most Boerboels will eventually form bonds with new people such as roommates or spouses.

 Not only protective but also highly alert, Boerboels make excellent watch dogs that can frighten almost all wrongdoers with one booming bark.  This breed is also generally regarded as one of the world’s top guard dogs.  Highly protective and territorial, the vast majority of breed members will not let any intruder enter their territory unchallenged, unless that person is very well-known to them.  Although the breed prefers to use intimidation, they are willing to resort to violence if they feel it is required, and this dog is capable of catching and bringing down virtually any target with little to no effort.  Although highly skilled as a property guardian, the Boerboel most excels at personal protection.  Boerboels will absolutely not allow any physical harm to come to a family member or close friend, and this breed will unflinchingly face down any man or beast to protect its loved ones, unhesitatingly sacrificing its own life if need be.

Bred as working farm dogs for centuries, this breed generally get along well with non-canine animals.  When socialized and trained, most of these dogs live in peace with cats, sheep, horses, and other creatures, and often become strongly protective of them.  As is the case with any dog, a Boerboel is likely to pursue and potentially attack species with which it is not familiar, which can be very problematic given its size and power.  A very large number of Boerboels do have significant issues with other dogs.  Boerboel puppies tend to be very adaptable and usually fit in very well with any pack structure that they are raised in, but adult Boerboels are much less agreeable.  Boerboels exhibit strong levels of many forms of dogs aggression including territorial and possessiveness, but many have severe issues with same-sex and dominance aggression.  Few Boerboels are willing to tolerate any other dog taking a position of dominance over them, and most are unwilling to back down.  Most Boerboels do best in a home with either no other dogs or a single member of the opposite sex, and it is probably inadvisable to take one of these dogs to the dog park.  Owners must keep their dogs under control at all times, because a Boerboel is capable of seriously injuring or killing virtually any other dog with ease.

Regarded as being extremely intelligent, Boerboels are considered among the most trainable of all Molossers.  Owners willing to take the time to work with these dogs find that they are extraordinarily capable, and excel at a variety of tasks such as agility and especially Schutzhund.  This dog is also regarded as among the most obedient Molossers when trained by an experienced handler.  However, this is far from the easiest breed to train.  Boerboels are extremely dominant, and will absolutely not follow anyone whom they do not consider a true leader.  Owners who do not maintain a constant position of dominance are likely to lose control very quickly and can end up with an absolute canine monster.  Even the most successfully dominant owners will find that a Boerboel is intelligent enough to figure out exactly what it can and cannot get away with, and will life its life by those rules.  Additionally, this breed definitely has a strongly stubborn streak, and often is resistant to some forms of training, particularly if there is something else capturing the dog’s attention.  Most fanciers believe that Boerboel puppies train much, much easier than adults, making an early start important.

Extremely athletic and active dogs, this breed requires a substantial amount of exercise.  A Boerboel will not be satisfied with a daily walk, unless it is very long and extremely vigorous.  These dogs need an opportunity to run on a regular basis, either on a leash or preferably in a large, safely enclosed area.  Most of these dogs are also extremely playful, and love to play fetch for long periods.  A driven worker, the Boerboel does best when provided with complicated jobs that exercise his intelligent and active mind such as running through an agility course or going through obedience training.  It is absolutely imperative that Boerboel owners provide their dogs with an appropriate outlet for their energy, or this breed will find one on its own, one that will probably be anything but appropriate.  Bored and restless Boerboels are likely to become destructive (a major problem as possibly no dog has the destructive capacity of this breed), hyperactive, overly excitable, excessively vocal, and potentially even aggressive

These beauties belong to my cousin Mandy Newman-Wakeham. She has a house full of Boerboels and often has lots of puppies as well. Doesn’t that sound like heaven? She also loves her furry family with her whole heart and if you were going to get a puppy, wouldn’t you want it to come from a home like that?

Below are some of Mandy’s dogs. The only one which is not hers is the puppy with the white feet in two of the photographs. For a complete index of all my Boerboel posts, click here

1. What is a Boerboel?
2. Can same sex Boerboels live together?
3. Are Boerboels Dangerous?
4. What did the original Boerboel look like?

For a complete index of all my Boerboel posts, click here

The photos below belong to Coomore Boerboels - visit this site – they have great dogs and the photos are stunning! I have put an extract from the site below:

Nura (f) at 10 weeks old

Zarak (m) at 10 weeks old

Zarak (m) at 10 weeks old

Nura (f) at 10 weeks old

Zarak (m) at 10 weeks old

Nura (m) at 10 weeks old

This is a brother to Crespo, who features in several other articles on my blog. For an index of all my Boerboel posts, click here

Crespo at 6 months

It is going to be a pleasure to write this article about Veiligplek Crespo – a beautiful beautiful Boerboel owned by Dimitris Efthimiou of Boerboel Greece. Crespo is out of Middelpos Oenno and Afrika Bella. He is brother to Cay-Cay and Cuba. He was born on 7th September 2012 in Portugal, and is developing into an absolute stunner. He is out of a very good combo but even taking that into consideration, he is exceptionally beautiful. Crespo means ‘harsh’ or ‘rough’ in Portuguese.

A Beautiful Puppy

Thin after his long journey home

A ‘Lion Dog’ 

My grandpa Luke (‘Pop’) used to tell me bedtime stories about how Boerboels were called ‘Lion Dogs’ – not only because they were able to take down a lion, but also because they were originally believed to have been bred from lions crossed with the big Bullenbijter dogs brought from Europe by the Dutch settlers. Crespo has the lean but muscular body of the dogs I knew growing up – with the strength and speed to work on the farm.

Crespo makes you realise why they were called Lion Dogs and is the living embodiment of what my grandpa spent all those years telling me about. I do believe I fell in love with him at first sight! Having grown up in South Africa with docked tailed BBs, it still takes a bit of getting used to seeing a Boerboel with a long tail, but this lion dog looks perfect perfect perfect with his lion tail! The Boerboel comes in many different shapes and sizes – but this dog seems to put a face to the pictures I have had in my head since I was little.

This dog is absolutely magnificent at such a young age – he is not yet 9 months old. Apparently he has a wonderful temperament and good guarding instincts. I can’t wait to see how he is in a year or two! Thank you Dimitris for letting me share your beautiful dog on my blog and I can’t wait to see what his puppies look like!

All these photographs were taken by Yvonne du Randt of Linga-Longa Boerboels. These were part of a feature I did on Yvonne’s dogs but I thought I would gather the cutest ones together – isn’t she a talented photographer? Yvonne is the owner of all these photographs. For an index of all my Boerboel posts, click here

I love Tank. He is a beautiful dog but  in addition to that his wonderful personality seems to shine through in photographs, which doesn’t always happen with animals.

Tank is owned by Yvonne du Randt of Linga-Longa Boerboels. Yvonne breeds gorgeous Boerboels and her love for the breed comes through in every one of her always excellent, sometimes funny photographs and the way she talks about her dogs. I have written about Yvonne’s dogs twice before (here and here) and someone who read one of my articles on her wrote to me that Yvonne not only has lovely dogs and is a super person but that she has also done great things for the breed and is an excellent ambassador for South Africa and this very South African breed. In these days of popularity for the breed, that is unfortunately not something you can say about everyone who breeds them. So we are all lucky that there are Yvonnes in the Boerboel world.

Tank is 9 years old and, in the words of his owner:

In 2011 Tank was Senior Champ and Grand Champ at our regional, and all his offspring were placed, BUT the most important character of Tank is his temperament, and he passes it on through all his offspring.

Tank really has the most wonderful temperament. Everyone is his friend – he loves to be loved and is such a gentleman with the ladies  All my puppies were raised by him, all the preggie ladies stay with him. I have photos with male dogs and preggie dogs…all squeezing in to sleep with him in his kennel!! And he loves people….oh my word…he loves the world he lives in! 

It’s hard not to fall in love with a dog who loves the world he lives in and whose owner loves him so. Thank you Yvonne for letting me write the story of your beautiful boy and share it with my readers.

For a complete index of my Boerboel posts, click here

85kg and enormous with a beautiful thick neck.

At SABT first show in Natal. 2nd place in Male category, Reserve Champion and Reserve Grand Champion
22/09/07

You can see why this beauty is called Tank!

With Dean at 2 years 3 months.

A little greyer now but it makes him look like the George Clooney of the Boerboel world. Who didn’t love a man with a few grey streaks!

What a beauty!

Updates on two articles I wrote previously – one is about Cadence, the badly injured dog used as bait in dog-fighting who was rescued by Eldad Hagar. Her Youtube video (featured in the link below) has been shared well over 1 million times. Click for Cadence story

Update: here is Cadence IN HER NEW HOME! Yep, she was adopted

The second update is about Shango, the Boerboel who was so good with cats. Click for story here

Shango sadly had to be put to sleep yesterday. He was only two years old but had an inoperable mass in his chest and lymphoma. He was a wonderful dog – a real gentle giant.

As a pup. Look at that mask

His owner Jen was with him as he departed for The Rainbow Bridge. As soul-destroying as it is, the precious gift of a peaceful and dignified end is probably the most unselfish and loving thing we can do for our pets pets.

He was loved and spoiled on his last day

As you can see from the photo, he was not alone as he left. Those huge feet left pawprints in my heart which will be there forever.

I have written about my cousin Mandy’s Boerboels before. Above is Rosie with Zinzan as a puppy.

Yesterday Rosie had 10 pups of which 9 survived. Don’t they look gorgeous! Look at the size of Rosie’s back paw compared to the pup’s back paw which is resting on top of it!

This is the body of a working dog! This dog is something that comes around once in a lifetime – if you are lucky.

Veiligplek Crespo is out of Middelpos Oenno and Afrika Bella, and is owned by Dimitris Efthimiou of Boerboel Greece. He is brother to Cay-Cay and Cuba and was born on 7th August 2012 in Portugal.

I first posted about Blygedacht Boerboele‘s Crazy Wolf when he was 15 weeks old.

At 15 weeks old – look at those feet! Never seen such huge feet and thick legs on a Boerboel puppy this age! Here he is with his owner, the WONDERFUL Miriam Koopen.

Here he is at 10.5 months old – isn’t he beautiful?

All the promise he showed in that first picture is 100% evident in this photograph.

Wolf’s mother is Pancer Tabitha (Piet zyn Drift Ullie x GrootGeluk Catherina) and his father is Middelpos Zoro (Welbekend Kojack x Nostras Oxo).

What a dog!

Look at those sturdy legs!

Middelpos Zoro x Pancer Tabitha
A hips and 0/0 ellbows
www.blygedacht-boerboele.eu

I fell in love with Wolf when he was fifteen weeks old. I had never ever seen a Boerboel with such big feet and heavy bone structure. Even at that age there was something really special about him. I have written about him many times – see my other posts here

As he has grown up he has really grown into all that promise he showed so young. He is big, but in proportion, and has beautiful lines and colouring. He is not overly big either – as many Boerboels are these days. Miriam Koopen has a fantastic dog in her ‘stable’ with this beautiful boy.

I grew up with docked tails in South Africa so it is often strange to see Boerboels with long tails, even though I am against tail-docking. Wolf though, has the most perfect tail I have ever seen. It is gorgeous!

Here he is at just under four months. Look at that smile! And those feet!

And here he is at one year. Words are unnecessary to describe this gorgeous creature. Find contact details for Blygedacht in the link above. Miriam is a very special person and has met all the great Boerboels in South African history – greats such as the legendary Avalonia Waldor (my favorite Boerboel ever. What a dog!), Nostros Tyson, Cabaret Kleinbuks, Cabaret Straatkat, and Ysterberg Troffel. She loves dogs and you can always see that they love her.

The last I heard, Wolf will be at appraisal in the Netherlands on the 4th May 2014. For more details, contact Miriam at the website above.

So, here is Crazy Wolf at 1 year:

The now-9 week old Whosa King Arthur is out of GrootGeluk Femoes and Pancer Tabitha (Wolf’s mother)

This gorgeous pup has an impressive Impressive pedigree with Avontuur Anton on both sides, Piet zyn Drift Ulli, GrootGeluk Catherina, GrootGeluk Czapei, Altyd Nandi, Ysterberg Tosca, Welbekend Tyson, Corma Buks, Ysterberg Troffel, Vanderbijl Bullet, Nostras Zulu..

Isn’t this an absolutely gorgeous pup?

Wolf and King Arthur’s mother Pancer Tabitha @ 16 months (Piet zyn Drift Ullie x GrootGeluk Catherina)

King Arthur’s father, Groot Geluk Femoes (Father: GrootGeluk Czapei (Avontuur Anton x Blokkie Raisa) Mother: Altyd Nandi (Welbekend Tyson x Ysterberg Tosca)

So many people are ‘into’ Boerboels now just because they are trendy. And in many ways, this is not good for the breed. But Miriam Koopen of Blygedacht Boerboels, has known first-hand the Boerboel greats and the heritage of the breed, and her Boerboels are wonderful. Just looking at her photographs of her carefully bred dogs running free makes my heart sing. When you see photos of the great Boerboels interacting with Miriam you can see how they took to her immediately because they knew she understood them. Miriam has the most amazing photographs of Boerboels from ‘way back when’. As a South African who grew up with Boerboels before they were even a breed, I am truly grateful for people like these who are taking us into the next stage and are ambassadors and guardians for these wonderful dogs.

I think it is obvious from the number of articles I have written about him, how much I love Veiligplek Crespo. He is probably my most favorite Boerboel of all time, very very closely followed by Wolf. I am not sure why I love him so very much but I can name some of the reasons.

• he is very much like the old style Boerboels I grew up with. He is muscular without a huge head and heavy mask
• he looks like and is very much a working dog
• he has a lovely temperament
• he reminds me of the stories my grandad used to tell me about Lion Dogs (as Boerboels were called a long time ago) when I was little. Dogs that were bred from lions and able to take down lions to protect the farm and the family.

Anyway, Crespo has now become a father. The pups are now 2.5 months old and so many of them show his family genes. My very favorite is a little girl with eyes and tiny hint of a mask that look just like Crespo. I thought she looked like a Crespolina and so that is the name with which she has now been registered by Dimitris of Boerboels Greece. I am her godmother and I gave her her name! Isn’t that the most amazing thing? Dimitris is not keeping her but I hope that I can see photos of her as she grows because she is a gorgeous little lady.

Dimitris is keeping Siruis Roxy who looks even more like Crespo – what a beautiful girl. He has also kindly sent me photos of his other pups so that I can show my readers who love Crespo almost as much as I do! Dimitris is very kind and generous and always answers all questions on his Facebook page and always replies if someone comments on his photos, and thanks them.

Veiligplek Crespo (out of Middelpos Oenno and Afrika Bella), is owned by Dimitris Efthimiou of Boerboels Greece.  He is brother to Cay-Cay and Cuba and was born on 7th August 2012 in Portugal. The mother of the pups is Zazu Rosa (out of Middelpos Simson and Zazu Maggie). Zazu Rosa was born on 30th March 2012 and is also stunning. The pairing of Crespo and Rosa was inspired I think as they are a really good match. The puppies were born on the 12th May 2014.

And now for the gorgeousness!

Veiligplek Crespo

Zazu Rosa

Sirius Crespolina

Sirius Roxy

And last but not least – some more:

Starting out at one day old!

Sirius Leon

Sirius Leon

Sirius Diaz

Here is Wolf’s half brother when I first saw him – at 9 weeks. Say hello to Whosa King Arthur out of GrootGeluk Femoes and Pancer Tabitha (Wolf’s mother)

and here he is, to the left at 16 weeks and 33kg. To the right is his half-brother Crazy Wolf at the same age! Epic paws run in the family!

Both are owned by the most wonderful and amazing Miriam Koopen of Blygedacht Boerboels

Veiligplek Crespo (out of Middelpos Oenno and Afrika Bella), is owned by Dimitris Efthimiou of Boerboels Greece. He is brother to Cay-Cay and Cuba and was born on 7th August 2012 in Portugal. He is father to Roxy, whose mother is Zazu Rosa (out of Middelpos Simson and Zazu Maggie).  Zazu Rosa was born on 30th March 2012 and is also stunning. Roxy was born on the 12th May 2014.

Crespo’s daughter, Sirius Roxy

Veiligplek Crespo at 2 years old

Crespo

Father and daughter

Crespo

Crespo’s daughter, Sirius Roxy at 5 months

Crespo

Roxy

Veiligplek Crespo and Sirius Roxy

Crespo playing with his daughter Roxy

Roxy

Crespo

Crespo

Crespo

These pictures show them both from the side.

You can see that they show the variation in the breed. There are usually four types of Boerboel in terms of body type – Mastiff, Bulldog, Terrier and Hound. They are all Boerboels but can be bred from one end of the spectrum to the other. Some of the huge mastodon Boerboels are too big and heavy to work all day so the ones that are closer to the original working farm breed tend to be somewhat lighter and more muscular with smaller heads and less jowl.

Here are my two favorites – to me they encapsulate what the breed is about. Top photo is Crazy Wolf (to the left), owned by Miriam Koopen of Blygedacht Boerboele. He was appraised second in the Netherlands and is just under two years old. The bottom photo is Veiligplek Crespo owned by Dimitris Efthimiou of Boerboels Greece and he is just two years old. You can see that these are dogs born and bred to work and move. When Crespo runs you can hear his feet on the ground like a horse. Beautiful!