13/09/2025
My story... if you read it all, you deserve a medal!
Ever since I can remember, I’ve been drawn to the canine world. I grew up in a family that was somewhat dysfunctional, and this led me to develop a deep love and appreciation for the unique bond that dogs offered me. As a child, I would often stop strangers walking their dogs just to ask if I could pat them. Something inside me shifted every time I connected with a dog, and that feeling sparked my lifelong passion for canines.
When I lived in Noble Park, a few doors down from me was a police officer who owned a German Shepherd. Back then, fences were made of spaced wooden slats, so you could reach through. I often sat by that fence, patting and bonding with the Shepherd, not realizing at the time that he was a retired police dog. He was calm, mature, and wise in a way that dogs can be. He seemed to understand I was a child, and he responded to the respect and love I showed him.
As I grew older, I had many dogs— a Bullmastiff cross Labrador, a Labrador cross Pointer, a Pit Bull cross Staffordshire Terrier, and eventually American Bulldogs. I was especially fascinated by the American Bulldog after seeing PDJ Maximus in the flesh, a son of the famous Hammbone line. They struck me as powerful yet good-natured, carrying a balance between guarding instinct and calmness.
I’ll never forget my two American Bulldogs, Armour and Covo. Once, when Covo barked at my nephew, Armour suddenly turned on him, biting as if to correct him— almost as if to say, “This is family.” Witnessing that protective, almost moral behavior deepened my fascination with the canine mind.
By then, I was completely obsessed with dogs. I’ve always been a philosophical type, preferring the company of dogs over people. Dogs are never judgmental, always genuine, and always glad to see you. Unlike human society, they don’t care for status or fame. I was a quiet child, and dogs became my world.
Naturally, my obsession led me to study every breed in detail. Just as some people become experts on cars and eventually decide which model they consider superior, I reached the same conclusion with dogs. For me, the breed that represented the pinnacle of canine excellence— in structure, mentality, type, and temperament— was the Boerboel.
I first discovered the Boerboel in 2004, when I came across an ad in Trading Post. At first, I thought, “That’s an interesting-looking Mastiff, I’ve never seen bone that thick before.” The seller wanted $3–4k for a pup, which I thought was outrageous at the time. But in 2007, I finally bought my first Boerboel from none other than Craig Bloom. He bred his top female, Ataraxia Nugget, with Mouzer Yesterberg Adolf, and from that pairing came my boy, Tbone. He was an absolute beauty— a dog I wish I had kept semen from, as I still regret not preserving his line.
What made me stop at the Boerboel was simple: their balance. From the very start, Boerboels impressed me with instincts I hadn’t seen in any other breed. Even as pups, they naturally follow their owner off-lead and position themselves between you and a perceived threat. Their bone structure is unmatched, their mentality endlessly fascinating, and their personalities full of life yet grounded with street smarts.
They are protective but deeply affectionate, agile yet powerfully built— the perfect combination of strength, devotion, and intelligence. While I admired the athleticism of breeds like the Dogo Argentino or Kangal, I never connected with them. The Boerboel, however, offered something different: a human-like bond, a deep loyalty, and an emotional connection that is hard to describe until you’ve experienced it.
Once my heart settled on the Boerboel, it became only natural to want to give back and contribute to their legacy. For this, I thank the SABT and its founders for preserving and promoting such a magnificent breed— one that has brought healing, joy, and meaning to so many lives, including mine.
To me, the Boerboel is the true embodiment of man’s best friend. My hope and prayer is that the Boerboel’s legacy continues to grow stronger, so that more people can experience the profound bond and companionship they bring to humanity.
That's me when I was 18 I think with a daughter of Sandahaar Bronson! Much older now!
