British Boerboel Assiciation

29/08/2020

24/08/2020

Rebel.

23/08/2020

Firecracker

22/08/2020

Explaining how joints mature at different stages.

Growth rates in puppies varies greatly depending on their size. It is important to tailor diet and exercise to your puppies specific requirements to ensure ideal skeletal development. Endochondral ossification (the process during which cartilage turns to bone) differs depending on the adult size of your puppy, with growth plates closing (complete ossification has occurred) between 3 months in toy breeds and 24 months in large breeds (see pictures).
There are many factors affecting growth rate and age of maturity, for instance males mature slower than females. There are variations in periods of ‘rapid growth’ ranging from from birth to 11 weeks in small and toy breed dogs to birth to 20 weeks in large breeds (Hawthorne et al 2004) excessive exercise and inadequate nutrition during these periods may result in conformation abnormalities and malformation of bones, which may lead to osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease.
Recommended exercise levels for puppies is 1 minute for every week of their life, twice a day. This should be low impact at a steady pace.
If you are aiming to train to compete for flyball or agility it is recommended that any jump training is avoided until complete ossification has occurred.

(source credit: Catherine Marshall Veterinary Physiotherapis - November 26, 2019)

21/08/2020

Some tuff females

19/08/2020

When Boerboels meet a burglar

19/08/2020

At first glance, you might think the large, intimidating Boerboel would make an excellent guard dog, and you’d be correct. However, this breed is equally known for being loving, calm, and family-friendly, especially towards human children.

These gigantic protectors were bred to help farmers in South Africa defend their homesteads from hyenas, lions, and all manner of deadly wildlife while also providing invaluable companionship. The Boerboel, pronounced “boo-r-bull,” gets its name from Dutch/Afrikaans words that roughly translate to “farmer’s dog.” It is also known as the South African Mastiff, South African Boerboel, Borbull, or Bole.

Although Boerboels are generally docile, easy to groom, and have few health problems, don’t make the mistake of thinking they’re an easy breed to handle for first time owners. These dogs are confident, territorial, and prone to pulling and chewing. They need an assertive, experienced owner with plenty of space for a massive dog that needs to exercise.

If you’re interested in adopting a Boerboel, then make sure you and your home are ready for the challenge. If you are, you’ll be rewarded with a loyal, protective friend for life.

We welcome all to the British Boerboel Association to strive together to protect, promote and nurture these magnificent and majestic dogs.

17/08/2020

The Boerboel Mastiff has an interesting history as they were bred in South Africa by Dutch settlers in the 1600s.

Their name comes from the Afrikaans/Dutch words ‘Boer,’ which translates as ‘farmer’ and ‘boel,’ which translates as ‘dog’. This gives an indication of their original use as working dogs on homesteads and farms.

They made great guard dogs and would often be used to hunt wildlife such as hyenas, leopards, and baboons.

Bulldogs and Mastiffs were introduced and often crossbred with the Boerboel. During the 1800s, crossbreeding was common, and people disregarded breed purity for a long time.

However, since the 1980s, breed enthusiasts set about ensuring there was a purebred Boerboel dog again, and they have grown in popularity not just in South Africa but across the world.
If you want a dog that comes with a fantastic personality, then you are onto a winner with this one.
The Boerboel temperament is calm and affectionate and will remain loyal to the family pack in every situation.
When it comes to strangers, your dog will often respond with shyness and even wariness, alerting your to their discomfort so that you can reassure them.
If you take the time to build up new relationships and have worked to socialize your pet from a young age, then you can be certain that they will overcome their shyness in time and build new, successful relationships with people.
As long as the dog is socialized appropriately from a young age, this breed will happily get on well with other dogs.
They will be fine to meet other dogs when out and about and will also be happy living in a household with other dogs and other types of animals.
If not socialized well from a young age, the dog may feel the need to exert its dominance and exhibit more aggressive behavior towards other dogs that it meets.
The Boerboel temperament means that this breed is fantastic to be around children. They are well known for being loyal and affectionate towards their human family, and they are natural protectors of the children within the family.
There is one issue when it comes to the Boerboel Mastiff and children, and that is the size of the dog. They are certainly not aggressive towards children and actually enjoy playing with children and looking after them.
However, for households with toddlers or small children, it may be better to wait a few years until they have grown up a bit.
The size of the dog means that small children could get knocked over easily, and this could scare them. The dog may also become overprotective of small children which can be an issue when people visit as the dog tries to protect the child from others.
Boerboel dogs are generally regarded as a healthy breed of dog that has few known hereditary conditions. This is good news for anyone looking for a sturdy, working dog that won’t cost much in insurance or vets bills.

We welcome all to the British Boerboel Association to help protect and promote these magnificent dogs.

17/08/2020

Check out our group with the visit group button

17/08/2020

This is one of our members dog's, guess her name, is it:

A). Bella

B). Phoebe

C). Spud