boerboel
{{short description|Dog breed}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox dog breed
| name = Boerboel
| image = Boerboel fawn border.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| image2 =
| image_alt2 =
| image_caption2 =
| altname = South African Mastiff{{r|studdert}}
| stock = mastiffs, bulldogs, Boer Dog
| country = South Africa
| weight = {{right|{{convert|68-91|kg|abbr=on|-1}}{{cite web | url=https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/boerboel/ | title=Boerboel Dog Breed Information |website=American Kennel Club }}}}
| height = {{right|{{convert|61-69|cm|abbr=on}}}}
| maleheight = {{right|{{ubl|ideal {{cvt|66|cm|in}}|minimum {{cvt|60|cm|in}}}}}}
| femaleheight = {{right|{{ubl|ideal {{cvt|61|cm|in}}|minimum {{cvt|55|cm|in}}}}}}
| coat = short, smooth
| colour = any shade of red, brown, yellow (fawn), brindle; also black (SABBS only)
| litter_size =
| life_span =
| kc_name = Kennel Union of Southern Africa
| kc_std = https://www.kusa.co.za/index.php/documents/breed-standards/working-group/192-boerboel
| kc2_name = South African Boerboel Breeders' Society
| kc2_std = https://sabbs.org/the-boerboel/breed-standard
| fcistd =
| note = not recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale
}}
The Boerboel ({{IPA|af|ˈbuːrbul|pron}}) is a South African breed of large dog of mastiff type, used as a family guard dog. It is large, with a short coat, strong bone structure and well-developed muscles.
It is recognised by the Kennel Union of Southern Africa, but not by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.{{r|kusa|fci}}
Legislation
In South Africa, the Animal Improvement Act (62 of 1998) defines a breed of animal indigenous to or developed in the republic to be a landrace,[https://www.gov.za/documents/animal-improvement-act Animal Improvement Act] Government of South Africa 1998 therefore the Boerboel is regarded as a landrace in the republic.{{Cite web|url=https://sabbs.org/|title=SABBS - Home|website=sabbs.org|access-date=26 November 2019|archive-date=6 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406110927/http://sabbs.org/|url-status=dead}} The Act grants powers to a registered "animal breeders society", and the South African Boerboel Breeders' Society (SABBS) is a registered animal breeders society.[https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201411/38188gen980.pdf REGISTRATION OF ANIMAL BREEDERS' SOCIETY] The SABBS is the only organisation authorised under the Act to officially register Boerboels. As legally registered custodian of the Boerboel dog breed, SABBS is responsible for the standards that govern identification, recording, evaluation and improvement of the breed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kusa.co.za/images/Gallery/MARCH%20NL%20CBC%20for%20pdf%202.pdf|title=A brief history of the Boerboel in Southern Africa - KUSA}} The Kennel Union of Southern Africa recognises that Boerboels were registered on its books.
History
The name Boerboel derives from the Afrikaans words {{lang|af|boer}}, meaning farmer, and {{lang|af|boel}}, a shortening of {{lang|af|boelhond}}, meaning bulldog.
The Boerboel descends from an old colonial cross-breed of mastiffs and bulldogs used both as a guard dog on remote farms and estates and for big game hunting, and known as the Boer Dog{{r|Morris|p=618}} or Boer Hunting Dog. An account from 1909 describes this cross-breed as the best dog for hunting leopards and baboons in packs; a leopard with a leg caught in a trap can be killed by a pack of them.{{r|BHJ1909|p=186}} The Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa describes the Boer Mastiff as an excellent fighter; one killed leopards in four single combats over a number of years, but was killed by a fifth.
Breeding of the Boerboel began in the 1950s. A breed association, the Suid-Afrikaanse Boerboel Telersvereniging or South African Boerboel Breeders Association, was established in 1983.{{r|kusa2}} A new association, the South African Boerboel Breeders' Society, was formed in 2012 and registered with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 2014.{{r|kusa2|gazette}}
Characteristics
The Boerboel is a large dog, with a strong bone structure and well-developed muscles. The head is large and the muzzle is short.{{citation|title=Boerboel breed standard|url=https://www.kusa.co.za/index.php/documents/breed-standards/working-group/192-boerboel|publisher=Kennel Union of South Africa|access-date=15 October 2020|archive-date=17 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017150245/https://www.kusa.co.za/index.php/documents/breed-standards/working-group/192-boerboel|url-status=dead}}{{r|studdert}}
The coat is short and sleek with dense hair coverage. The recognised colours are brindle, fawn, and brown; it may or may not have a black mask. There is one minor divergence between breed standards; the Kennel Union of South Africa does not accept black but SABBS does.{{Cite web|url=https://sabbs.org/the-boerboel/breed-standard|title=SABBS - Breed Standard|website=sabbs.org}}
The dogs show courage when threatened; they may display aggression toward other dogs or strangers.{{Cite web|url=http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/Boerboel.pdf?_ga=1.128215876.99878739.1459475988|title=Breed standard}}
Health
The Boerboel may develop hip{{cite web |url=http://www.sabt.co.za/press/20070604_HD_grading.pdf |title=New Hip Dysplasia Grading System sabt.co.za 3 June 2007 |access-date=2012-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001035223/http://www.sabt.co.za/press/20070604_HD_grading.pdf |archive-date=1 October 2011 |url-status=dead }} or elbow dysplasia, vaginal hyperplasia,{{cite web |url=http://www.sabt.co.za/press/20070712_VHE.pdf |title=Vaginal hyperplasia sabt.co.za 12 July 2007 |access-date=2012-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001035251/http://www.sabt.co.za/press/20070712_VHE.pdf |archive-date=1 October 2011 |url-status=dead }} ectropion and entropion.{{citation |title=Breed description |url=http://www.ukbc.co.uk/breeddescription.html |publisher=UK Boerboel Club |access-date=6 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417205938/http://www.ukbc.co.uk/breeddescription.html |archive-date=17 April 2012 |url-status=dead}} Juvenile epilepsy (with attacks brought on by metabolic changes or stress) has been observed.{{cite journal |last1=Stassen |first1=Quirine E. M. |last2=Grinwis |first2=Guy C. M. |last3=van Rhijn |first3=Nieke C. |last4=Beukers |first4=Martjin |last5=Verhoeven-Duif |first5=Nanda M. |last6=Leegwater |first6=Peter A. J. |title=Focal epilepsy with fear-related behavior as primary presentation in Boerboel dogs |journal=Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine |date=2019 |volume=33 |issue=2 |pages=694–700 |doi=10.1111/jvim.15346 |pmid=30580458 |pmc=6430876 }}
Restrictions
Ownership of the dog is limited by law in many countries. Importation to Romania was prohibited in 2002, and ownership restricted to those with a court permit.{{Cite web|title = List of Banned Dogs by Countries|url = https://petolog.com/articles/banned-dogs?CODE=banned-dogs#russia/|website = petolog.com|access-date = 2015-07-28}} The breed was banned in Denmark in 2010,{{cite web|author= Ritzau /Nyheder, Mette Pedersen |url=http://ekstrabladet.dk/nyheder/samfund/article1356690.ece |title=Ekstra Bladet - 13 kamphunde forbydes |publisher=Ekstrabladet.dk |date=2011-01-19 |access-date=2012-09-18}} in 2011 Russia designated it an "especially dangerous breed", subject to mandatory registration and certification,{{Cite web | url=https://petolog.com/articles/banned-dogs?CODE=banned-dogs#russia/ |title = List of Banned Dogs by Countries| date=29 October 2022 }} and Ukraine has classified it as a dangerous dog, subject to mandatory microchipping, muzzle and civil liability insurance.{{Cite web|title = List of Banned Dogs by Countries|url = https://petolog.com/articles/banned-dogs?CODE=banned-dogs#ukraine|website = petolog.com|access-date = 2015-08-03}}
It is also banned or prohibited in Bermuda,{{Cite web|title = Banned, restricted dogs breed reminder {{!}} The Royal Gazette:Bermuda News| date=26 August 2014 |url = http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20140826/NEWS/140829800|access-date = 2015-08-03}} France,{{Cite web|title = Pet Breeds unable to travel in Europe|url = http://www.viajedemascotas.com/en/breeds-of-dogs-banned-in-europe/|website = www.viajedemascotas.com|access-date = 2015-08-03}} Mauritius,{{Cite web|title = Mauritius Pet Passport - Current Dog and Cat Import Requirements|url = http://www.pettravel.com/immigration/mauritius.cfm|website = www.pettravel.com|access-date = 2015-08-03}} and Qatar;{{Cite web|title = Importing a cat or dog - Doha Family - Autumn 2014|url = http://www.dohafamily.com/Autumn-2014/Importing-a-cat-or-dog/|website = www.dohafamily.com|access-date = 2015-08-03|archive-date = 16 September 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190916105537/http://www.dohafamily.com/Autumn-2014/Importing-a-cat-or-dog/|url-status = dead}} importation is prohibited in the Faroe Islands,{{Cite web|url =http://www.hfs.fo/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/HFS/WWW_HFS_FO/UMSITING/KUNNANDITILFAR/KUNNANDITILFARVEGLEIDINGAR/VEGLINNUTFLUTNINGUR/VEGLINNOGUTFLINNFLUTNINGUR/HUNDUK.PDF|title =It is prohibited to import the following dogbreeds to the Faroe Islands|url-status =dead|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150924025955/http://www.hfs.fo/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/HFS/WWW_HFS_FO/UMSITING/KUNNANDITILFAR/KUNNANDITILFARVEGLEIDINGAR/VEGLINNUTFLUTNINGUR/VEGLINNOGUTFLINNFLUTNINGUR/HUNDUK.PDF|archive-date =24 September 2015|df =dmy-all}} Singapore,{{Cite web|title = List of Banned Dogs by Countries|url = https://petolog.com/articles/banned-dogs?CODE=banned-dogs#singapore|website = petolog.com|access-date = 2015-08-03}} Tunisia{{Cite web|title = IATA - Tunisia Customs, Currency & Airport Tax regulations details|url = http://www.iatatravelcentre.com/TN-Tunisia-customs-currency-airport-tax-regulations-details.htm|website = www.iatatravelcentre.com|access-date = 2015-08-03}} and the Turks and Caicos islands.{{Cite web|title = Turks Caicos Pet Passport - Current Dog and Cat Import Requirements|url = http://www.pettravel.com/immigration/Turks_Caicos.cfm|website = www.pettravel.com|access-date = 2015-08-03}}