African Boerboel Puppies for Sale

overview of the African Boerboel Dog Breed

Do you need a powerful, protective watchdog who doubles as a loving, loyal companion?

You have come to the right place! Browse our African Boerboel puppies for sale below.

At first glance, African Boerboels can seem intimidating. They usually stand around 22-30” at the shoulder and weigh in at 154-200 lbs. Their massive size, rippling muscles, and blocky heads point to their mastiff heritage. Protective and territorial, they devote themselves to defending the humans they love.

But beneath the imposing exterior, properly trained Boerboels are calm, affectionate, and family-friendly. They love to spend time with their beloved humans, and they do exceptionally well with children. These trainable, versatile dogs make ideal family pets.

However, because of their protective, territorial nature and natural confidence, Boerboels may frustrate novice dog-owners. They need an assertive, experienced owner to take them in hand. So they may not be the best choice for a first-time dog owner.

If you have some experience and are ready to take on one of the superheroes of the dog world, then pick out your African Boerboel puppy today!

Don’t forget to take a look at our other available puppies.

African Boerboel temperament

Devoted: The Boerboels’ love and devotion to their owners match their size and strength. Although they are wary of strangers, they become passionately attached to their human families. They crave interaction and seem to have a particular soft spot in their hearts for small children.

Protective: Boerboels have fiercely protective instincts, and they devote themselves to defending the humans they love. They are especially protective of children in their home. While these instincts make them excellent guard dogs, they also make them wary of strangers, so if you have new visitors in your home, make sure to introduce them to your Boerboel.

Willing to work: Boerboels are dogs on a mission. They have a work ethic. They overflow with energy and will be happiest when you give them a job to do. Whether it is rigorous farm work, guard duty, or competitions, they thrive on hard work.

Family-Oriented: Boerboels are often family-oriented dogs that enjoy being part of their human family’s activities. They can be gentle and affectionate with those they know well.

Intelligence: Boerboels are intelligent dogs, and their puppies often exhibit a level of cleverness. Early training and mental stimulation are important to channel their intelligence in positive ways.

Natural leaders: Boerboels have built-in confidence. They tend to be dominant and assertive: natural leaders. These tendencies mean that they require a firm, consistent trainer who can properly channel all their energy and confidence.

Eager to please: Below the rippling muscles and take-charge attitude, Boerboels really just want to please their adored masters. They have devoted, loyal hearts and long for human interaction and affirmation.

Remember that individual Boerboel puppies can have unique personalities and temperaments. Early training, socialization, proper care, and positive experiences during their puppyhood are crucial for helping them develop into confident, well-behaved, and well-adjusted adult dogs.

African Boerboel Breed history

The name “Boerboel” comes from the South African words “Boer” (farmer) and “Boel” (dog). Their name translates to “Farmer’s dog.” That is exactly what they were. When Dutch farmers began migrating to South Africa in the 1600s, they needed watchdogs to protect their farms.

These dogs needed to be tough enough to tangle with big cats, hyenas, and baboons. However, they also needed to be smart and sensitive enough to be family protectors who were able to distinguish friend from foe.

So the Dutch farmers created a breed of dogs who were protective, loyal, and intelligent: Boerboels. Nobody knows exactly what breeds make up the Boerboel’s lineage, but we do know that Bullmastiffs and Rhodesian Ridgebacks contributed to their development.

Over the years, Boerboels became scattered and the breed lost its purity. But in the 1980s, a group of Boerboel enthusiasts got together and started breeding pure Boerboels again. Boerboels gained popularity in South Africa and spread around the world. The American Kennel Club recognized them as a breed in January of 2015.

African Boerboels are similar to Dogue de Bordeaux and Cane Corsos. 

African Boerboel Average size

Boerboels tower over most dogs, standing 22-30” at the shoulders. Adults usually weigh 154-200 lbs. This is not a toy breed – that’s as much as a Great Dane!

Average African Boerboel lifespan

African Boerboels usually live from 10-12 years.

African Boerboel body features

Boerboels stand out for their broad, blocky heads. They also have wrinkled foreheads and powerful jaws, evidence of their mastiff heritage. They usually sport a red, brown, or fawn coat, sometimes with a black mask over the eyes.

Another standout characteristic is their impressive muscles, beautifully displayed through their short, sleek coats.

grooming Your African Boerboel Puppy

Boerboels are fairly low-maintenance when it comes to grooming. They have short, dense coats that require little grooming and they shed an average amount. Weekly brushing should do. 

Keeping Your African Boerboel Puppy Healthy

Only the toughest dogs could survive the harsh South African climate, and Boerboels are generally a hardy breed. However, there are some things that Boerboel owners should keep in mind.

African Boerboels are high-energy and they need plenty of exercise and stimulation to keep them happy. Regular walks or other physical activity is a must.

Like all dog breeds, they are susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia, two of the most common health issues among dogs.

Hip and elbow dysplasia occurs when the leg or hip becomes weakened, and it can result in arthritis or potential lameness if not addressed.

One of the best ways to prevent this is by keeping your dog from running too much on hard surfaces, especially when they are puppies.

Typical African Boerboel Allergens

Allergens are caused by dander, which is dead skin cells.  These skin cells are shed by any animal, including humans.

Boerboels are not entirely hypoallergenic. They have short coats, which might make it seem like they should be. But dog dander, saliva, or urine are the actual cause of allergies. Hair length does not always come into play. Boerboels do have the potential to drool quite a bit, and like all animals, they shed dander which can cause allergies.

If you have someone in your home with animal allergy concerns, it is good to consult your family physician.

• 1. Do Boerboels do well with other pets?
  Boerboels generally do well with other pets if they are raised alongside them. They may even protect them like they would their humans. However, be sure to supervise your Boerboel with any unfamiliar pets, as he may take them for prey.
• 2. Do Boerboels do well with strangers?
  Boerboels are intensely loyal to their families and will protect them at all costs. This loyalty and intensity makes them very wary of strangers, and they will need good socialization at a young age to prevent them from becoming aggressive when they grow up.
• 3. Can Boerboels be good farm dogs?
  Wherever they are, Boerboels want a job to do, preferably to do with guarding and livestock. They are hard workers and make excellent farm dogs! After all, these dogs were bred specifically for farming work.
• 4. Are Boerboels good family dogs?
  If you want a devoted, loving protector, a Boerboel is a wonderful family dog for you. They are never aggressive with people they know, and they will do anything to keep their chosen people safe.
• 5. Can you keep a Boerboel inside?
  We don’t recommend keeping a Boerboel indoors all the time, although they do love to be with their families. Boerboels need time outdoors to run off their boundless energy.
• 6. Are Boerboels good with kids?
  Boerboels seem to have a special spot in their hearts for kids, as long as they know them. When it comes to the kids they live with, they are gentle, loving, patient, and totally devoted.
• 7. Are Boerboels hyper?
  Boerboels definitely have energy, but they’re not normally hyperactive, except perhaps when they are very young. They tend to have a steady, quiet type of energy instead of a rip-all-over-the-place energy.
• 8. Do Boerboels need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation?
  Yes! We cannot stress this enough. Boerboels are working dogs, and they need plenty of exercise and a job to do to keep them happy. Remember that a tired Boerboel is a happy Boerboel!
• 9. Are Boerboels destructive?
  As long as they are kept busy, Boerboels should be responsible and not destructive or immature. However, if they become bored or depressed, they may start to become destructive.
• 10. Are Boerboels aggressive?
  Boerboels will do what it takes to protect their families. A Boerboel would never hurt a fly that it knows, but if they aren’t well-trained, they can be aggressive toward unknown people.