Boerboel FAQ

If a litter does not produce enough puppies to fulfill your reserved pick, you will be placed in our waitlist queue. Your position in the queue is determined by when we received your deposit - earlier deposits have higher priority.

When we post a new litter, queue buyers are notified one at a time in priority order. The first buyer receives an email with exclusive 24-hour priority access to select a pick. If they don't make a selection within 24 hours, the next buyer is notified with their own 24-hour window. This continues until all queue buyers have had the opportunity.

Simply take no action during your 24-hour window. You will remain in the queue and be notified when the next litter becomes available.

Your original contract becomes void when you're moved to the queue. Your deposit can be applied to a new reservation when you select a pick from a future litter, or it can be refunded upon request.

When you reserve a pick for a litter, you are securing your position in the selection order for that gender. On draft day, the buyer with the first pick for each gender gets to choose first from the available puppies of that gender. In the week leading up to the draft, we provide pictures and videos of all the puppies so you can get to know them and ask questions to help determine which puppy best fits your preferences. Once the first pick makes their selection, the second pick chooses from the remaining puppies of that gender, and so on down the line. Each litter has a projected draft date displayed on the litter banner on the Available Puppies page, so you'll know when to expect the selection process to begin.

There is a wide variety of boerboel body types and body composition, therefore, there is a pretty large variation of body weight range. Most healthy adult males land between 150lbs and 200lbs, and the full spread runs 120lbs to 220lbs. Note: males weighing around 120-140lbs would be considered underweight and males weighing over 195lbs are usually grossly overweight. Some exceptions do exist, but let me make clear, no matter what any breeder or boerboel owner has told you, it is not often. Most females land between 120lbs and 170lbs, with a full spread of 100lbs to 185lbs. In general, if you are comparing the boerboel to a Cane Corso, the boerboel will be much bigger than a Cane Corso on average. The build of a boerboel is similar to the Cane Corso, but closer in weight to a healthy English Mastiff.

Boerboels reach most of their height by 12 months, but as a giant breed they keep filling out with muscle and bone mass until roughly 2.5 to 3 years old. Do not judge a boerboel's final size before then, and do not push hard exercise while the growth plates are still open. Our month-by-month growth chart shows the typical weight ranges by age and how to keep growth lean and joint-safe.

Price is dependent on different factors:

When we offer an option for pet and full rights, we are actually lowering the cost for the pet registration, not raising the full rights cost. Building a unique quality foundation takes time, effort, sacrifice, and a lot of cost. We would rather sell to a pet home for a cheaper price. Besides, why would we just hand the genetics we worked very hard to acquire over to everyone for a pet price? Allowing others to use the unique genetics we have established here is not exactly in our best interest, therefore, higher price usually means we have a lot invested into that particular pairing and see it as being able to produce at the highest quality. If you do not want to pay the extra cost, no problem, find a different breeder that will sell breeding rights for cheaper. You will likely get what you pay for.

There were several different variations used to create the boerboel. There is not enough documentation to pinpoint the exact crosses used to create the boerboel. What the record does support: European settlers brought large mastiff- and bulldog-type dogs to the Cape from the 1600s onward, and those were bred over generations with other imported and local farm dogs into the landrace that became the boerboel. No published DNA ancestry study exists for the breed, so any list of exact founding breeds you read online is a guess. Our history and genetics guides separate the documented record from the folklore.

A short answer to this is SABBS (South Africa Boerboel Breeder Society) was derived out of SABT. SABBS/SABT was the original founding organization for the boerboel and was established in South Africa. The AKC (American Kennel Club) began to recognize the Boerboel breed in 2015. The ABC (American Boerboel Club) is the official AKC parent club for the Boerboel and is used to transition into AKC registration. NABBA (North American Boerboel Breeders Association) was established in 2013 as a separate club from SABBS based in North America. NABBA was restructured to NABBR in March 2024.

To us, the SABBS registry will be our primary registry and we do our best to maintain their standards in all areas except color. We do not discriminate any boerboels from our program based on color. As long as the DNA comes back boerboel, we could care less what color it has. However, the caveat to this is we have a stricter requirement for temperament and health if we are going to deviate on the color. As of the end of 2025, we only have one boerboel that does not meet the SABBS standard and if you have the privilege to meet her, you would know why we have her. We have held back five boerboels in the past two years that were not standard color and all five failed to be exceptional enough to keep in the program. This includes two black and tan/tri-color boerboels that some are breeding and selling at very high prices. Do not buy a boerboel based on color, it is highly likely the breeder did not take any other factors into consideration outside of color.

If a boerboel breeder is only registering their dogs with ARBA or a similar type registry, proceed with caution. ARBA does not require DNA testing and has nothing in place to verify microchips when dogs are used for breeding. Therefore, the puppy you think you are getting may not be what you actually get, as it is easy to manipulate the registry and claim parentage that is not accurate. SABBS requires an appraisal of both parents before the boerboel can be bred. The appraisal score must be above 75%, the senior appraiser will verify the boerboel during time of appraisal by scanning the microchip and by requiring DNA to be sent off from the appraised dog to verify parentage.

Some boerboels are friendly. Most boerboels will be much friendlier in public than when they are on their property. Once they establish a boundary to protect, most will take that job very seriously without you telling them to. This mentality makes them not as likely to be friendly to other unknown people in their area of protection. Lots of consistent socialization at an early age till adulthood will help soften this instinct.

Yes, if not, your boerboel is not a very good boerboel. Protection is what the breed was developed for on South African farms, and a well-bred boerboel guards its home and people by instinct; it does not need protection training to do its job. Your job is the opposite side of the coin: enough socialization that the dog can tell an actual threat from a normal visitor.

They can easily become aggressive. Socialize socialize socialize. Socialization helps with aggression. The boerboels number one job from birth is to protect. This protective instinct will manifest itself beyond just protecting you and property if they do not get enough exposure to other people, other environments, and other dogs/animals.

Please refer to the Planned Litters or Available Puppies page for what is current. Available Puppies lists litters on the ground right now with pricing, and Planned Litters shows upcoming pairings where you can reserve a pick with a $500 deposit before the litter arrives.

Boerboels are very intelligent. In our experience, we have been able to train our boerboels rather easily. They are all food motivated. Interesting fact, every one of our boerboels knows how to give a tongueless kiss.

No. We have not found a reputable and safe source that is cheap enough to make it practical. Spending 50% of my work paycheck every month on raw food combined with additional supplementation to go with it is not going to be sustainable.

Yes. We will ship to the 48 mainland states in the USA. No international shipping at this time. Flight nanny and ground dog transporter.

We offer several different options depending on your location, age, and size of the puppy/dog. If the puppy is 20lbs or less, they may be able to fly with a flight nanny. Puppies over 20lbs will generally need to ship with a puppy ground transport service. These options can be expensive, ranging between $500 -$1500. If we are close enough I may be able to meet halfway or at least drive a little bit closer to, so it is not as far as a drive. However, this all depends on how busy we are.

The health guarantee covers severe hip dysplasia, severe elbow dysplasia, any crippling genetic defect, and any kind of severe cardiac condition for 24 months. Problems must be evaluated and certified by the orthopedic foundation for animals (OFA). There must be no question and be in writing by your veterinarian, that it was not caused by bad nutrition, rough play, accident, over exercising, or recklessness. The issue must be documented and brought to our attention prior to 24 months of age.

I would recommend feeding puppies that are 12 weeks to 10 months a diet that is around 24-26% protein or so. Feeding puppy food till up to 12 weeks or so should be fine, but you want to come off the higher protein levels soon after as the puppy continues to grow rapidly. Growing too fast can cause irreversible joint issues and other problems. The main takeaway here is to keep a close eye on their growth and adjust accordingly. As of August 2024, we switched food to Inukshuk brand dog food. The ingredients appear to be more intact and more nutrient rich. We like the results so far. Inukshuk 26/16 is fed to most of our boerboels in all stages of life. Inukshuk Marine 16 is fed to any boerboels with some sort of allergy issue.

Here is what we feed our boerboels.

We feed our puppies Inukshuk 26/16 or Victor Hi-Pro solid food from around 6 weeks till 12 weeks old. If they were on Hi-Pro, we will move them to Inukshuk 26/16 after about 12 weeks. How they are developing will determine if they are put on Victor Hi-Pro or not.

Some are more active than others, but in general boerboels are pretty relaxed dogs. They will be about as active as you are. They will want to be doing what you are doing or at least be nearby.

Yes, bloat is something to be concerned about with the boerboel breed. Bloat is very serious and can result in death in a matter of hours if not treated by a vet. We have not had any issues with bloat yet, but here are some pointers that we have picked up to help keep the possibility of bloat low:

I would say most boerboels are not going to get along with other large intact dogs of the same sex. There are exceptions, but it is rare and/or would take a tremendous amount of specialized training. Two boerboels of opposite gender or a boerboel paired with another large dog of the opposite sex will likely do fine together. Boerboels paired with smaller dogs will have a higher success rate for compatibility. Two intact boerboels of the same sex will have higher chance for success if they grow up together, but even then, things can turn into a bad situation at a drop of a hat. We have experienced two sisters that loved each other greatly turn on one another after 3 great years together and heard of other similar stories.

This question can vary with each boerboel. We have some boerboels that are slow chewers and can eat rawhide type chews. Some will try to swallow an entire large rawhide roll after only 5 minutes, which is very dangerous. I would do as we did and stay away from rawhide all together now. Nylabone and Benebone brand chews seem to be our go to. Deer/Elk antlers have been a decent option so far, I would just caution they may end up damaging their teeth with those; depends on the dog.

We found beef lung bites to be great treats for boerboels. They do not have preservatives, it is just one ingredient, no additives, and the dogs love them. These can be found on Amazon.

Our experience comes with mixed reviews on this issue. I would say their prey drive has a lot to do with how you raise them. If you encourage the prey drive, they will for sure develop it, but if you discourage it, they will likely do much better with it. Some may never let off the gas, but they will likely do much better if you show them at a young age what they can and cannot do.

Our boerboels eat twice a day. Every boerboel seems to need a different amount of food and overall weight is not a determining factor. Some metabolize calories differently. Rate of calorie burn should be based on activity level and muscle volume.

7-10 puppies per litter seems to be a pretty reasonable average. I have seen 18 puppies and some bitches can have 16 puppies on a regular basis.

Yes, with their family. Many times, the immediate family is as far as it goes. A well-bred, well-socialized boerboel is calm, affectionate, and tolerant with its own household, including kids it was raised with, but it does not extend that warmth to everyone by default. If you want a dog that loves the whole neighborhood, this is the wrong breed. We wrote a full guide on family fit, kids, other pets, and first-time owners.

For most first-time owners, no. A boerboel is a giant guardian breed that needs an owner comfortable setting rules and keeping up socialization for the first two years. If your heart is set on the breed as a first dog, be honest with your breeder about your experience, pick a calmer, more handler-soft puppy rather than the boldest one, and budget for a trainer from day one. Our family-dog guide covers this question in depth.

Both make excellent family guardians, so it mostly comes down to size, existing dogs, and preference. Males run bigger (most healthy adults 150-200lbs) and can be more territorial as they mature; females (120-170lbs) are typically more agile. The biggest practical factor: same-sex pairs of intact boerboels usually do not work out, so pick the opposite sex of any large dog you already have. Our full comparison covers temperament, training, and which fits which home.

Hip and elbow dysplasia. Heart problems. Bloat. Skin and ear allergies. Interdigital cysts. Bone cancer seems to be the most common cancer I have noted from things I have seen.

Brown, reddish brown, fawn (blonde/tan), black, piebald, and dilutes. The tri-color black and tan is rare, but is also found on some boerboels.

9-11 years is what is commonly cited, though no rigorous breed-specific lifespan study exists. Giant breeds age faster than small ones, so keeping your boerboel lean is the single best thing you can do for its years. Our health guide covers what the evidence actually shows.

Who really knows. Some say 800psi, but there is no real study that has accurately measured the boerboel bite force. All we know is their bite is very powerful. There are several articles on the internet that make claims of different dogs bite force, however, there is no real study that has actually accurately measured it. We traced the PSI myth and the actual biomechanics in a dedicated article.

Some drool a lot. Some will not drool much at all and only at the sight of something yummy. Typically the longer the mouth hangs down, the higher the chance for drool. The tighter the mouth equals less drool.

Yes. Boerboels are moderate shedders. They shed year-round with heavier seasonal coat changes; the short coat just makes the hair less noticeable than on long-haired breeds. A weekly brush keeps most of it under control.

No. No dog breed is truly hypoallergenic, and the boerboel is not even close: it sheds moderately year-round and produces the same dander and saliva proteins that trigger dog allergies. If someone in your home has significant allergies, this is not the breed to gamble on.

From what I understand the short answer to this is technically no. They were bred to protect the farms in South Africa, which could include many dangerous animals, however, a lion is much too large and strong for a boerboel to take on. I am sure a pack of several boerboels could do the job.

Most boerboels bark only when they feel it is needed. There are some that will bark at anything that moves.

The price range is pretty big with the boerboel breed. They can range between $1000 to $7000. The majority will sell between $2500-$3500. I have seen some low quality boerboels sell for $5000+ and some really good ones sell for $2500. Do your research about the breeder. If a breeder is selling their boerboels for $5000+, do not health test, do not do contracts, treat their dogs like poop, but they have some viral videos on the Instagram, then there is a good bet someone just grossly overpaid for a low quality dog.

First off, there is way more to the boerboel breed than just size. Nonetheless, we also acknowledge size is what makes the boerboel so attractive to most people. With that said, there are many breeders that have one or two very large boerboels. Some are large due to being tall and long, some are big because they are fat, and some are large due to muscle and bone mass. Pay attention to what is being considered as large. Our girls were all bigger in the past, but we decided to keep them healthier and leaner now. They are still big, they are just a better type of big. Our boy Brandvlei Marino is a very large boerboel and is one of the leanest boerboels at a weight over 185lbs.

Absolutely. You need to come see these boerboels in person to fully appreciate them. Pictures do not do them justice. We are in Livingston, Texas, about an hour north of Houston; reach out first so we can set a time.

This can depend on the line of boerboel. Our Afrika Zimbie and her son Peterbuilt Hakeem are very athletic. They are fast, agile, and have a lot of stamina. Our big guy Marino is like a power lifter, he is very large and strong, but does not have much agility and stamina.

I am sure there have been cases where this has worked out fine, but in general I would advise against it. You would need to take them out for long walks and let them stretch out with some running.

Boerboels are born with full-length tails; the short tail you see on most of them is docked a few days after birth. Docking is a tradition from the breed's working-farm origins and is still the common practice among breeders, including here, though registries accept natural tails and more owners are asking for them. If you want a natural tail, tell your breeder before the litter is born, since docking happens in the first week. Our breed standard guide covers what the standards actually say about tails.

Boerboels are legal everywhere in the United States at the state level; no US state bans the breed by name, though a handful of individual cities and counties restrict them, and some homeowners insurance policies and HOAs list them as a restricted breed. A number of other countries do ban or restrict boerboels, including Denmark, France, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Qatar, Malaysia, Bermuda, and Mauritius, and Singapore prohibits importing them. The UK and Australia allow them. We keep a full, sourced breakdown of bans, breed-specific legislation, and insurance issues.

The shipping cost is very high and the process is extensive; plan on several months start to finish. The CDC rewrote its dog import rules effective August 2024, replacing the old import permit system. Every dog entering the USA must now be at least 6 months old, microchipped, and healthy on arrival, and the importer needs a free CDC Dog Import Form receipt. South Africa is on the CDC's high-risk rabies country list, so a boerboel coming from there also needs documented rabies vaccination on a Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form endorsed by an official veterinarian, blood work (a rabies titer from a CDC-approved lab), and arrival at one of the limited US airports with a CDC-registered animal care facility. Check the CDC's current requirements before booking anything, as the details keep changing.

From our own imports: finding flights can take time and be very expensive depending on the time of year and which airlines are accepting dogs. Emirates Cargo was our only option when we last imported, and it is also one of the most expensive; freight alone averaged $5000 per dog. Be prepared to pay more when you pick the dog up, and to clear the dog through Homeland Security Customs and bring that paperwork back to the shipping company's delivery bay. All in, an imported boerboel typically lands at $8000-$12000+ once you count the dog, freight, vet work, and fees.

First off, I hope you prepared and brought a vehicle big enough to accommodate the big crate/kennel the boerboel flew in. You have no clue how that dog is going to act once you open that crate door, so it is best to be off location and safely at home before doing so. Take proper precautions once home with your import boerboel and try to open their crate inside a controlled enclosure. Some will warm up to you immediately (all of ours did), I have heard of some being very aggressive/angry upon arrival. Get them some food and water, it may have been awhile since they got to eat. Our poor boy Marino went the entire 2 day journey without any food. The bag given was still taped to the top of the kennel when he arrived. I assume they feared letting him out during his layover in Dubai because of his size and he growls like a lion (his lion growls are just normal noises with him though and not aggressive). I was honestly a bit hesitant to open the kennel door, because I had no clue how he would react to the whole situation. But he just came out the kennel very hungry!

Our stud fees range between $2500 and $4000 at this time. The price on top studs will vary on amount of usage. Stud fees usually do not include semen collection fee, packaging, and shipping costs. You may find others charging up to $8000 for stud fees.

Here is a list of reputable breeders we know of that have quality boerboels and can be trusted.

Here is a list of other boerboel breeders we know of across the United States. We have not vetted every program on this list, so research any of them and make comparisons before deciding on your preferred breeder; our breeder guide explains exactly what to check.

That question cannot be objectively answered. There are a lot of great boerboel breeders out there in the world, here is a list of international boerboel breeders we believe to be among the best.

Beyond the standouts above, here are other international boerboel breeders we know of, from South Africa to the UK, Europe, Australia, and Asia. As with any breeder, verify registration, health testing, and appraisals before committing.