Knowledge · Advocacy · Est. 2006

Breeding
Philosophy

We are in relentless pursuit of the world’s best dog — and we believe the Boerboel is that dog.

South African Boerboel with handler in the park — Exotic Boerboels, Cleveland, Ohio

If we hold the Boerboel in that regard, then we cut no corners.

We go and get our own raw food. We handle the puppies from birth. We raise them as companions, not livestock. We study pedigrees, test health, and condition our dogs like the athletes they are. We do the hard work — because the breed demands nothing less. This is the standard behind every dog that carries the Exotic name.

What We Breed For

Five Non-Negotiables

01

Structure & Athleticism

We celebrate the Boerboel’s raw athleticism and muscular physique as a core principle of what this breed must be. This is not vanity — it is the mark of a complete, capable animal. A dog built for life.

Balance is everything. Power means nothing without correct movement, sound joints, and the agility to back it up. We breed dogs that are as functional as they are imposing.

Correct movementBone & substanceWorking agility

02

Temperament First

The Boerboel protects through presence and instinct — not aggression. Its mere observation of a threat deters it. Its instincts are finely tuned to read a room, a person, a moment.

This is not an aggressive breed. A correct Boerboel is confident, stable, and discerning — the ideal guardian for the modern family. We select hard for the nervous system that makes that possible.

Stable nervesDiscernmentFamily-safe

03

Health & Bloodlines

Our foundation stock comes directly from elite champion South African lines. Before we ever breed a dog, we study its pedigree back to the original founding Boerboels — researching the health and performance of parents, grandparents, and beyond.

Breeding dogs are evaluated for hips, elbows, and cardiac health. We breed for longevity and soundness, never for color or trend at the expense of the whole dog.

Health testedChampion foundationPedigree studied

04

Raised As Family

We raise our dogs as family members — companions above all else. Every puppy is handled from birth, loved, exercised, and understood.

A Boerboel raised this way doesn’t just protect a home. It defines it. The work we put in during those first weeks is why our dogs settle so naturally into family life.

Hand-raisedEarly socializationCompanion-first

05

The Sacred Bond

There is a spiritual dimension to raising a dog well — a bond between human and animal built on mutual respect, attentive observation, and genuine care. Our methods are patient, holistic, and rooted in understanding.

Know your dog. Study its individual personality. The relationship is the point — and it is the difference between a dog that obeys and a dog that trusts.

Mutual respectHolisticIndividualized

We celebrate the athleticism and physique of the Boerboel. This is not vanity — it is a reflection of a complete, capable animal. A dog built for life.

Jordan Pittman · Exotic Boerboels · Cleveland, Ohio

How We Develop A Dog

Exercise · Training · Affection

Dogs need a job — movement, structure, and mental challenge. Jordan personally runs a bike-conditioning program with his dogs: not for show, but because a physically engaged Boerboel is a psychologically stable one. It’s the principle all three of our training schools agree on, in this order.

First

Exercise

A tired dog is a balanced dog. Conditioning and real physical work come before everything — it’s the foundation a stable mind is built on.

Second

Training

With energy spent, the mind is ready to learn. Structure, leadership, and clear expectations turn raw drive into a reliable companion.

Third

Affection

Earned, not constant. Affection lands hardest when the dog is fulfilled and understood — the reward that seals the bond.

No Corners Cut

How We Do The Work

Raw, real nutrition

We source our own raw food. Lean, athletic dogs are built in the bowl as much as on the road.

Health-tested parents

Hips, elbows and cardiac screening on our breeding dogs. Soundness is the floor, not a feature.

Hand-raised from birth

Every puppy is handled, socialized and understood from day one — raised as a companion, not a commodity.

Conditioned, not crated

A structured bike-conditioning program keeps our dogs physically engaged and mentally stable.

See the philosophy in the dogs

Meet our pack & current litters

We show our puppies — we don’t hard-sell them. If you feel a connection, reach out and we’ll have a real conversation about fit and lifestyle.