Are African Boerboels Dangerous Dogs?
The African Boerboel is a massive, reliable companion. Boerboel dogs are popular in their native South Africa as watchdogs but have the personality to make great family dogs as well. They are very obedient and mature more quickly than similar breeds, possess a level-headed temperament, and boast great physical capabilities. They are part of the Mastiff family.
However, some may hesitate to purchase the dog because of its size and resemblance to other Mastiff breeds involved in higher incidents of attacks, such as the American Pit Bull.
African Boerboel versus American Pit Bull Terrier
Unlike the pitbull, experts do not have evidence that the Boerboel was bred for fighting, according to those who spoke with The Chicago Times. Many were bred during apartheid and used by Whites to attack Black South Africans. They were rumored to be able to fight off leopards, but this was all legend. The dogs sheer size intimidated the French who were new to the dogs, but South Africans actually wondered what all the fuss was about. With apartheid over, the Boerboel lost its dangerous reputation and became known as a gentle, lazy family dog.
Mike Darwin, the spokesman of the Kennel Union of South Africa, told The Chicago Times that Boerboels are “no more dangerous than any other dog, and it’s certainly not a breed that attacks anything it sees.”
American Kennel Association pins them as gentle, calm giants. They do bare an uncanny resemblance to a lot of breeds that are stereotyped as more aggressive dogs, such as the American Pitbull, Boxer, and English Mastiff.
So, we know that the African Boerboel is not particularly aggressive because incidents of dog attacks happen across every species. Responsible breeding and proper training are keys to developing well-behaved Boerboels who can read situations and respond to the owner’s commands. Boerboels do not rank amongst the top dog attacks in the United States, although there have been a few isolated incidents over the past two decades.
The bottom line is African Boerboels are dogs:
Any dog can be a threat to anyone if not appropriately trained. Large dog breeds pose a more significant risk because of their size, not necessarily because of an inherent temperament. But risk can be managed by through adequately caring for your boerboel. Because of their large size, it is imperative to train them early to curb aggression before they become older and mature. A properly trained Boerboel is not known to be aggressive. Experts describe the Boerboel as having an even temperament and possessing a keen sense of both who to protect and when to protect. Boerboels have an inherent sense of who their family unit is.
Boerboel puppies are easy to train, do not respond well to harsh training methods, and need adequate space. An apartment lifestyle is not recommended for owners of these dogs. The boerboel puppies will also need to grow up with other pets in the house when they are young if you would like to have other animals live with them at any other point in their lives.