The debate over black Boerboels has reignited in the dog world, culminating in a recent firestorm on social media after a black Boerboel appeared in an American Kennel Club (AKC) ring. That dog,
Exotic Boobee from Exotic Boerboels, stood proudly in the ring — a powerful representation of the black Boerboel’s place in the breed’s future. While purists argue that black is historically inaccurate, it is time for the breed to evolve past color-based discrimination and embrace dogs that meet the breed’s structural and temperamental standard, regardless of coat color.
Defining the Boerboel: More Than Color
At its core, the Boerboel is a breed defined by power, loyalty, intelligence, and functionality- traits forged on South African farms where they protected homesteads and worked alongside their owners. The breed standard was created to preserve those essential qualities, focusing on structure, movement, and temperament. 
Yet, nowhere does the color of a dog impact these core attributes.
A black Boerboel, if built to standard, possesses the same muscular frame, protective instincts, and confident demeanor as its tan, red, or brindle counterpart.
Color is merely an aesthetic. Structure, movement, and function remain unchanged.
The Flawed Historical Argument
One of the main arguments against the black Boerboel is its supposed historical inaccuracy. The claim that black dogs were never part of the original South African Boerboel population. However, history is often muddied by incomplete records and selective memory. The Boerboel’s development was not governed by stringent breeding standards but by farmers mixing mastiff-type dogs for function and survival.
Black pigmentation is not foreign to mastiff breeds or working dogs — and could very well have existed but gone undocumented or diluted over generations. Genetic studies in dogs also prove that the black gene is dominant, meaning it does not require crossbreeding to appear. Black coats occur naturally in countless breeds of similar ancestry. To claim black is inherently “impure” is to ignore genetics in favor of rigid ideology.
Economic Demand vs. Preservation: Striking a Balance
The rise in popularity of black Boerboels is largely driven by market demand. Buyers — especially new entrants to the breed — are drawn to the sleek, striking appearance of a black Boerboel. 
Rather than shunning this interest, the breed community should harness it to promote responsible breeding and health testing, ensuring that any Boerboel — black or otherwise — is structurally sound, well-tempered, and healthy.
Refusing to recognize black Boerboels only pushes them into the hands of backyard breeders, where profit outweighs preservation. Bringing them into the fold allows the American Boerboel Club (ABC) and AKC to monitor breeding practices and uphold the breed’s integrity.
Inclusion Strengthens the Breed
The argument that black Boerboels are structurally or genetically inferior simply does not hold when comparing dogs side by side.
Black Boerboels bred to standard are indistinguishable from their counterparts in every way except color. Excluding them on color alone undermines the true purpose of the breed standard, to preserve function, health, and form.
Inclusion would also unify a community fractured by the color debate. Instead of dividing Boerboel enthusiasts, we should focus on common ground: ensuring the breed’s survival, health, and continued success in America. Welcoming black Boerboels into the show ring with strict structural and health requirements, accomplishes that goal.
The Way Forward
The AKC standard should evolve to reflect the breed’s real-world diversity. 
Recognizing black Boerboels would not mean sacrificing breed integrity — rather, it would uphold it by rewarding those who breed for correct structure, temperament, and health regardless of coat color.
Let us not repeat the mistakes seen in other breeds, where color wars distracted from more pressing issues like health, temperament, and genetic diversity. The Boerboel community has an opportunity to lead by example, showing that color does not define quality.
The black Boerboel is not an aberration — it is a Boerboel. Exotic Boobee from Exotic Boerboels is proof of that. It is time the standard reflects reality, that correct structure, temperament, and function matter far more than color. It is time to open the ring and embrace the black Boerboel as part of the breed’s proud legacy and future.