aka South African Mastiff
Boerboels 1 to 10 (breed description)
to see more photos or our last Pure Boerboel pups click here
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Current Adult Boerboels photos click below:
Bitches
“Tallwater” (photos)
“Agressa” R.I.P. (photos)
“Boelbella” (photos)
Their Immediate Ancestors ( photos )
Prospects:
To see more click “Mandela”: A strapping young male prospect from the well respected Gretchen Kennel weighing in at 90lbs at 5 months, 120 lbs at 8 months, and too heavy for my old back to carry onto the scale by 13 months as seen in the photo above at 29 inches at the shoulder. He moves remarkably well for such a massive dog.
He’s a lovable fellow really, steadfast, devoted and surprisingly protective for such a good natured dog, I’m quite pleased with him thus far and expect to use him extensively.
As some of you may have noted after returning from S. Africa in the winter of 2010/11 I announced that we would look to import a pregnant Boerboel. That was inspired by the hope to use a male named Nkosi that I found in Pretoria as the sire. Nkosi was very close to my ideal Boerboel, very tall 30 plus inches, very athletic, not too heavy, smart and very serious about being a protector. Mandela is the son of a Nkosi brother, which is one reason I bought him.
Unfortunately Nkosi was killed not too long after I left. But I was able to purchase the first two picks of his last litter and have them shipped over.
”Brickhouse” papered name Melma Milla
and
” Spicylegs” papered name Melma Muntow
Photos soon. When they are of age, assuming either pans out, I will probably do a relatively tight breeding to Mandela, in the hope of producing dogs like Nkosi
Breed description
As mastiffs go I believe the heart of an Argentine Dogo is unparalleled. These dogs are as unlikely to be deterred by pain as any close to their size. And that heart beats in an extremely athletic body, that can cover ground, in a sprint or all day. Steered by a nose that can track, and backed up by jaws as capable as any in the world of dogs. Truly an impressive combination of traits.
All of which, perhaps most remarkably, contained in a genuinely loving canine. This is the paradox those with no first hand experience may find difficult to comprehend. That a beast so foreboding, so capable, so potentially ferocious, a beast that will willingly go to it’s death in a fight; can be so….sweet.
But that’s really the word, they are loving dogs. Wonderful with children, true family dogs; affectionate titans, would be lap dogs. Naturally subordinate to their owners and generally not aggressive to towards people. To say much more is to stress the limits of generalizations; there are exceptions, and variation within any breed. And that which nurture brings to natures table, as in any breed, can produce dogs very dissimilar in behaviour.
General temperament:
The dogo is a paradox difficult to grasp without owning. Lovers and fighters both; as affectionate, patient, and nurturing with their people and puppies as dangerous to their prey or enemies. They are naturally territorial, like most dogs, and though many a walled compound is patrolled by Dogo’s in Argentina, they are not typically suspicious or unwelcoming of people if well socialized ( Although mine came from a breeder who liked Dogo’s that were suited to be protection dogs ). They do tend to be highly dog, and animal aggressive, despite the pack hunting rhetoric.
Energy level: 6-7
The more exercise the better they like to get tired, but don’t go nuts without it. You rarely see a pacer. But they do thrive with ample exercise.
Intelligence: 7-8
I think their generally a bright beast. Though I have found that the temperaments can get quirky, and I think that’s due more to inbreeding than anything else.
Biddability: 7
Relative to what….right ? relative to spitz types and LGD’s they are extremely biddable. Relative Boerboels…. perhaps less so… but not by a lot. The exception being you are not going to call a Dogo off of it’s prey, when they go, they’re gone. But in day to day matters I find them fairly obedient, excepting the occasions when prey drive kicks in.
Independence: 2-4
Not very, they want to be with their people, ideally in their laps. They never seem to get enough love, nor do they seem to tire of giving it. Unless there is something to hunt/fight.
Gravity: 7-8
Pretty high, lacking something to get after, they tend to stick right around their people fairly well.
Roam: 4-6
Not bad, and if it were not for the tendency to go hunt I’d give em a 3
Prey drive: 9
Their made to get after stuff, and it’s very difficult to keep them from doing so. it’s a definite uphill battle to keep them from going after other animals.
Dog Aggression: 8-9
Much understated by the dogo peddlers, but a very real issue. Despite the fact they are supposed to hunt in packs, the truth remains that doesn’t always go as planned.
Human Aggression: 5-7
This is a difficult one to address because the propensity for and the potential tenacity of are two different matters. I would say by nature they are not naturally man aggressive. I would also say if a Dogo does decide to go after a man, for whatever reason, it will not be easily deterred, not by physical pain.
General Temperament:
The vast Majority of today’s so called “gentle giants” are just big dopes. Mild tempered beasts, all but harmless, excepting those so week nerved they become fear biters. Quite often cowardly, and not really fit for more than couch warmers and yard ornaments. They do love their people, they do stick around, they are generally pretty easy to handle. Obviously they are not all the same, but if we speak to the breed as a whole, I’ll stand behind that assessment. And I’ll continue to look for an exception, a Dane with smarts, with heart, with balls.
Energy level: 3
Laid back beasts, many of whom live comfortably in houses all their days.
Intelligence: 2
Just not that bright, of course every dog owner owns the smartest dog in the world, and Dane owners are no exception, and I’m always looking for a smart one…… but on the whole….. that’s a needle in the haystack proposition.
Biddability: 7-8
I think this is an understated quality of the Dane, many do excel in obedience work, many are instinctively inclined to please.
Independence: 2
Yea, not really, most would be more aptly defined as Couch than Estate guardians.
Gravity: 9
There again, unless you scatter couches about your property you can be fairly confident they will be by your side.
Roam: 3
Not unless you really spread out the couches
Prey drive: 6-8
Understated; these dogs were bred to run down and kill wild boar, that is not for dogs feint of heart. Wild boar, for those who don’t know, are big, mean, and extremely capable of killing the biggest of dogs. Danes hunted boar for a very very long time, and in some parts of the world they still do. The most laid back Dane might surprise ya if it’s given something to chase. And you might be surprised at what they do upon catching in the fervor of the moment.
Dog aggression: 2
Generally very little of that, exceptions aside. Any such dog aggression would not reflect well amidst the little old lady crowd that has long since claimed the breed, a thing they have been at work breeding out for decades.
Human aggression: 3-6
Many clearly are too afraid of their shadows to think about standing up to a human. But one does hear stories of an otherwise peaceful creature that rose to the occasion when it’s people were threatened. I think that willingness may be underestimated in this breed. They are not aggressive per say, far from it, but I believe it’s probably easier than one might expect to find one willing to lay tooth on a man if it feels that man is threat to the people it loves.
