Boerboel

Good news! Your Boerboel’s grooming needs are minimal. Brush your Boerboel dog once every week or two with a curry comb or soft grooming glove to manage their shedding and keep the coat healthy and shiny. While you’re brushing your pup, check their ears for debris and wax build up, and clean them with ear cleaner as needed. If you notice signs of infection (redness, swelling or foul odor), contact your vet.

They need a bath about every four to six weeks unless they’ve been super active or super drooly. (You may want to keep a towel handy to spot clean them or your furniture.) Bathtime is an excellent time to check their nails. The water makes them softer and easier to clip. You’ll know it’s time for a trim when you can hear your pup clacking on your kitchen floors.

Don’t forget to brush your Boerboel dog’s pearly whites. Aim for daily, but it’s OK if you start out with two or three times a week. Get your puppy used to the habit while they’re young, so they’ll be used to it as they get older. And don’t forget to schedule an annual cleaning with your vet—there’s some tartar buildup you just can’t get rid of with a regular toothbrush.

Training starts in the home, and every moment represents practice. Start socializing your Boerboel puppy while they’re young to get them used to meeting new people and dogs and be OK with new situations as they grow up. Take them on walks where they can meet and sniff new friends. Enroll them in puppy preschool (as early as 8 to 10 weeks old) where they’ll learn to play nicely with other puppies and meet new people, all in one location.

Follow up puppy school with obedience class where they’ll learn basic commands like sit, stay and come and how to walk nicely on a leash. Because these are powerful pups who’ll test your leadership—like any other growing adolescent—you may find the help of a certified trainer beneficial who uses positive reinforcement to train the pup. (Positive reinforcement uses praise, treats and playtime to reward the dog for a job well done.)

Boerboels need consistency; use the same commands often and don’t give them (or yourself) any “days off” or free days when the rules don’t apply. These guard dogs are looking to you to guide them, and if you don’t, they’ll fill the leadership vacuum themselves. Remember, these dogs need a confident and calm pup parent. That, coupled with their sheer size and power, make them better choices for someone with experience raising dogs.

Boerboel dogs typically do well on a high-quality commercial dog food formulated for large breeds. Be sure to choose a formula that matches their stage in life (puppy, adult, senior), and make sure to look for the statement that says it meets the nutritional standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials.

Even though this is an active dog, Boerboels are prone to obesity. As you’re planning your dog’s meals, be sure to count all the treats you give during training (and just because you love your pup). If you have any questions about your dog’s diet or mealtime strategy, chat with your vet. They’re in the best position to help you choose the right food for your Boerboel based on their unique needs.

Boerboels wanna hang with their own pet parents and closest family members—always. They’re looking for highly engaged, well-known play pals for mental stimulation, too.

As a working dog (aka a dog bred to perform a job), Boerboels have high energy levels. They’ll need about an hour of exercise each day. They enjoy long walks, playing fetch and even swimming or fetching balls out in the water. While fenced yards with lots of room to speed around is great, Boerboels are not the independent type. They want you to play with them and include them on your fun adventures, like that hiking trip you’ve got coming up, rather than just sending them outside to work out alone.

Are you a bit competitive? You’re in luck! These large dogs excel at dog sports like agility, obedience and weight pulling. You two will have a great time bonding over your competitive personalities, and you might just come home with a snazzy new championship ribbon or two.

Your dog’s brain needs a workout, too. Boerboels are intelligent pups who thrive on mental challenges. Teach them new tricks to keep their mind active and have a few puzzle toys around the house for them to solve. Remember, a tuckered out Boerboel is a happy and obedient pup.

Boerboels thrive in homes with active pet parents. These pups need activity that works their bodies, minds and noses every day. Homes with a large fenced yard may be on their Top 10 list.

However, they don’t enjoy bustling households; Boerboels consider themselves the club bouncer of your home and will want to vet every person who comes in. Their innate desire to protect and guard their family might go into overdrive in a home with people constantly in and out of the front door.

Because these powerful dogs need a calm and confident leader, Boerboels often thrive with someone who’s had a dog before. Without consistent leadership, a Boerboel may think you need a leader and will happily take on the role. These traits can make the Boerboel challenging and intimidating as your first pet.