Boerboel

Boerboel

Male Boerboel with docked tail
Other names	South African Mastiff
Origin	South Africa
Traits Weight Male 65–80 kg (143–176 lb) Female 50–65 kg (110–143 lb) Height 60–70 cm (24–28 in) Coat short, dense, soft, smooth, and shiny Color with and without a black mask : fawns, reds, browns, brindle, piebald, and Irish markings
Classification / standards AKC Working standard UKC Guardian Dog standard
Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

The Boerboel [ˈbuːrbul], also known as the South African Mastiff, is a large, Molosser-type breed from South Africa bred for the purpose of guarding the homestead. These dogs were bred as working farm dogs and are one of the most powerful dog breeds.

The word "Boerboel" derives from "boer," the Afrikaans/Dutch word for "farmer." Boel is an old Dutch/Afrikaans slang word for dog. Boerboel, therefore, translates as either "farmer's dog" or "Boer's dog" and should be pronounced somewhat like "boo-r-bull." (not Burbull). The Boerboel is the only South African dog breed created to defend the homestead.

Despite the Boerboel's long breeding history, there is great uncertainty as to how many and which breeds were used to create it. It is generally believed that the breed was created from interbreeding native African landrace dogs, such as the Africanis, with breeds brought into South Africa by Dutch, French, and British settlers.

The most likely origins date back to Jan van Riebeeck's arrival to the Cape in 1652. Van Riebeeck brought a "Bullenbijter" with him. Those originals settlers, and later European settlers, also had large, strong dogs that almost certainly bred with the indigenous, domestic dog breeds of South Africa.

Later, in 1928, the diamond mining company De Beers imported Bullmastiffs to South Africa to guard the mines. This breed was also crossbred with Boerboels in the region.