SOUTH AFRICAN BOERBOEL

 BREED STANDARD CRITERIA The Breed Standard is a guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament and appearance of the breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function. The aim of this Breed Standard is to provide guidelines to breeders, appraisers and judges, who should at all times be vigilant to avoid obvious conditions or excessiveness, that would be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or absolute soundness of the Boerboel. Type, conformation, functional efficiency, mentality and composure are equally important in the evaluation of the Boerboel as a whole. The protective character of the breed is evident, as well as its impressive demeanour, good temperament, controllability and mobility. Although the Boerboel has become a popular breed internationally, the centre for breed specific knowledge remains in South Africa, as this is where its character is embedded. Faults: Any departure from the Breed Standard shall be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault shall be regarded, shall be in exact proportion to the degree and its effect on the health and welfare of the dog. Disqualification: Any serious deviations and/or combinations of deviations from the Breed Standard that may affect the dog’s health and/or performance negatively shall lead to disqualification at the discretion of the senior appraiser.  

 TEMPERAMENT AND CHARACTER The Boerboel is: 

a) manageable, reliable, obedient, trainable and intelligent; 

b) self-confident and fearless; 

c) a dog with a strong protective instinct and loyal to members of the family; 

d) shows courage when threatened;  

e) steadfast and calm, with a balanced and confident nature when approached and 

f) a dog requiring training and firm handling from an early age. 

 GENERAL APPEARANCE The Boerboel is: 

a) a large dog with a strong-boned structure; 

b) perfectly balanced within the desired proportions for the breed. The main structural components of the dog should show acceptable proportions to each other. The body is approximately 10 - 15% longer than the height (at the withers) and is measured horizontally, from the prosternum (breastbone) to a vertical line at the rear of the rump; 

c) a dog with prominent and well-developed musculature; 

d) impressive and imposing in appearance, created by a combination of conformation, carriage, confidence and powerful, buoyant and unencumbered movement - notwithstanding its size. 

e) Males are distinctly masculine, larger and more heavily built with stronger bone, while females are distinctly feminine, but without weakness of substance or structure. Sexual dimorphism must be clearly evident.

 f) The ideal height of a male is 66 cm with the minimum height of 60 cm. 

g) The ideal height of a female is 61 cm with the minimum height of 55 cm. 

h) Height must always be in relation to mass (the ideal ratio for a full-grown dog is approximately 1:1 – 1:1.2 cm per kg), overall balance and conformation of major body components 

 HEAD The shape and size of the head is a typical feature of the breed. The head is 

a) large and typically Boerboel; 

b) with no signs of another breed; 

c) short, broad, deep, cube shaped - seen from all angles; 

d) muscular and has well-filled cheeks; 

e) in proportion with the rest of the body components and 

f) the circumference equals the height to the withers (upper point of scapula)

  Head characteristics are defined in terms of: 

Skull 

a) The skull is like a cube seen from all angles, large, and well muscled. 

b) The width of the skull is equal to the length and depth thereof. 

c) The length of the cranial roof (measured from the middle of the eye to the end of the occiput) must be relative to the length of the nasal bone in a ratio 2:1. The nasal bone should be a third of the total length of head. 

d) The plateau is wide and flat with prominent musculature. 

e) When the dog is alert, the upper level between the ears appears flat. 

 Face 

a) The face gradually blends with the skull. 

b) The face may be with or without a black mask 

 Ears 

The ears are defined by: 

a) Setting: 

i. The earflaps are set high and wide. 

ii. The earflaps are carried close to the head. 

iii. When attentive, the top of the earflaps must form a straight line with the plateau. 

b) Shape: 

i. Obviously V-shaped; 

ii. no creases and 

iii. a broad base. 

c) Size:

 i. The earflaps are medium sized and in proportion to the head. 

ii. The bottom edge of the earflap is in line with the dentition 

 
Eyes 

The eyes are defined by: 

a) Size and setting: 

i. Medium sized, rounded, forward facing, and widely spaced; 

ii. set on the same horizontal level and 

iii. not protruding or deep set. 

b) Eyelids: 

i. Firm, well pigmented; 

ii. no structural deviations such as entropion, ectropion, distichiasis or signs of surgical intervention and

 iii. not slanted. 

iv. The third eyelid (haw) should not be visible. 

c) Colour: The colour of the eye is any shade of yellow or brown 

 Stop 

a) The stop is visible, but not prominent/pronounced or absent. 

b) The section between the eyes is well filled 

 Nasal bone (Muzzle) 

The nasal bone is defined by: 

a) Shape: 

i. Deep, broad, cube shaped, and tapers slightly towards the front, but not snipey. ii. Straight and parallel to the line of the cranial roof. 

iii. Well attached and filled below the eyes. 

iv. The nostrils are large and widely spaced. 

b) Width and depth: 

i. The width is almost equal to, but less than the length.

 ii. The depth should equal the length. 

c) Length: The nasal bone is in proportion to the head, and measures approximately a third of the total length of the head, i.e. approximately 10 cm for a male of 66 cm and 8 cm for a female of 61 cm. 

d) Pigmentation: The nose leather is black 

 Lips 

a) The upper lip (under the nose) just covers the top of the lower lip and teeth. b) The upper lip does not extend below the lower jawline. 

c) The lower lip is moderately tight (not too loose and fleshy), without open or excessive lip 

 Teeth 

a) Dentition is complete. 

b) Teeth are correctly spaced. 

c) Teeth are ideally in a scissor bite 

 Jaws 

The jaws are strong, deep and broad and taper slightly towards the front 

 NECK 

The neck is defined by: 

a) Shape 

i. Forms a unit with the head and the shoulders; and with 

ii. a discernible muscular crest. 

b) Length The neck is of medium length and in proportion to the rest of the dog. The length equals about 1/3 of the height at the withers. 

c) Scruff and dewlap 

i. The scruff is loose. 

ii. The dewlap is noticeable and loose from under the chin. 

iii. The dewlap becomes taut between the front legs 

 FOREQUARTER The forequarter is well muscled and correctly angulated from the well-sloped shoulder blade down to the elbow at an angle of approximately 90° - 100̊. The forequarter characteristics are defined in terms of 

 Chest The chest is: 

a) strong, muscular and broad; 

b) well pronounced and placed deep between the front legs with good volume; c) the point of the prosternum is level with the point of the shoulder. 

Shoulders 

The shoulder blades are well attached with an approximate 70 mm space in between.  

Elbows 

a) The elbows are stable, parallel to and carried close to the body when in a stationary position and during movement, not limiting the optimal volume of the centre piece/torso. 

b) The height of the elbows is equal to ½ of the height at the withers. 

 Front legs 

The front legs: 

a) have a substantive bone structure; 

b) are thick, strong and sturdy; 

c) have a well-defined musculature on the in- and outside of the upper legs and d) are vertical, as seen from the front and the side. 

 Pasterns 

The front pasterns are: a) short, strong and of adequate girth as seen from the front and the side and 

b) are a vertical extension of the front legs as seen from both the front and the side, but slanting forward at a slight angle. 

Front paws 

The front paws are defined by: 

a) Size: The front paws are large in circumference. 

b) Shape: 

i. Well padded, ball shaped and tight; 

ii. strong, curved, with dark pigmented toenails. 

c) Tread: The front paws point and tread straight forward 

 CENTRE PIECE 

The centre piece (torso) must be of adequate width and depth with a level, straight top line and a slight abdominal tuck-up. The length of the ribcage, loin and croup (rump) is approximately proportioned (2:1:1). The centre piece characteristics are defined in terms of: 

 Ribcage 

The ribcage (the area from the first chest vertebrae to the last rib bone) 

a) is well sprung with a deep, rounded brisket; 

b) must ideally have a length proportion of 2:1 to the loin; 

c) the depth is equal to ½ the total height of the dog at the withers, descending slightly below the elbow; 

d) is filled behind the shoulder blades and elbows. 

 Back 

The back (from a point behind the withers/top of the scapula to the last rib bone) is: 

a) broad; 

b) flat; 

c) straight and 

d) well muscled. 

Loin 

The loin (from the last rib bone to the front of the primary thigh) is: 

a) of adequate depth (slightly less than the length of the loin); 

b) short (ideally ⅓ of total torso length); c) wide as seen from the top; 

d) flat when seen from the side; 

e) strong and muscular and 

f) moderately tucked up

Top line 

a) The top line (from a point behind the withers to the beginning of the croup) is straight without any deviations. 

b) A very slight, non-flexible dip just behind the shoulders is normal.

HINDQUARTER 

The hindquarter is broad, of substantial depth, well muscled, in proportion to the rest of the dog and correctly angulated. The hindquarter characteristics are defined in terms of: 

Croup 

The croup is: 

a) of adequate length, broad, strong/muscular; 

b) correctly angulated and slopes slightly towards the haunch; 

c) the height should not exceed the height at the withers
Tail 

a) The tail is a natural extension of the spinal cord. It should therefore be set fairly high, and of adequate girth. 

b) Subject to the legislation applicable to the breeder of a dog, both docked and long tails are acceptable. 

c) Long tails should be sabre shaped and should reach approximately to the hocks when the dog is standing. 

d) Docked tails should ideally be docked at the third caudal vertebrae, leading to an ideal adult tail length of about 8 cm and straight. 

Primary/Upper thighs 

The upper thighs are broad, deep and with well-developed muscular definition when viewed from the side and the rear. Secondary/Lower thighs 

The lower thighs are well developed and display adequate, visible musculature down to the hock. 

Stifles (Knees) 

a) The stifle joint is strong and firm. 

b) The angulation between the femur, tibia and fibula must be approximately 90°-100̊ as seen from the side 

Hocks 

a) The hock joints are strong and stable; b) correctly angulated as seen from the side without lateral deviation when standing or moving; and 

c) parallel with each other when viewed from the rear. 

Pasterns 

a) The hind pasterns are relatively short, strong and of adequate girth. 

b) When viewed from behind, they are parallel with one another. 

c) When viewed from the side, they are vertical. 

d) The front of the hind pastern is in line with the back of the haunch. 

e) Dewclaws may be removed. 

Hind paws 

a) The hind paws are as the front paws but should be slightly smaller than the front paws. 

b) The hind paws point and tread straight to the front 

 SKIN 

The skin: 

a) is moderately thick and loose; and 

b) should show black eumelanin pigmentation. 

c) There are moderate wrinkles on the brow when the dog is attentive.  

 COAT 

a) The coat should be sleek with dense hair coverage. 

b) The recognised colours are: 

i) All shades of fawn, brown, tan and red ii) Black 

iii) Brindle (brindle being a colour pattern with irregular apparent vertical lines of only black hair on a fawn, brown, tan or red base colour) 

c) All the colours and associated patterns should be accompanied by good pigmentation. 

d) No other colours or colour patterns or markings are acceptable. 

e) Undesirable colours are: 

i) More than a third white of the total body surface is unacceptable as it may influence pigmentation.  

ii) Excessive/large white areas in all colours are undesirable, and must be eliminated. 

(Definitions: “Unacceptable” means: Disqualification) 

 PIGMENTATION 

The Boerboel is well pigmented, especially on the lips; nose; palate; the skin and hair around the eyes; footpads; toenails; the anus, the nipples and the skin and hair around the genitals. 

GENERAL HEALTH 

The general health of the Boerboel is of a high standard. Animals presented for appraisal must be in a good general condition and weight must be in relation to the size of the dog. Physical handicaps and former surgery must be supported by acceptable certification. 

 Reproductive organs

 Both females and males should have at least eight nipples. 

a) Males 

i. Male dogs must have two well-developed testicles, both in the scrotum. ii. The penile sheath is short and firm and holds the penis close to the body. 

iii. Castrated males, monorchids or cryptorchids, may be taken up in the Pet Register. 

iv. Castrated males, monorchids or cryptorchids are not allowed in the show ring. 

b) Females 

i. The vulva must be firm. 

ii. Sterilised females may be taken up in the Pet Register. 

iii. Sterilised females are not allowed in the show ring 

 MOVEMENT 

a) The movement is balanced, effortless, though powerful, purposeful, buoyant and fluent with comfortable reach in the front and powerful drive from the rear. 

b) The stride is sufficient, long, free and unrestricted. 

c) The legs move on parallel planes at all times. Whilst converging to the centre line of travel, the legs should never cross. 

d) At all gaits the top line is stable (fixed), without any swaying, dipping or excessive body roll. 

e) Limited, weak or unsound movement shall be severely penalised.  

 Traits that shall lead to disqualification are: 

a) Any indication of another dog breed 

b) Temperament Any behavioural abnormalities, i.e. 

i. An overly aggressive and/or uncontrollable dog. 

ii. A timid or insecure dog. 

iii. A dog that bites its owner. 

c) Size 

i. A dog not meeting the prescribed height. 

ii. A dog with insufficient bone structure. iii. A petite dog. 

iv. A clumsy/unbalanced dog. 

v. Unacceptable proportions of body components. 

d) Head 

A head that is not typically Boerboel. 

i. A too small or nondescriptive head. 

ii. Erect or semi-erect ears. Serious erect ears 

iii. Serious structural deviations of the eyelids. 

iv. Any other colour than yellow or brown eyes. 

v. A nose leather that is not black 

vi. Excessive deviations of dentition 

vii. A narrow, too long or sharply pointed muzzle. 

viii. A dog with cropped ears 

 Body 

i. A chest that is too narrow. 

ii. Bandy or crooked legs. 

iii. A top line that is too hollow. 

iv. A top line that is roached. 

v. A top line that is S-curved. 

vi. Serious cow hocks. 

vii. Serious sickle hocks 

viii. Slipping (unstable) joints. 

ix. Straight hind legs. 

x. Deformed spines. 

xi. Kinked, corkscrew, deformed or tightly curling tails. 

f) Skin and pelt 

i. Long and/or curly hair. 

ii. Excessive skin. 

iii. Insufficient pigmentation of skin around key areas (lips; nose; palate; the skin and hair around the eyes; footpads; toenails; the anus; the nipples; and the skin and hair around the genitals. 

 Colour 

i. Unacceptable colours and patterns in respect of the breed standard: 

• Liver colour on any basic breed standard colour. 

• Excessive ticking on any basic breed standard coat colour. 

• Split face on any basic breed standard colour. 

• Dilute powder and solid blue colour dogs. 

• Black-and-tan dogs. 

• More than a third white of the total body surface. 

• The black colour needs to be a strong black colouring with no shades of brown (referred to as seal colouring). 

• Tri-colour 

• Any colours not part of the Breed Standard. 

ii. Insufficient pigmentation 

 Reproductive organs 

i. Males without two natural and well-developed testicles. 

ii. Females with grade 2 vaginal hyperplasia or a prolapse. 

Mobility 

i. Clumsy or unbalanced movement. 

ii. Any visible impairment that seriously affects mobility. 

iii. Physical handicaps which are not the result of an earlier injury.  

 General Appearance: Symmetry and general appearance are decidedly square and cobby. A lean, leggy Pug and a dog with short legs and a long body are equally objectionable. Size, Proportion, Substance: The Pug should be multum in parvo, and this condensation (if the word may be used) is shown by compactness of form, well knit proportions, and hardness of developed muscle. Weight from 14 to 18 pounds (dog or bitch) desirable. Proportion square. Head: The head is large, massive, round - not apple-headed, with no indentation of the skull. The eyes are dark in color, very large, bold and prominent, globular in shape, soft and solicitous in expression, very lustrous, and, when excited, full of fire. The ears are thin, small, soft, like black velvet. There are two kinds - the "rose" and the "button." Preference is given to the latter. The wrinkles are large and deep. The muzzle is short, blunt, square, but not upfaced. Bite - A Pug's bite should be very slightly undershot. Neck, Topline, Body: The neck is slightly arched. It is strong, thick, and with enough length to carry the head proudly. The short back is level from the withers to the high tail set. The body is short and cobby, wide in chest and well ribbed up. The tail is curled as tightly as possible over the hip. The double curl is perfection. Forequarters: The legs are very strong, straight, of moderate length, and are set well under. The elbows should be directly under the withers when viewed from the side. The shoulders are moderately laid back. The pasterns are strong, neither steep nor down. The feet are neither so long as the foot of the hare, nor so round as that of the cat; well split-up toes, and the nails black. Dewclaws are generally removed. 

 Hindquarters: The strong, powerful hindquarters have moderate bend of stifle and short hocks perpendicular to the ground. The legs are parallel when viewed from behind. The hindquarters are in balance with the forequarters. The thighs and buttocks are full and muscular. Feet as in front. Coat: The coat is fine, smooth, soft, short and glossy, neither hard nor woolly. Color: The colors are fawn, silver apricot or black The colors are clearly defined for strong contrast.  The fawn color should be decided so as to make the contrast complete between the color and the trace and mask. Markings: The markings are clearly defined. The muzzle or mask, ears, moles on cheeks, thumb mark or diamond on forehead, and the back trace should be as black as possible. The mask should be black. The more intense and well defined it is, the better. The trace is a black line extending from the occiput to the tail. Gait: Viewed from the front, the forelegs should be carried well forward, showing no weakness in the pasterns, the paws landing squarely with the central toes straight ahead. The rear action should be strong and free through hocks and stifles, with no twisting or turning in or out at the joints. The hind legs should follow in line with the front. There is a slight natural convergence of the limbs both fore and aft. A slight roll of the hindquarters typifies the gait which should be free, self-assured, and jaunty. Temperament: This is an even-tempered breed, exhibiting stability, playfulness, great charm, dignity, and an outgoing, loving disposition.