According to society president Lititia Kruger, the South African Boerboel Breeders’ Society (SABBS) was registered in 2012 under the Animal Improvement Act (No. 62 of 1998).
Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly at Nampo 2026, she described the Boerboel as a loyal, obedient, friendly, and highly trainable dog breed. Kruger emphasised that well-trained, socialised Boerboels, despite their large size, are very good with children and a welcome addition to households because of their even temperaments.
“Prospective breeders must take cognisance of the fact that the Boerboel is a large breed with a large appetite and needs ongoing attention and socialising,” she explained.
“An even temperament is one of the most important selection criteria for the SABBS, and we are very strict in this regard. The modern Boerboel is friendly and nurturing while remaining an excellent watchdog and protector.”
The Boerboel as it is known today has been selectively bred for more than 40 years. According to Kruger, the breed comes highly recommended as a trustworthy guardian and companion. However, she added that every large brown dog that looks like a Boerboel is not necessarily a true Boerboel.
The SABBS works very hard to dispel the myth that the breed is unpredictable and aggressive. A true Boerboel is registered and microchipped with an accompanying DNA profile. Any other dog that looks like a Boerboel should be regarded as a mixed breed.
“Big dogs like Boerboels are often subject to problems with their hips and elbows. In our case, through careful selection, hip problems have been largely eliminated from the breed, and we have made excellent strides in eradicating elbow problems,” Kruger said.
