Photo: Annelie Coleman
Nico Kilian, chairperson of the South African Boerboel Breeders’ Society, told Farmer’s Weekly at Nampo 2025 that negative public perceptions of the South African Boerboel need to change. These perceptions, he said, are often formed by cases of mistaken identities.
“We do all we can to change the often-negative perceptions about the breed. We regularly deal with cases where a dog that looks like a Boerboel attacks humans, and it is immediately assumed that the dog was a Boerboel. All big brown dogs are not Boerboels,” he said.
@farmersweeklysa 🐾 Misunderstood, not misbehaved. The Boerboel is smart, steady, and loyal — not the aggressive dog many think it is. 💬 Nico Killian from the SA Boerboel Breeders’ Society sets the record straight. #boerboelfans#dogs#boerboel#farmersweeklysa #farmtok#agriculturetiktok ♬ original sound – Farmer’s Weekly SA
Pure Boerboels are registered with the SA Studbook, and only registered dogs can be referred to as Boerboels.
“It is one of our objectives to educate the general public on the virtues of the Boerboel and allay the misconceptions about the breed,” he added.
Owners of registered dogs are also prohibited to crossbreed the Boerboel with other breeds.
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A true Boerboel has an even temperament, which is one of the most important selection criteria for South African Boerboel breeders, said Kilian. He added that the Boerboel is highly intelligent and has a high level of self-confidence.
According to Kilian, the breed has gained popularity around the globe over the years, and can now be found in Canada, Australia and America.
