The Boerboel, a native of South Africa is one of the most popular dog breeds in Nigeria and is being used for guarding purposes.
There have been a lot of questions on how to know a thorough-bred boerboel.
This post will help you distinquish a pure-bred boerboel from a mixed breed whether you are trying to buy a puppy or adult . You have to know the approved breed standard of Boerboel before you can get a pure-bred one.
According to South African Boerboel Breeders’ Society Europe:
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.
We will be talking on different features of pure bred boeboel and what you will look out for for when buying a pure or thorough bred boerboel.
General Appearance
• The Boerboel is a large dog with a strong-boned structure;
• The body is 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;
• A dog with prominent and well-developed musculature;
• Impressive and imposing in appearance, created by a combination of conformation, carriage, confidence and powerful, buoyant and unencumbered movement – notwithstanding its size
• Males are distinctly masculine, larger, while females are distinctly feminine, but without weakness of substance or structure.
• The ideal height of a male is 66 cm but not lower than 60 cm,while the ideal height of a female is 61 cm but not lower than 55 cm.
• Height must always be in relation to mass (minimum of 1:1 and a maximum of about 1:1.25), overall balance and conformation of major body components.
Colour
When you want to want to buy a dog, the first feature of the dog you will notice is the colour of the dog.
Some dogs come in a one particular colour distribution, while others can come in more than one colour. Others can come in any colour.
Boerboel can come in various colours
The recognized and approved colours in boerboel are: –
• all shades of brown (tan, red) or fawn; –
• Brindle: a color pattern with irregular, apparent vertical lines of only black hair on a brown (tan, red) or fawn base color; –
• Piebald: white spots on a brown (tan, red), fawn or brindle dog; –
• Irish: a brown (tan, red), fawn or brindle dog with a white blaze, a white chest that can extend to a white collar, and white feet and legs.
• A black mask is optional.
• All the colors and associated patterns should be accompanied by good pigmentation. The dog should have adequate overall dark skin pigmentation, and the nose leather, eye lids, lips, sexual organs, anus, ears and paw pads should show adequate melanin pigmentation.
For a detailed list of colours found in dogs check our post http://petsarena.com.ng/2017/04/checkout-beautiful-coat-colours-seen-in-dogs/
Disqualifications: Any color or combination of colors other than the ones described above such as
• Liver color on any basic breed standard color.
• Ticking on any basic breed standard color. Split face on any basic breed standard color.
• Dilute/powder and solid blue colored dogs.
• Black and tan dogs.
• More than one-third white of the total body surface.
• Solid black.
• Tri-color.
Serious Fault: Excessive/large white areas in all colors.
Head

The Head is a very important and distinguishing feature of the Boerboel, as it represents it’s total character.
The head is short, broad, deep, square and muscular with well filled cheeks. The top of the skull (occiput) is broad and flat, and from the side the muzzle and head are square. The skull must gradually decrease in width to the eyes and the stop should be visible but not prominent. Moderate wrinkling is observed over the forehead when the dog shows interest.
Eyes – Eye color comes in all shades of yellow and brown, but 90% of dogs’ eye color is lighter than the pelt. The eyes should be horizontally and wide set and looking straight forward, with firm well-pigmented eyelids. Eyes should not be protruding or set too deep, and haws should not show.
Disqualification – Blue eyes must be seen as a serious fault
Ears – The ears should be of medium size, V-shaped and of moderate thickness. The ears are set high and wide against the skull. Ears should drop side ways close to the cheek. When the dog is interested, the ears should form a straight line with the top of the skull (occiput). The ideal length is when the lower tip of the ear is in line with the eye.
Disqualification – Rose, tulip, pricked or full drop is a serious fault.
The nasal bone is straight and as near to parallel as possible to the top line of the head, and should taper slightly from eye to muzzle, with or without a black mask. The nasal bone should be in proportion to the skull (approximately 8-10 cm long). The ratio between skull and nasal bone being 1/1.5:1
The muzzle – is black with large nostrils which are largely spaced.
Disqualification – Liver colored, white or spotted nose.
Lips – the upper lip is loose and fleshy, and should not hang lower than the lower jaw. The upper lip (beneath the muzzle) should cover the lower lip
Jaws – upper and lower should be strong , broad and muscular. The jaws should not be flat or snipey.
Teeth – The teeth should be white, well developed, correctly spaced, a complete set of 42 teeth and should have a scissors bite- a bite in which the outer side of the lower incisors touches the inner side of the upper incisors. Disqualification – badly overshot and badly undershot – i.e. more than 1 cm.
NECK
The neck gradually increases in width from the head to the shoulder, is of medium length, powerful and with an arched crest. The head and neck does not show excessive skin. The scruff may be loose, the dewlap may be noticeable, but not excessive, and the skin is tight across the sternum.
Continue reading @http://petsarena.com.ng/2017/05/boerboels-breed-standard-get-pure-bred-boerboel/