Don't get a Boerboel puppy.

[Kate Williams]

I just looked at the listings in my area for the first time. WTF? My children can be an inconvienance as well yet when I buy a house I seek one with enough bedrooms. I do not take out an ad on craiglist to rehome them due to space issues... Come to think of it this might be genius.

 

[rknewberry]

I love the breed and was so happy to get my 2nd Boerboel this past August. I'm sure most people to learn what these dogs were breed to do. They were breed for two reasons, to protect the farms in South Africa from wild animals, i.e. Lions, Cheetahs, etc, but they were also breed to be loyal family companions. They are extremely loyal and territorial dogs and can come across as agressive if they see or smell the unknown. Just this morning my Buster was leaning against me and because of his strength I had to hold onto the counter so I didn't fall down. With my husband and I, he is a big love always giving us kisses which turns into nibbles. If one of us leaves, he stands at the window whining for a few minutes. With this said, this is not a breed to get just because of how cute they are. I have been surprised to see how many of them end up in rescues, that's where I found my Buster. I hope people use this site to research different Mastiff breeds and that this thread provides useful information. This is a picture of my Buster at a local dog park.

 

[grazefull1]

How r bb different from cc beside size(temp. And behavior)?

 

[DMikeM]

More mellow and a heavier dog. Shorter thicker neck, bred for hot weather but with a double coat so they can tolerate the cold as well. The females are noticably smaller than the males and I think with the CC males and females are very close in size, I may be wrong in all of this as I am not up on the CC like I am on the BB. But I have and have seen other mistake a CC for a BB and Visa Versa, especially the brindles.

 

[LauraR]

I really hate to even say this but after recently seeing the lists of abandoned and returned Boerboels (BBs or SABs) that need rescuing. I just want to say to first time mastiff shoppers please consider what you are doing do the research or get a different dog. BB puppies are so damned cute that people just see one and get that compulsion to get it. But they have no clue as to how big and powerful these dogs can get and mean if just left on a chain or in a kennel with little socialization. Boerboels are a social mastiff and require interaction to properly develop a stable temperament. Maybe consider rescuing one instead of buying a pup. OK sorry my rant and 3.5 cents. Fire away!

Thank you for caring enough to warn inexperienced pet owners. I believe that anyone should put quite a bit of thought into it before getting ANY dog. Especially a large breed. Too many people do not do enough research and prep to know what they are getting into, or they don't care enough to think about the long term. They will get one of these majestic giants thinking that it looks pretty or would make a good family dog or protector and don't realize what they are getting into.
I have always wanted a larger dog and about 6 months ago my husband and I decided that we were very interested in mastiffs. We did a hefty amount of research on the different breeds to find one that would be suitable for our family. We ultimately decided on the English Mastiff. I joined this site to learn more about the breed from actual owners rather than various websites and I want to make sure that we are 100% prepared for what we are getting into before diving right in. We are going to do practice budgets for the rest of the year to make sure we can afford the $100-$250/mo in food and save enough for unexpected vet bills.
Too many people buy these dogs unprepared and I can't tell you how many craigslist postings I've seen on mastiff breeds where the owner "couldn't take care of them any more". In my eyes, committing to a dog is a lifetime thing. You don't just drop it off at a shelter or get rid of it when you can't take care of it anymore.

 

[DMikeM]

@LauraR, Thanks for the reply. I saw you are going to get an EM, and you will be moving to a Farm/Ranch. Not trying to push my preference on you but did you know that the Boerboel is the Farmers Dog? Do you have any experience in guardian breeds and is that why you opted for EM instead of another breed?

 

[MJT]

I think no matter What animal you get you should research and commit, just like I wouldnt move where my kids couldn't be I wouldnt move where I couldnt have animals I already own.