Peter,
I lived in Rhodesia and then SA for almost four years and although I saw plenty of Rhodesian Ridgebacks ( great lion dogs, if you're having trouble with them ) I'm not sure that I even saw any Boerboels ( I saw mastiff like dogs on various ranches, but they weren't doing much of anything, truthfully ).

I've worked about a dozen Boerboels brought in by potential clients and everyone of them were spooky fear-bitters that didn't have any basic utility as PPD's. All of those dogs couldn't pass my basic test to even begin training and all but two of those owners went on to get a GSD or Mal for a PPD.
Sadly, both clients that kept their Boerboels ended up eventually euth'ing the dogs due to unprovoked family bites, one very serious.

I think that breeders in the U.S. could improve on the breed with selective breeding, but they're a "flavor of the moment" dog and their already compromised gene pool is suffering at the hands of breeders that either don't know what they're doing or are out to make a fast buck.
Maybe some serious breeders with good ethics will band together and try to improve the breed - that'd be great to see.

Recently some folks have actually titled some Boerboel in SchH, so I guess that with careful screening you might be able to find a Boerboel with ok nerves and enough drive to train - but as everyone that I've encountered hasn't been sound, I rate them as just a curiosity.
Your mileage of course may vary............

I can't say with any honesty if the males would bite an intruder, I think the sight of a 10 stone dog charging them would put an opportunist off, they can move with alarming speed in prey drive, and my youngest male hates anything small and furry that squeals or moves fast, including small dogs, yappers particulary, I hope I never have cause to put the bite to the test, but what they do seem to do is the grip, where they hold an arm with a firm but soft mouth, if they feel threatened.

In my situation, living with just my daughter, I do have comfort in them being there, cold callers and delivery men are made aware through the window that there is a very large dog with an impressive set of teeth, and we do find out on the pavements and fields we generally get a wide berth, which suits us fine!

I do love the breed, but the health stats need to come along, with the all important temperement for me to consider buying another pup.

Okay, I have a completely serious question here. Don't laugh.

But, how do you say Boerboel?

Kind of between boor-bull and boor-bool, I'd say.

It's an Afrikaans word.

I am interested to see how others might spell the pronunciation!

Sent you a pm.

 Quote: connie sutherland

Kind of between boor-bull and boor-bool, I'd say.

It's an Afrikaans word.

I am interested to see how others might spell the pronunciation!

It's pronounced "Boor Ball".

hi all thanks for the great info - it was just a curiousity question.

sometimes i think people only rate dogs against sport criteria which is a bit unfair on purpose-bred breeds that were invented before the sport was.

my curiousity has been well satisfied thank you all.

Peter,
Just to be clear, I am completely a PPD guy, it's how I earned my living for several years and I'm pretty sure that I am on the very short list of pro PPD trainers.

That being said, I see the utility of sport training when it's done a good level, but I don't rate work dogs ( in my field ) against sport criteria, trust me on that.

Will thanks for clearing tht up but it wasn't necessary, my comment was a general obs not aimed at you or particularly any reposnders on this thread.

Will did you get a chance to eyeball that pedigree link i PM'ed ya, i have some big news i will put on another thread. i will also post the pedigree link to Ed n hope hard he will bother to comment.

you are generally considered the god of czech at least in the states i am to believe.

cheers

I have given up trying to explain the pronunciation to curious fellow dog walkers here, they say "oh Baubel" or "Booble" so now I say South African Mastiff! the literal translation is farmers dog, or so I am told.