Chimera Kennels

What's up everybody it's been a while, just been working with some new editions to the pack....my LinebaughxChillipepper- El Toro, DamonxLucile-Zion, Tosa/Allaunte pup-Bonsai, and a couple litters...But one of my close friends had been looking for some good dogs prerferbly a pure bredd and chose Boerbels and I don't have any experience with them or even read much about them. So I told him to join this discussion forum/website for any questions about his dogs or training them. I would really appreciate any info on the breed. Thanks.

If you find a good one, a boerboel can be a very nice dog.

i like them a lot. they are basically a mix between native dogs of south africa (rhodesian ridgebacks etc) and english mastiffs, bullenbeisser, later the bullmastiff was added also a bit of german mastiff and some other dogs.

it is true a good bb is a great guard dog. in europe there are sadly many show bred bb, with less attitude.

I also really like what I read about this breed.....but what is put in writing on the net and what is reality can be very different!

Are there a large proporion of good dogs out there....or do you REALLY have to look?  I see from their association website they are big into "appraising" the dogs (necessary for registering the dog) but unfortunately this appears to be just conformation (and probably some basic temperament testing).

Lee, they kind of have a look of Preacher

Over the last decade, I have probably come across only about a dozen or so. Of those, I have only seen about half do any "pp" work. I put PP in quotes for a reason, as some were sport dogs and only worked in prey. I know that some boerboels can do both prey and defense, but one complaint I personally would have about boerboels is although I have seen some good prey drive from some, I haven't seen really impressive defense or solid nerves yet when stressed. I would like to see some boerboels work under stress and still perform as if they were relaxed and I haven't yet seen this from a boerboel. I am not saying they can't be, but just that I haven't yet seen this from the breed yet. That said, I am sure there are some good ones out there. Unfortunately, it seems that the breed is more often than not owned and marketted by people that don't do any type of work with thier dogs. There are a few boerboel breeders that do work their dogs, but rumors have been spred that some of the breeders producing "working boerboels" actually have used a number of crosses in their lines...which means they would probably be better labelled as "Bandogs." I know of one person that claims he was actually asked to breed his bandog to a boerboel, but to keep it quite as the boerboel breeder didn't want people to know they bred bandogs into their program. All this said, a working class boerboel is simply an african bandog after all...as it is a "bull and mastiff" type dog that also has protection aspects to its heritage. The overall concern I have with the breed is its lack of consistency and its push to become overly "typy" like many of the other mastiff breeds...which too often results in a lack of true working ability. Still, although I would like to see more defense capabilities from the breed, when you find a good one that even only works in prey they too can be impressive.

Yes, IMO, Preacher-Man (and his sister Bandit) have a certain "boerboel appearance" to them...and I think Preacher (since Bandit is no longer here) could certainly be used to help improve the "Boerboel bandogs."

Hey Lee,

What breeding dogs do you still own? Do you any favorite up and comers and who are they out of?

Thanks

I own Preacher, Linebaugh, Tate, Sandman, Lynn, Lucile, Chili, Indy (Independence), Freedom, and then we will also keep a pup or two out of Linebaugh and Lucile.

Dragon Lady Kennels also has some dogs from us that I like A LOT. They got all their dogs from us and I am very close friends with them. All of their dogs are worthy dogs IMO...and they too are as good as anything that I myself own. In fact, I consider their yard an extension of my own program.

Our program is now on its 10th year, and I don't keep any dogs that don't meet our requirements. I know you asked for specifics, but I believe what we have now is as good as it gets. I need to update "our dogs" page as well as "our foundations" page.

Thanks so much for the detailed answer Lee!

I do like the looks and build on these dogs.  But as we know very well that looks are not even half the battle hmy:

Prey with no nerve is not a dog I would want protecting my family.  Was very excited to see they seemed to have a strict appraisal program....but then quite dissapointed that there was no mention of testing the working drives of the dogs.

I'm sure there are some impressive specimens out there....just dissapointed to here they are not as common as they should be

Very interesting read. Allow me to contribute the only video I've found of a Schutzhund 3 Boerboel 

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjA1MDg0MDQ4.html

The Boerboel has always impressed me as dry mouth mastiff for hot climates. I agree the Boerboel is a Bandog, but I've always thought it ironic that the American Bulldog, originally named American Pit Bulldog, is never referred to as a Bandog.