| Balance |
The Boerboel is a perfectly balanced dog - all parts of the
body should be in proportion. |
| Characteristics and Temperament |
The Boerboel is reliable, obedient and intelligent, with a
strong watchdog instinct. It is self-assured and fearless. |
| The Head |
The head is the most important feature of the Boerboel, as
it represents its total character. The head is short, broad,
deep, square and muscular with well filled cheeks. The part
between the eyes must be well filled. |
| Top-line of the head / Occiput |
The top of the head is broad and flat, with prominent muscle
development. |
| Movement |
The movement of the Boerboel is comfortable, smooth, strong
and purposeful with good drive by the hindquarter and parallel
movement of the legs. During movement the straight topline is
fixed. |
| Skin |
The skin is thick, loose and well pigmented with slight wrinkles
on the brow when the dog is attentive. |
| Coat |
The coat is short and smooth with dense pelt.
The recognized colors are yellow, tawny, reddish-brown, brown,
piebald and all shades of brindle. |
| Size |
Male dogs
The ideal size of the male dog is 66 cm. The height can vary
between 64 cm and 70 cm, although there is no longer a limit
on the height of the male Boerboel, as long as the dogs stays
in balance.
Bitches
The ideal height of the bitch is 61 cm. The height can vary
between 59 cm and 65 cm. |
| General health |
As a result of natural selection the general health of the
Boerboel meets high standards. |
| Pigmentation |
The Boerboel is well pigmented, especially the lips, eyes,
foot pads, toe-nails and genitals.
All black on the Boerboel has to be really black without any
sign of blue. |
| The Face |
The face should blend symmetrically with the head, and can
be with or without a black mask |
| Stop |
The stop should be visible, but not prominent. |
| Muzzle |
The muzzle is black with large nostrils which are widely spaced. |
| The Nasal Bone |
The nasal bone is straight and parallel to the top-line of
the head. It is deep, broad and it tapers slightly to the front.
The nasal bone should be 8 - 10 cm long. |
| 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 |
The jaws (mandibles) are strong, deep and broad, and narrows
slightly to the front. |
| Teeth |
Teeth should be white, well developed, correctly spaced, a
complete set (42 teeth) and should have a scissors bite. |
| Eyes |
The color of the eyes can be any shade of brown, but darker
that the pelt. Eyes should be horizontally set. It should be
bread-spaced with firm, well-pigmented eyelids. |
| Ears |
The ears should be of medium size, V-shaped and should be
in proportion with the head. They are set fairly high and wide
against the head. When the dog is interested, the ears should
form a straight line with the top of the head. |
| Neck |
The neck shows a noticeable muscle curve, and is attached
high at the shoulder. |
| Profile |
The neck is of medium length and in proportion to the rest
of the dog. |
| Length |
The neck is quite strong and muscular, firmly attached to
the head and gradually broadens up to the point where it is
attached to the shoulder. The neck, head and shoulders should
form a unit. |
| Appearance |
The skin of the neck is loose under the throat and becomes
taut between the front legs. |
| Body |
|
| Topline |
The top line should be straight. |
| Back |
The back is straight, broad and in proportion, with prominent
back muscles and a short loin. |
| Rump |
The rump is broad and strong, with good muscle development.
|
| Chest |
The chest is muscular and strong. The chest should be broad,
and deeply set between the forelegs, with well attached and
curved ribs. The ribcage should be in proportion to the chest. |
| Tail |
The tail is attached high to the body. It should be straight
and preferably short (three joints). Long tails are acceptable.
|
| The forequarters |
The forequarter is strong, muscular and in proportion to the
rest of the dog. |
| Shoulders / Withers |
The withers should be well attached, correctly angulated and
with good muscle development. |
| Upper arm |
The upper arm should have good muscle development. |
| Front legs |
The front legs should be thick, strong, muscular and should
stand perfectly vertical. |
| Front Pasterns |
The front pasterns are short, strong and a vertical extension
of the front legs and pastern joints. |
| Front Paws |
The front paws are big, well padded and rounded with strong,
dark and curved toenails. The paws should point straight forward. |
| The hindquarters |
The hindquarter should be strong, firm and muscular and in
proportion to the rest of the dog, with the ability for effective
propulsion. |
| Upper Thighs |
The upper thighs are broad, deep, well developed with prominent
muscles. |
| Second Thigh / Gaskin |
The second thighs should be well developed with prominent
muscles. |
| Knee - Stifle |
The knees are strong, firm and correctly angulated. |
| Hock Joints |
The hock joints are strong and firm with correct curving.
|
| Hocks |
The hocks are relatively short, strong and thick. The hocks
are parallel. (Dew claws should not be present). |
| Hind Paws |
The hind paws are slightly smaller that the front paws. The
should be well padded, rounded and should point straight forward.
The nails are strong, dark and curved. |
