• BVA Hip testing - all dogs are done before breeding.
• BVA Elbow testing - all dogs are done before breeding.
• Hyperplasia Exam - all females are done,always on their first and subsequently on their third/fourth season.
• Ent/Ectropion Exam - all dogs are done at same time as hips/elbows and bloods for epilepsy test.
• X Rays of knees - dependant on weight and type of pup.
• X Rays of shoulders - dependant on weight and type of pup. 
• BVA Eye Exam - dependant on bloodline and history.
• BVA Gonioscopic Exam - dependant on bloodline and history.
• Partial Epilepsy blood test - all dogs are done before breeding.
• DNA Profiling - all our own breeding dogs are done.All pups who are subsequently bred from by others shall also be DNA Profiled before breeding.
• Heart Testing - Echo Test,dependant on bloodline and history.
• Brucellosis Blood Test - for dogs leaving the country dependant on regs/and before semen is collected from the males.
• Rabies Blood Test - for those dogs who are rabies vaccinated and are required to come back to the UK.
• Titre Tests - for those dogs who are previously vaccinated as pups and that have had the booster at 1 year old. We do not vaccinate all dogs annually,titre tests will be done instead.

As stated in the contract for your puppy, we have used fully health tested dogs ,this includes, hips, elbows, eyes (ent/ectropion), hyperplasia (females only obviously), some dogs have been tested using the BVA system and others with the PennHip or FCI method. Some dogs have also been pre-tested at 6mths old including X rays for knees and shoulders as well as hips and elbows and also heart sounding. We are also currently trying to get all our dogs through the full BVA eye test and separate gonioscopic test for Glaucoma. We also participate in the partial epilepsy blood testing now that the gene has been recognised.

Conditions known within the breed in the UK and Worldwide to have affected the Boerboel:

Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, Osteo Chondritis Dissecans, Dilated Cardio Myopathy, Sub-Aortic Stenosis, Arthritis, United Aconeal Process, Bloat and Torsions, Cruciate Issues, Luxating Patellas, Hyperplasia, Prolapse, Pyometra (Open and Closed), Wobblers, Partial Epilepsy, Umbilical Hernias, Demodex (Demodectic Mange), Salivary Gland Problems, Entropion, Ectropion, Growing Pains (a self limiting condition), Skin Allergies, Glaucoma, Horner's Syndrome, Multiple Cancers, Pneumonia, Diabetes.

Recessive genes may be partially responsible for some of these conditions but as the gene pool is so limited in the UK breeders do have to work cleverly, and sometimes matings are a trial with recessives being unknown within a dog until it is matched with another unknown recessive in the female. I must also stress that the above items are common in ALL medium to large breeds and very often in smaller breeds of dogs too - not just the Boerboel. 

We at Sandaharr always health test our dogs. We will always disclose any confirmed cases of any of the above within our dogs and pups ,all disclosure shall be made to any prospective owner at the time of visiting and before any decision is made on the purchasing of any of our pups. The disclosure shall be in writing and at time of the puppy collection (if one is booked) then the owners shall be asked to sign the statement that they are aware of all we have discussed and written in the disclosure. Each party shall keep a copy of this, along with the puppy contract and microchip details.  

We do though reserve the right as breeders to always put temperament first and foremost and we do debate long and hard with ourselves and others before using a dog/bitch that has less than perfect health scores if the temperament and conformation is deemed to be excellent. We shall never breed 'just for breedings sake'.

Temperament is the most important thing for a good Boerboel,both owners & breeders should always remember this.

back to top