| Balance |
The Boerboel is a perfectly balanced dog - all parts of the body should be in
proportion. |
| Characteristics & 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 colours 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 stay 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 colour 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, and 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. They should be well
padded, rounded and should point straight forward. The nails are strong, dark
and curved. |
