Boerboel Standard

S.A.B.T STANDARD (from South Africa)

• GENERAL APPEARANCE
  The Boerboel is a big strong dog, well balanced, with good muscle development and swift in movement. The dog should be impressive, and imposing. Male dogs appear noticeably masculine and bitches feminine
   

• BALANCE
  The Boerboel is a perfectly balanced dog – all parts of the body should be in proportion.
   

• TEMPERAMENT AND CHARACTERISTICS
  The Boerboel is reliable, obedient and intelligent, with a strong watchdog instinct. It is self-assured and fearless, but perspective to the needs of the family.
   

• 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.
   

• FACE
  The face should blend symmetrically with the head, and can be with or without black.
   

• STOP
  The stop should be visible, but not prominent.
   

• MUZZLE
  The muzzle is black with large nostrils that are widely spaced.
   

• 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 8-10cm long.
   

• LIPS
  The upper lip is loose and fleshly, 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 than the pelt. Eyes should be horizontally set. It should be broad-spaced with firm, well-pigmented eyelids
   

• EARS
  The ears should be of medium size, v-shaped and should be in proportion to 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 PROFILE
  The neck shows a noticeable muscle curve, and is attached high at the shoulder.
   

• LENGTH
  The neck is of medium length and in proportion to the rest of the dog.
   

• APPEARANCE
  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 shoulder should from a unit.
   

• THE SKIN OF THE NECK
  The skin of the neck is loose under the throat and becomes taut between the front legs.
   

• BODY
  The body narrows slightly towards the loin.
   

• TOP LINE
  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 rib cage 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.
   

• FORE-QUARTERS
  The forequarters is strong, muscular and in proportion to the rest of the dog.
   

• SHOULDER/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 and with strong dark and curved toenails. The paws should point straight forward.

• HIND-QUARTERS
  The hindquarters should be strong, firm 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 firm with correct curving.
   

• HOCKS
  The hocks are relatively short, strong and thick. The hocks are parallel. (Dewclaws should not be present).
   

• HIND PAWS
  The hind paws are slight smaller than the front paws. They should be well padded, rounded and should point straightforward. The nails are strong dark and curved.
   

• MOVEMENT
  Movement should be easy, smoothly powerful, by means of good propulsion of the hindquarter and parallel movement of the legs. In movement, a straight top-line should be maintained.
   

• SKIN
  The skin is thick, loose, well pigmented with moderate wrinkles.
   

• PELT/HAIR
      ~ The pelt is short, sleek and dense.
     ~ Recognized colors are cream white, pale tawny, reddish brown, brown and all shades of brindle.
   

• SIZE
      ~ MALE DOGS
        The ideal height for a male dog is 66cm (25 inch). It can, however, vary between 64 and 70cm.
      ~ BITCHES
        The ideal height for a bitch is 61cm (24inch). It can vary between 59 and 65cm.
   

• GENERAL HEALTH
  The Boerboel enjoys exceptional health, due to natural selection.
   

• PIGMENTATION
  The Boerboel is well pigmented, especially on the lips, paws, toenails and genitals.