RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH...

Don't rush into choosing any breeder ... and especially do not take them at their word. I've learned in my long lifetime that words are very cheap. Take your time to contact lots of breeders, ask for references from previous buyers, and insist on seeing documentation to prove registries and health tests prior to considering the purchase of any pup.

A good, conscientious breeder who truly cares about the dogs they breed and who does their best to improve the quality and health standards of the boerboel will be more than willing to provide you with copies of registrations and hip test certifications. They will also willingly provide you with references from their practicing vet and previous buyers of their pups. Any breeder who hesitates or refuses to provide this information probably has something to hide. And do not feel ashamed to confirm that the documents you receive are real. It is not difficult to check with the breeder's association or with the hip testing institution to confirm documentation. It just takes a bit of effort and patience.

I made the decision to breed only Suid-Afrikaanse Boerboeltelersvereniging (South African Boerboel Breeder's Association-SABT) registered boerboels because it has been my experience ... and that of others who have contacted me after having problems with various breeders ... that the SABT registry is the most reliable of the four or five sundry boerboel registries. I know very little about the EBBSA in South Africa, but would definitely never recommend any breeder who has HBSA registered dogs. A great majority of the HBSA breeders seem to be the ones who are breeding unsound boerboels and selling their pups to the import market. I am certain that there are honorable and honest breeders in South Africa who register their dogs with the HBSA. In fact, many South African breeders dual or triple register their dogs with the SABT, EBBSA, and HBSA. I have heard a great many horror stories from people who have imported dogs from South African breeders ... stories such that they have never received their registry papers, received dogs that were disqualified at appraisal by not meeting the minimum of the breed standard, and received pups with severe health problems. The greatest risk a buyer takes in importing any pup from halfway around the world is that once it gets off the plane ... it is yours, no matter what. It costs more to return a dog to South Africa than it did to buy it in the first place. And once your money has been transferred to a bank in South Africa, it is basically gone unless you are dealing with an honest person.

As for the two American registries ... the USBA and the HBUSA (HBSA American affiliate), I can only say APPROACH WITH EXTREME CAUTION. The horror stories I have heard connected with breeders who belong to either, or both of, these organizations would fill an encyclopedia. I realize that most of my experience with these people is hearsay, but I have several friends that I KNOW have been taken for a ride in dealing with these folks.. Sadly, many of these breeders sound like good, reputable, honest people when you talk to them. But it's a bit too late when you have bought a pup and become attached to it only to find that it will never live a normal life due to temperament or health issues.

Another thing I recommend to anyone ... if at all possible ... go and visit the breeder you have chosen to buy a pup from. Be certain to meet the pup's parents to be sure that they have calm, friendly temperaments. Not long ago, I heard of a pup who was friendly and loving when it was very young. When it reached about six months of age, it began to exhibit very severe fear-aggression problems. It was evaluated by a veterinary behaviorist and was given a very poor prognosis of ever getting better even with a stringent training program by the owner. In fact, the owner was told that no matter what she did she could never expect to have the sort of life she envisioned with her dog. And the veterinary behaviorist said that this sort of problem is not apparent until a pup is older. I know of another boerboel who became so uncontrollably aggressive that it was necessary to euthanize him. With these problems manifesting themselves so late in a pup's life, I really do not know if the "temperament tests" given early in life would tell you how the dog will grow up. It seems to me that the most important thing is to evaluate the parents' temperaments.

And remember, too, that sometimes there can be a problem with a pup who has parents that meet all the best criteria of health and temperament testing and who have appraised at a very high score. Genetics is in no way a 100% guarantee. Two perfectly healthy parents can produce a pup or pups with problems. One of the most difficult problems faced by breeders here in America is that we have no real clue as to the health and temperaments of the parents, grandparents, etc., of imported breeding stock. The South African breeders associations seems to have more concern about health issues like eyelids and vaginal prolapse…both corrected by minor surgery…than they have about true health issues that will limit a dog’s quality of life. There is no requirement yet that dogs to be appraised have their joints tested prior to appraisal or that those test results meet certain minimum requirements. As for other health issues, so far I have experienced a wall of dead silence, or complete denial, when I ask anyone in South Africa if they have heard of certain conditions in the boerboel. That silence is almost as prevalent here in the USA because it is not good “PR” for a breeder to admit that anything may be wrong. After all, the boerboel has been advertised for years as being free of health issues that plague other breeds.

Just remember that a good breeder will be open and forthcoming with information about their dogs. They will gladly welcome your visit to see their breeding stock. And they will gladly provide you with references. They most likely will have a sound and thorough health guarantee, also. And if the breeder asks YOU for references, do not be put off. A good breeder cares about the type of homes their dogs go to.