Boerboel Appearance

Coat and Color The Boerboel has a short, smooth coat that is shiny and dense. Like other Mastiff-type dogs, the skin of this breed is thick and somewhat loose, but it should not hang in folds or be excessively wrinkly. Boerboels have quite a bit of dark skin pigmentation, especially on their lips, inside the mouth (palate; gums), around the eyes and on the nose, paw pads, toenails, anus and genitals. Red, fawn and all shades of brown are common coat colors for this breed. They also come in brindle, piebald (white with colored markings, with white not to cover more than 33% of the body) and Irish marked (white on up to 30% of the body, with colored socks, neck collar and facial blaze). Small white patches are acceptable on the fore chest and legs, but they are not preferred. Full black facial masking is desirable in this breed. Black Boerboels are not allowed in conformation competition, but they do exist and have no “defects” other than being born an unaccepted color. Grooming Boerboels have short hair that does not shed in large quantities. They benefit from a weekly brushing to remove dead hair and keep their coats tidy and clean. They don’t require frequent bathing. Baths are usually only necessary when the dog gets dirty or smelly. Too many baths can dry out the dog’s skin, which can then become flaky. Boerboels should have their teeth brushed regularly to prevent tartar and plaque build-up. Their nails are durable but may naturally file down a bit if they spend much time outside on hard surfaces. Owners should start trimming their Boerboels’ nails early in puppy-hood, so that they are used to the process by the time they mature into enormous, powerful adults.