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Date Posted: 09:48:02 11/16/03 Sun
Author: DKH
Subject: The Historical Boerboel

Many people are attempting to paint a picture of the Historically correct Boerboel, I think many are working with misconception, a shortened time-line, and a pre-conceived self serving agenda.

The first misconception concerns the Boerboel as a working dog…the notion that a Boerboel with the desire to work, and the capability to excel at work would somehow subject the breed to breed specific legislation is poorly conceived. The working aspects of a dog are honed through rigorous training…obedience and control being of the utmost importance to results in the field or competition. The idea that a physically sound Boerboel with defined drives and an activity level comparable to other working breeds somehow turns him into a LESS desirable animal makes no sense. I feel confident that the HBSA goals for ideal temperament, and my own, agree on at least one very basic point…the Boerboel must be shown in the temperament of companion/family dog FIRST, functional working companion animal SECOND. No one that I am aware of is trying to dictate that Boerboels be turned into nasty tempered, hard-edged, uncontrollable beasts…and who would WANT one?? This would definitely not represent the correct Boerboel. In fact, I don’t think the HBSA is trying to dictate their ideas to anyone outside their own organization, but rather I see that they are trying to enhance a system that is already in place, and have extended their hand to anyone wanting to follow in this endeavor.

The second thing I hear is that Boerboels don’t do any work in Africa, so perhaps this is not a working breed after all. People that go to Africa come back saying that they see no indication of work being performed by this breed. No kidding? The HBSA is attempting to address this problem, stating that the functional qualities of the breed have been neglected since the inception of the appraisal system, and one goal is to rectify this problem through acknowledgement and correction. Some breeders want to point out that no real work has been done with this breed since the first registry was formed to accommodate the Boerboel some 15 years ago, and therefore no precedent for work has been established for the breed. They want to consider the last twenty years, not the last couple hundred years, as being the history of the breed. They want to carry on in the fine tradition of the system that has nearly relegated the breed to “Rare breed show dog”, and at that, has failed to set type in the breed. These same people are the ones that started promoting the breed with the romantic stories of the legendary prowess of the pioneer dog,… a dog that developed out of four centuries on the harsh and unforgiving African continent. But now they want us to forget those romantic notions they fed us, because it does not reflect in their program or their dogs. How sad.

This leads me to my final point. Making mediocre Boerboels has become a cottage industry for a great number of people. The collision of the Internet and the almighty Dollar has fed this movement. It was very predictable, and still is. Many people with no prior experience in dogs started a breeding program for Boerboels because they ONLY wanted to capitalize on the growing demand, and the perceived ease of profit. These people will fight and fight hard against any obstacles thrown in their path. They got into Boerboels because it was supposed to be easy, and they damn sure want it to STAY easy. Anybody and everybody with a male Boerboel and a female Boerboel can be a qualified breeder (for now) and stands a good chance of selling pups and making money…why mess with a scheme like that? Because it is NEVER going to improve the breed, and in fact, can not even sustain the breed. You want Breed specific legislation?? Just let every Boerboel with a poor temperament throw pups for people who will sell them to the dog-owning public…you will get it.

The HISTORICAL Boerboel Association of Southern Africa should be EXPECTED to promote the historical Boerboel…it should come as no surprise, and it should provide no conflict. If you like the idea, follow along. If you don't like the idea for whatever reason, stay where you are. Good luck to us all.

As always, JMO
DKH

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