FAQ About buying a Boerboel puppy
Why Is the Boerboel not KC registered?
The Boerboell is still a rare breed in the UK. The Kennel club only acknowledge a breed when there are enough Breeders in the country and enough has been done to get the breed on the import register.
So how are they Kennel Club registered then?
Boerboel Breeders should be registered in the UK to one of the following orginisations:
Boerboel International
SABT
Ebbasa
Registered breeders adhere to a code of ethics laid down by these groups.
Why should I buy a registered Boerboel puppy?
- Because that way you can make sure you are buying from dogs that have been health checked.
- Ethical breeders only breed from dogs that have been hip and elbowed scored, that are free from vaginal prolapse and eye tested.
- Groups won't appraise dogs that display uncontrollable aggression, so dogs that have good temperaments tend to be from registered breeders.
- The most important thing to consider when buying a Boerboel puppy are good temperament and health.
- Groups like Boerboel International, SABT and Ebbasa endeavour to regulate breeders to ensure this type og dogs are bred from.
What does an appraisal mean?
Simply an appraised Boerboel is a dog that has been scored by a qualified member of one of the orginisations mentioned above. All breeds have what is called a breed standard. This is an ideal description of that breed of dog.
The boerboel breed standard is used as a template to gauge how good the Boerboel is. An appraiser uses it and a scoring method to judge a dog. That score determines if a dog should be bred from. In the Boerboel world a dog must score the minimun of 75%. Different groups have slightly different ways of scoring and slightly different levels for breeding.
If you buy a puppy from an unregistered Boerboel you are most likely buying from a dog that wouldn't reach the standard required. Therefore you are likely to buy a puppy that turns out to be a poor example of the breed. Also If you buy from unregistered dogs/kennels you will not be able to register your dog and breed from it, under the organisations umbrella.
An appraised dog is a dog worthy of being bred from. Also groups like Boerboel International now do temperament testing and require health scores to give an overall scoring for the dog.
Cost of a Puppy.
The Boerboel is a rare breed dog and as such it's price should reflect the effort dedicated breeders put in. Boerboel under a £1000 pound are often from unregistered, unhealth tested, substandard parentage. Ethical breeders work hard and spend a great deal of money ensuring their breedings are of the highest quality. health testing, showing and importing new lines. Expect to pay for such dedication to improvement of the breed. Quality does not come cheap.
What to look for when buying a Boerboel puppy.
Zion's point of view comes from looking at breeders for dogs and our own ethics which we feel are important.
- 1. On finding a breeder you should arrange a visit to the kennel. You really should see the bitch and the stud if he is on site before hand. A bitch in whelp can behave differently so if you can see dogs before a mating you will get a better idea of their temperaments. If a breeder is not happy to do this then you need to ask why? I personally would walk away.
- 2.Temperament and health. Come equally for us. A healthy dog is useless if it's temperament is unstable. Equally a well tempered dog is no good if it has poor health.
A Boerboel is designed to guard and be a loyal family pet. So expect lots of barking when you visit a kennel. Ideally you should meet dogs face to face not from behind wire. Depending on if they are in season or whelp dogs can behave differently. A stud male surrounded by ladies in and out of heat, not always getting chance to mate can prove be hard work for any chap. So you may or may not get to see the male one to one. Ideally however you would. It must however be taken into consideration that the Boerboel IS a guarding breed. Therefore as loyal family guardians not all will be socialable. This doesn't make them bad dogs!
Everyone looks for different things from a Boerboel. Ask yourself what you do want and what you do not want. Look at the bitch and the male and if you see in both what you want in a pup, then your on the right track.
Health is vital to a Boerboel. There are however no guarantees that healthy dogs will breed healthy pups. History of the Boerboel shows that dogs with hip and elbows scores above the yearly mean averge have and continue to produce healthy offspring. A breeder should always health test their dogs and breed carefully. Health tests are important to check for genetic diseases ect but conditions like HD and ED appear sometimes regardless of the health of the parents. Breeding is not all about genetics. Infact it has been stated that approx 15% of a dogs health stems from genetics and the rest relays on enviromental issues.
To us these are the most important things in looking for a puppy. We met the dams and sires of all our dogs well before hand. We knew what we were getting our pups from.
3. The condition of the dogs. If you go to a breeder and their dogs are not kept well you will do them no favours by buying a puppy out of sympathy.
Check to see if the dogs are fit and active. If you can go for a walk with them great. Fat dogs are not healthy you should be able to see the last two ribs and there should be good muscle definition.
4. Puppies should come registered, with all their age appropriate jabs, insured, contracted, micro chipped and with food! The puppy pack should contain birth certificate, insurance documents, dam and sire papers and health certificates plus Sire and Dam appraisal papers. A good breeder should also offer complete aftercare to their owners no exception.
Buy a puppy with any less and you have made a poor choice.
These are Zions views from experience and what we as breeders will endeavor to provide.