Home of The Big Texas Boerboel
Please fill out our puppy application to begin the process of owning a Peterbuilt Boerboel.
Updated 12/17/25
Our Boerboels
The Program
Howdy, let me start by saying, we want you (a serious buyer) to come see our dogs in person (if it’s practically feasible). Beyond that, we also want you to go visit other boerboel breeders before making a decision on your breeder. We have no reason to be ashamed of the conditions our dogs live in and we don’t want to hide the parents of your potential puppy. We are proud of our dogs and facilities (everyone has 24/7 access to a spacious yard, good sized indoor space and a/c). Our dogs WILL win you over when you see them in person! If a breeder doesn’t welcome you to see ALL of their dogs, I’d suggest you proceed with caution. Same if a breeder cannot provide you with the health record results. Being “Health tested” is different than “Healthy”.
At times we have puppies for sale. The majority are sold prior to birth.
The South African Mastiff – Boerboel is one of the biggest dogs on the market. We offer some of the best boerboels that possess great temperaments, are big & powerful, have great health, are aesthetically built to impress, and have outstanding pedigrees. Come see some of the best Boerboels here in the big state of Texas.
Our Goal: To pair quality Boerboels into quality loving homes. We constantly strive to improve quality. Our overall top priorities are 1. Where the dogs go once they leave here. 2. Temperament. 3. Health. 4. Functionality. 5. Overall look/Conformation. 6. Size. Yes, thats right, conformation isn’t our highest priority. We’d like to have good conformation to the breed standard, but if I can’t achieve a good temperament and/or if health is an issue, then conformation has to take the backseat. This is why you will see young adults being sold on our available puppies section often. We hold back several and if for one reason or another they aren’t what we are looking for, then they get cut from the program.
The Boerboels we chose to be a part of the PeterBuilt Boerboel family weren’t randomly selected from conveniently close breeders, we researched and sought out the best lines from top reputable breeders. Many of our boerboels were imported from South Africa.
If you don’t have an understanding about the breed please read our “Boerboels Explained” section and do some additional independent research about the breed. They are not to be taken lightly. They cannot be placed into careless hands.
Quality
Below is an example of how one of our boerboel litters turned out at 10-11 months old.
If you want a quality boerboel, do some research. Get an understanding of the breed standards. Join some of the BoerBoel Facebook groups and follow all the boerboel pages you can find on Instagram. Pay attention to how the average boerboels on those pages look. Begin to get a grasp of what a good boerboel looks like and acts like.
Shipping: We are a boerboel breeder based in Livingston, Texas, but will work with you to ship a puppy out to you if you are located in the lower 48 States. Shipments are done through ground dog transporter or with a flight nanny as a small puppy. International shipping is possible, but not something we want to do unless it’s worth doing.
Common Boerboel questions and common questions we are asked:
Q: How big is a boerboel? How much does a boerboel weigh?
A: There is a wide variety of boerboel body types and body composition, therefore, there is a pretty large variation of body weight range. The males can range in weight between 120lbs and 220lbs. Note: males weighing around 120-140lbs would be considered underweight and males weighing over 195lbs are usually grossly overweight. Some exceptions do exist, but let me make clear, no matter what any breeder or boerboel owner has told you, it is not often. The females weight can range between 100lbs and 185lbs. In general, if you are comparing the boerboel to a Cane Corso, the boerboel will be much bigger than a Cane Corso on average. The build of a boerboel is similar to the Cane Corso, but closer in weight to a healthy English Mastiff.
Q: Why does the price of your puppies vary so widely?
A: Price is dependent on different factors:
1) The known quality of the paired boerboels. 2) If breeding rights are being given. 3) Gender can also be a factor for some litters. 4) Due to the higher demand for top picks, a higher price may be assigned for the top picks.
Q: Why do you charge more for breeding rights? It should just be one price!
A: When we offer an option for pet and full rights, we are actually lowering the cost for the pet registration, not raising the full rights cost. Building a unique quality foundation takes time, effort, sacrifice, and a lot of cost. We would rather sell to a pet home for a cheaper price. Besides, why would we just hand the genetics we worked very hard to acquire over to everyone for a Pet price?! Allowing others to use the unique genetics we have established here is not exactly in our best interest, therefore, higher price usually means we have a lot invested into that particular pairing and see it as being able to produce at the highest quality. If you don’t want to pay the extra cost, no problem, find a different breeder that’ll sell breeding rights for cheaper. You’ll likely get what you pay for.
Q: What breeds were used to create the boerboel?
A: There were several different variations used to create the boerboel. There is not enough documentation to pinpoint the exact crosses used to create the boerboel.
Q: What is the difference between SABBS, NABBR (Formerly NABBA), ABC, and AKC?
A: A short answer to this is SABBS (South Africa Boerboel Breeder Society) was derived out of SABT. SABBS/SABT was the original founding organization for the boerboel and was established in South Africa. The AKC (American Kennel Club) began to recognized the Boerboel breed in 2015. The ABC (American Boerboel Club) is the official AKC parent club for the Boerboel and is used to transition into AKC registration. NABBA (North American Boerboel Breeders Association) was established in 2013 as a separate club from SABBS based in North America. NABBA was restructured to NABBR in March 2024.
To us, the SABBS registry will be our primary registry and we do our best to maintain their standards in all areas except color. We don’t discriminate any boerboels from our program based on color. As long as the DNA comes back “boerboel”, we could care less what color it has. However, the caveat to this is we have a stricter requirement for temperament and health if we are going to deviate on the color. As of the end of 2025, we only have one boerboel that doesn’t meet the SABBS standard and if you have the privilege to meet her, you would know why we have her. We have held back five boerboels in the past two years that weren’t standard color and all five failed to be exceptional enough to keep in the program. This includes two black and tan/tri-color boerboels that some are breeding and selling at very high prices. Do not buy a boerboel based on color, it is highly likely the breeder didn’t take any other factors into consideration outside of color.
Q: Why do you recommend the SABBS registry?
A: If a boerboel breeder is only registering their dogs with ARBA or a similar type registry, proceed with caution. ARBA does not require DNA testing and has nothing in place to verify microchips when dogs are used for breeding. Therefore, the puppy you think you are getting may not be what you actually get, as it is easy to manipulate the registry and claim parentage that is not accurate. SABBS requires an appraisal of both parents before the boerboel can be bred. The appraisal score must be above 75%, the senior appraiser will verify the boerboel during time of appraisal by scanning the microchip and by requiring DNA to be sent off from the appraised dog to verify parentage.
Q: Are boerboels friendly?
A: Some boerboels are friendly. Most boerboels will be much friendlier in public than when they are on their property. Once they establish a boundary to protect, most will take that job very seriously without you telling them to. This mentality makes them not as likely to be friendly to other unknown people in their area of protection. Lots of consistent socialization at an early age till adulthood will help soften this instinct.
Q: Will a boerboel protect our property and family?
A: Yes, if not, your boerboel isn’t a very good boerboel.
Q: Are boerboels aggressive?
A: They can easily become aggressive. Socialize socialize socialize. Socialization helps with aggression. The boerboels number one job from birth is to protect. This protective instinct will manifest itself beyond just protecting you and property if they don’t get enough exposure to other people, other environments, and other dogs/animals.
Q: Do you have boerboel puppies for sale?
A: Please refer to the Planned Litters or Available Puppies page for what is current.
Q: How smart/intelligent is a Boerboel? Are boerboels easy to train?
A: Boerboels are very intelligent. In our experience, we have been able to train our boerboels rather easily. They are all food motivated. Interesting fact, every one of our boerboels knows how to give a tongueless kiss.
Q: Do you feed your boerboels a raw diet?
A: No. We have not found a reputable and safe source that is cheap enough to make it practical. Spending 50% of my work paycheck every month on raw food combined with additional supplementation to go with it isn’t going to be sustainable.
Q: Will you ship a puppy?
A: Yes. We will ship to the 48 mainland states in the USA. No international shipping at this time. Flight nanny and ground dog transporter.
Q: How do you ship boerboel puppies?
A: We offer several different options depending on your location, age, and size of the puppy/dog. If the puppy is 20lbs or less, they may be able to fly with a flight nanny. Puppies over 20lbs will generally need to ship with a puppy ground transport service. These options can be expensive, ranging between $500 -$1500. If we are close enough I may be able to meet halfway or at least drive a little bit closer to, so it’s not as far as a drive. However, this all depends on how busy we are.
Q: What is included in your Health Guarantee?
A: The health guarantee covers severe hip dysplasia, severe elbow dysplasia, any crippling genetic defect, and any kind of severe cardiac condition for 24 months. Problems must be evaluated and certified by the orthopedic foundation for animals (OFA). There must be no question and be in writing by your veterinarian, that it was not caused by bad nutrition, rough play, accident, over exercising, or recklessness. The issue must be documented and brought to our attention prior to 24 months of age.
Q: Should I feed my boerboel a high protein diet?
A: I would recommend feeding puppies that are 12 weeks to 10 months a diet that is around 24-26% protein or so. Feeding puppy food till up to 12 weeks or so should be fine, but you want to come off the higher protein levels soon after as the puppy continues to grow rapidly. Growing too fast can cause irreversible joint issues and other problems. The main takeaway here is to keep a close eye on their growth and adjust accordingly. As of August 2024, we switched food to Inukshuk brand dog food. The ingredients appear to be more intact and more nutrient rich. We like the results so far. Inukshuk 26/16 is fed to most of our boerboels in all stages of life. Inukshuk Marine 16 is fed to any boerboels with some sort of allergy issue.
Here’s what we feed our boerboels:
Q: What do I feed a boerboel puppy?
A: We feed our puppies Inukshuk 26/16 or Victor Hi-Pro solid food from around 6 weeks till 12 weeks old. If they were on Hi-Pro, we will move them to Inukshuk 26/16 after about 12 weeks. How they are developing will determine if they are put on Victor Hi-Pro or not.
Q: Are boerboels active?
A: Some are more active than others, but in general boerboels are pretty relaxed dogs. They will be about as active as you are. They will want to be doing what you are doing or at least be nearby.
Q: How do you prevent bloat? Do boerboels get bloat?
A: Yes, bloat is something to be concerned about with the boerboel breed. Bloat is very serious and can result in death in a matter of hours if not treated by a vet. We haven’t had any issues with bloat yet, but here are some pointers that we have picked up to help keep the possibility of bloat low: 1) Don’t raise the food/water bowls. You’ll hear the opposite from some sources, but the actual studies that have researched bot raised and on the ground bowls suggest raised bowls caused a higher risk of bloat. 2) Do not allow your boerboel eat after or before rough/strenuous activity/play. 3) If your boerboel is a fast eater, slow them down. 4) Feed them more than once a day.
Q: Are boerboels dog aggressive? Can two or more boerboels get along?
A: I would say most boerboels are not going to get along with other large intact dogs of the same sex. There are exceptions, but it’s rare and/or would take a tremendous amount of specialized training. Two boerboels of opposite gender or a boerboel paired with another large dog of the opposite sex will likely do fine together. Boerboels paired with smaller dogs will have a higher success rate for compatibility. Two intact boerboels of the same sex will have higher chance for success if they grow up together, but even then, things can turn into a bad situation at a drop of a hat. We’ve experienced two sisters that loved each other greatly turn on one another after 3 great years together and heard of other similar stories.
Q: What’s the best boerboel chew?
A: This question can vary with each boerboel. We have some boerboels that are slow chewers and can eat rawhide type chews. Some will try to swallow an entire large rawhide roll after only 5 minutes, which is very dangerous. I would do as we did and stay away from rawhide all together now. Nylabone and Benebone brand chews seem to be our go to. Deer/Elk antlers have been a decent option so far, I would just caution they may end up damaging their teeth with those; depends on the dog.
Q: What are good boerboel treats?
A: We found beef lung bites to be great treats for boerboels. They don’t have preservatives, it’s just one ingredient, no additives, and the dogs love them. These can be found on Amazon. Image below.
Q: Do boerboels have a prey drive?
A: Our experience comes with mixed reviews on this issue. I would say their prey drive has a lot to do with how you raise them. If you encourage the prey drive, they will for sure develop it, but if you discourage it, they will likely do much better with it. Some may never let off the gas, but they will likely do much better if you show them at a young age what they can and can’t do.
Q: how many meals a day do your boerboels eat? How much do boerboels eat?
A: Our boerboels eat twice a day. Every boerboel seems to need a different amount of food and overall weight isn’t a determining factor. Some metabolize calories differently. Rate of calorie burn should be based on activity level and muscle volume.
Q: How many puppies in a boerboel litter?
A: 7-10 puppies per litter seems to be a pretty reasonable average. I’ve seen 18 puppies and some bitches can have 16 puppies on a regular basis.
Q: Are boerboels good family dogs?
A: Yes, with their family. Many times, the immediate family is as far as it goes.
Q: What are common boerboel health problems?
A: Hip and elbow dysplasia. Hearth problems. Bloat. Skin and ear allergies. Interdigital cysts. Bone cancer seems to be the most common cancer I’ve noted from things I’ve seen.
Q: What are common Boerboel colors?
A: Brown, reddish brown, fawn (blonde/tan), black, piebald, and dilutes. The trip-color black and tan is rare, but is also found on some boerboels.
Q: What is the lifespan of a boerboel? How long does a boerboel live?
A: 9-12 years is what is commonly cited.
Q: What is the boerboel bite force?
A: Who really knows. Some say 800psi, but there is no real study that has accurately measured the boerboel bite force. All we know is their bite is very powerful. There are several articles on the internet that make claims of different dog’s bite force, however, there is no real study that has actually accurately measured it.
Q: Do boerboels drool?
A: Some drool a lot. Some won’t drool much at all and only at the sight of something yummy. Typically the longer the mouth hangs down, the higher the chance for drool. The tighter the mouth equals less drool.
Q: Do boerboels shed?
A: Yes. They shed just as much as many other dogs, its just not as noticeable.
Q: Were boerboels used to fend off/fight lions?
A: From what I understand the short answer to this is technically no. They were bred to protect the farms in South Africa, which could include many dangerous animals, however, a lion is much too large and strong for a boerboel to take on. I’m sure a pack of several boerboels could do the job.
Q: Do boerboels bark a lot?
A: Most boerboels bark only when they feel it is needed. There are some that will bark at anything that moves.
Q: How much do boerboels cost?
A: The price range is pretty big with the boerboel breed. They can range between $1000 to $7000. The majority will sell between $2500-$3500. I’ve seen some low quality boerboels sell for $5000+ and some really good ones sell for $2500. Do your research about the breeder. If a breeder is selling their boerboels for $5000+, don’t health test, don’t do contracts, treat their dogs like poop, but they have some viral videos on the Instagram, then there’s a good bet someone just grossly overpaid for a low quality dog.
Q: Who has the biggest boerboels?
A: First off, there is way more to the boerboel breed than just size. Nonetheless, we also acknowledge size is what makes the boerboel so attractive to most people. With that said, there’s many breeders that have one or two very large boerboels. Some are large due to being tall and long, some are big because they are fat, and some are large due to muscle and bone mass. Pay attention to what is being considered as “large”. Our girls were all “bigger” in the past, but we decided to keep them healthier and leaner now. They are still big, they are just a better type of big. Our boy Brandvlei Marino is a very large boerboel and is one of the leanest boerboels at a weight over 185lbs.
Q: Do you allow visitors to come see your dogs?
A: Absolutely. You need to come see these boerboels in person to fully appreciate them. Pictures do not do them justice.
Q: Are boerboels athletic?
A: This can depend on the line of boerboel. Our Afrika Zimbie and her son Peterbuilt Hakeem are very athletic. They are fast, agile, and have a lot of stamina. Our big guy Marino is like a power lifter, he is very large and strong, but does not have much agility and stamina.
Q: Can boerboels live in an apartment?
A: I’m sure there have been cases where this has worked out fine, but in general I would advise against it. You would need to take them out for long walks and let them stretch out with some running.
Q: How can I ship a boerboel from South Africa? How much does it cost to ship a boerboel from South Africa? What is required to ship a boerboel from over seas?
A: As of the date I am writing this (3/8/23), the shipping cost is very high and the process is extensive. The process can take 6+ months to complete. Due to US CDC guidelines (for very little reasoning) boerboels or dogs in general being shipped from high rabies risk countries have to have the following: The boerboel must be vaccinated with a USA approved rabies vaccine. A rabies vaccine titer test must be done one the boerboel, pictures of the dog’s teeth, you must have a valid passport, dog must be at least 6 months old, must also have a microchip. Once you have those items you can then apply for the CDC Permit. The CDC Permit can take 6-8 weeks. When you finally receive the permit, the Boerboel will then need to fly out. Finding flights for the boerboel can take time and can be very expensive depending on the time of year and which airlines are allowing them to fly. Emirates Cargo was our only option when we last imported. Emirates is also one of the most expensive. The shipping cost averaged $5000 per dog. Be prepared to pay even more cash when you go to pickup the boerboels from the airport; also be prepared to jump through some more hoops. You will need to clear your boerboel through Homeland Security Customs and bring that paperwork back to the shipping company’s delivery bay.
CDC Dog Import Permit – link to the CDC dog import page.
Q: We just picked up our import boerboel from the airport, now what?
A: First off, I hope you prepared and brought a vehicle big enough to accommodate the big crate/kennel the boerboel flew in. You have no clue how that dog is going to act once you open that crate door, so its best to be off location and safely at home before doing so. Take proper precautions once home with your import boerboel and try to open their crate inside a controlled enclosure. Some will warm up to you immediately (all of ours did), I have heard of some being very aggressive/angry upon arrival. Get them some food and water, it may have been awhile since they got to eat. Our poor boy Marino went the entire 2 day journey without any food. The bag given was still taped to the top of the kennel when he arrived. I assume they feared letting him out during his layover in Dubai because of his size and he growls like a lion (his lion growls are just normal noises with him though and not aggressive). I was honestly a bit hesitant to open the kennel door, because I had no clue how he’d react to the whole situation. But he just came out the kennel very hungry!
Q: What does a boerboel stud fee cost?
A: Our stud fees range between $2500 and $4000 at this time. The price on top studs will vary on amount of usage. Stud fees usually do not include semen collection fee, packaging, and shipping costs. You may find others charging up to $8000 for stud fees.
Who are the Best Boerboel Breeders in the USA?
Here is a list of reputable breeders we know of that have quality boerboels and can be trusted.
Peterbuilt Boerboels – Texas
Golden State Boerboels – California
Mae Boerboels – Wisconsin
Black Iron Boerboels – Indiana
River’s Edge Boerboels – California
Divine Heir Boerboels – California
Freedom Boerboels – New York
BrickHouse Boerboels – Georgia
Blue Collar Boerboels – New Jersey
TXT Boerboels – Oklahoma
List of other known boerboel breeders in the United States. Feel free to research any of them and make comparisons before making a decision on your future preferred breeder:
Askuwheto Boerboels – WA
Badland Kennels – IL
Benaiah Boerboels – NC
Bar None Boerboels – TX
Authentic Boerboels – WV
Baccarat Boerboels – MO
Big Iron Boerboels – AZ
Biohacked Boerboels – AL
Blitzkrieg Boerboels – OH
Blueline Boerboels – CA
Bonebluff Boerboels – FL, TX
Cedar Springs Boerboels – MO
Concrete Boerboels – MO
D’Saint Boerboels – GA
Exotic Boerboels – OH
Flanders Kennels – MI
Indian Creek Boerboels – TN
Jotunheim Boerboels – TN
Kingsview Gladiator Boerboels – VT
Kentucky Blue Grass Boerboels – KY
Proffers Boerboels – MO
Legion Boerboels – WA
Guardian Boerboels – WA
Oak View Boerboels – MO
Outlaw Boerboels – WA
Barbarian Boerboels – IL
Pine River Boerboels – MI
Qubitron Boerboels – TX
Leontix Boerboels – Texas
River Region Boerboels – AL
Rock Wall Boerboels – GA
Standing Stone Boerboels – WY
Texas Bred Boerboels – TX, LA
Platinum Plus Boerboels – LA
Cajunland Boerboels – LA
XFactor Boerboels – LA
Savage Kingdom Boerboels – TX, LA, FL, etc.
Powell Boerboels – LA
Romboel Farm Dogs – WA
Space City Boerboels TX
Unique Dogs – MD
D&K Boerboels – MO
Uptown Kennels – LA
Whispering Creek Boerboels – VA
Brushwood Boerboels – VA
Revelations Boerboels – VA
Team SD Boerboels – CA
VS Boerboels – LA
Who is the Best Boerboel Breeder in the World?
That question can’t be objectively answered. There’s a lot of great boerboel breeders out there in the world, here’s a list of International boerboel breeders we believe to be among the best:
Klein Sandfontein Boerboels – South Africa
Mes Boerboels – South Africa
Afrika Boerboels – South Africa
La Boela Boerboels – South Africa
Middelpos Boerboels – South Africa
Bostu Boerboels – South Africa
Other notable International Boerboel Breeders:
Aisha Boerboels – UK
Collosal Boerboels – UK
AK Boerboels – UK
Blygedacht Boerboele – Belgium
Ataraxia Boerboels – Australia
Fortitude Boerboels – Australia
Explosive Kennels – Australia
Skystorm Boerboels – Australia
Al Aseel Boerboels – Australia
Elite Guard Boerboels – Portugal
Legione Africana – Italy
Ubon Boerboel – Thailand
Asia Big Dog Kennel – Thailand
Titus Boerboel – Thailand
Noxterra Boerboels – UK
Brittanis Boerboels – UK
Stalwart Boerboels – Canada
BCN Boerboels – Spain
Boerboels Madrid – Spain
Siboveld Boerboels – Germany
Beastly Boerboels – Netherlands
Colos Boerboels – South Africa
Linga Longa Boerboels – South Africa
Deo-Han Boerboels – South Africa
Herberg Boerboels – South Africa
Alexander Boerboels – South Africa
CDH Boerboels – South Africa
Bodington Boerboels – South Africa
Spitsvuur Boerboels – South Africa
Megazone Boerboels – South Africa
Said Kaap Boerboels – South Africa
Mighty Boerboele – South Africa
Elevation Boerboels – South Africa
Prodigious Boerboels – South Africa
Lombard Superior Boerboels – South Africa
Kadima Boerboels – South Africa
Ysterberg Boerboels – South Africa
Targus Boerboels – South Africa
Artifacts Boerboels – South Africa
Narco Boerboels – South Africa
Terrible Twins Boerboels – South Africa