These dogs are extremely confident and out-going, well-known for showing little to no fear in any situation, no matter what it may be! So, it's no surprise that they are highly prized in their native country, often discussed as being wired differently to other dogs. They are very intelligent so training is a fairly easy task however, in order for them to mature into well-rounded dogs, they must have plenty of socialisation. They are very trustworthy which is what makes them so different to other breeds and they will always strive to protect their families from potential danger, making them fantastic dogs to live with.

The name Boerboel is believed to have come about because “boer” is Afrikaans for the farmer, and “bul” is big. In other words, the name simply stands for farm dog. While a lot is not known about the early origins of this breed, they are believed to have developed from dogs that the British, French and Dutch settlers brought with them to South Africa. Dutchman Jan van Riebeeck was confirmed to have bought a bullenbijter to the Cape (this dog is similar to a Mastiff type of dog) and with the arrival of more settlers in 1820, they brought the Bulldog and the Mastiff, along with other dogs.

The De Beer mining company imported a Bullmastiff to guard the diamond mines in 1938, and it is acknowledged that they purchased a champion from the Hottentots, who played a part in the development of the Boerboel. The Boer dogs as they were known, were spread out by the Voortrekkers during the Great Trek and the breeding continued with them during this time. The records state that after the Anglo Boer War of 1902 the Boer dogs were crossbred with the English long-legged Bulldog and the Bullmastiff in the 1950s. In Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) the  Boerboels were very popular with the settlers. Because South Africa shares a border with the Zimbabwe state, the dogs became widespread as people moved back and forth.