Early Breeders & Bloodlines
Bloodlines
The Boerboel's history is not only found in breed standards and registration records. It can also be traced through the dogs and breeders who contributed to the development of the breed long before organised registration began.
Some of the oldest bloodlines were established decades before the formation of the South African Boerboel Breeders' Association (SABT) in 1983. Others became prominent during the early years of organised breeding.
Studying these lines gives us a better understanding of the dogs behind modern pedigrees, the variation that existed within the original population and the qualities that earlier breeders valued.
Ysterberg – Klaas van Waveren
One of the most historically significant names associated with the Boerboel is Ysterberg, developed by Klaas van Waveren in South Africa.
The history of his dogs reaches back to the 1940s, long before the establishment of modern Boerboel registries.
In his account of Klaas van Waveren, Professor D. J. Booysen describes a breeder who had a clear idea of the type of dog he wanted. Rather than simply breeding whatever was available, Van Waveren sought particular qualities and worked to establish them consistently in his dogs.
His breeding programme was shaped by farm life and the need for capable, reliable dogs.
The Ysterberg dogs became known for their distinctive type, and their influence eventually extended far beyond South Africa.
Booysen's account also provides an indication of the scale of Van Waveren's work. He reported that 311 dogs had been registered, with 93 presented for appraisal. Of those, only one failed to qualify, narrowly missing the required score.
These figures reflect the results reported at the time the account was written, rather than the complete lifetime output of the kennel.
The history of Ysterberg is particularly interesting because the bloodline existed before the modern Boerboel registry and subsequently became part of its recorded population.
The relationship between Ysterberg and the Boerboel has not always been straightforward. In later years, differences in breeding goals and interpretations of breed type led to efforts to maintain Ysterberg as a distinct breeding population.
Whatever position one takes on those later developments, the historical presence of Ysterberg dogs in Boerboel pedigrees is well documented.
Mizpah – An Important Early Bloodline
Mizpah is one of the names closely associated with the older Boerboel population and the early development of the registered breed.
The kennel was established by Lukas van der Merwe, who was involved in the early efforts to identify and register Boerboels. He also participated in the appraisal tours that helped establish the initial registered population.
Authentic Mizpah also has a personal significance to us at Tuebor. Two of our dogs, Savannah and Paris, came directly from Carin, creating a direct connection between our breeding programme and the Mizpah family.
Other Early Kennels
Ysterberg and Mizpah were not the only contributors to the registered Boerboel population.
Names such as Ingrid, Avontuur, Rustverwacht, Hofni, Venterspad and Friedenheim also belong to the breed's earlier recorded history.
Some of these names appear in historical registration material, while others are documented through pedigrees and accounts of early breeding.
The development of the Boerboel involved multiple breeding populations rather than one uninterrupted family of dogs.
Different breeders had different priorities, and their dogs were not necessarily identical in appearance or character.
This diversity is an important part of understanding the breed. The early Boerboel was not a completely uniform population, and the development of a recognisable breed type was a gradual process.
What the Old Records Tell Us
Original registration documents are among the most useful sources for studying Boerboel bloodlines.
A surviving SABT registration certificate for Lourina Mac, dated 1987, provides an example of the documentation used during the early period of organised breeding.
The SABT index covering March 1990 to October 1993 is another valuable historical source.
It records dogs from different kennels, along with information such as parentage and appraisal results.
These records make it possible to study actual breeding connections rather than relying entirely on stories repeated many years later.
They also demonstrate that the development of the registered Boerboel involved a much wider population than is sometimes suggested in simplified accounts of the breed's history.
Not every historical pedigree is complete, and the absence of a recorded ancestor does not necessarily mean that the dog had no known breeding history.
For that reason, historical pedigrees should be examined carefully and, where possible, compared with original documents.
Old Bloodlines in Modern Breeding
The influence of older Boerboel bloodlines can still be found in modern pedigrees.
However, a familiar kennel name several generations back does not automatically guarantee a particular type, temperament or level of health.
The qualities of a dog depend on the generations and breeding decisions that followed.
Preserving an old bloodline should never mean ignoring health problems or accepting unsuitable breeding animals simply because of their ancestry.
At the same time, losing sight of the original dogs and their purpose makes it easier for breeding priorities to drift away from the characteristics that once defined the breed.
The value of historical bloodlines lies in understanding what they contributed, how they developed and what can still be learned from them.
Our Interest in the Older Lines
At Tuebor, studying the older Boerboel bloodlines has been an important part of our breeding philosophy.
Ysterberg and Mizpah ancestry can be found behind dogs that have contributed to our own breeding programme.
These lines were not selected simply because of their names. Our interest has always been in the dogs themselves: their structure, health, temperament, movement and the qualities passed down through their families.
We do not believe that every old Boerboel was necessarily better than every modern one. Breeding has always involved both successes and mistakes.
But understanding the original breeding populations helps us make more informed decisions about the future.
For us, preserving the Boerboel is not about reproducing a particular photograph or following a fashionable interpretation of breed type.
It is about maintaining the qualities that made the Boerboel a capable and dependable working farm dog, while continuing to improve health and soundness.
Historical Sources
- Prof. D. J. Booysen – History of the Ysterberg Dogs
- SABT – Historical Boerboel registration and birth certificates, including Lourina Mac (1987)
- SABT – Index of Registered Boerboels, March 1990 to October 1993
- Dr. Coen Bezuidenhout & Dr. Peter Milstein – Pitfalls in Boerboel Improvement, HBSA Boerboel Bulletin, November 2002
- Johan Swart – The Boerboel: A Revision of the Origins and History of the Breed (2020)