Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison

Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Boerboel - Breed ComparisonBoerboel is originated from South Africa but Smooth Haired Weimaraner is originated from Germany. Both Boerboel and Smooth Haired Weimaraner are of same height. Boerboel may weigh 50 kg / 111 pounds more than Smooth Haired Weimaraner. Both Boerboel and Smooth Haired Weimaraner has almost same life span. Both Boerboel and Smooth Haired Weimaraner has almost same litter size. Both Boerboel and Smooth Haired Weimaraner requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Gun dog
undefined
South Africa
Germany
Height Male:
64 - 70 cm
25 - 28 inches
57 - 70 cm
22 - 28 inches
Height Female:
59 - 65 cm
23 - 26 inches
57 - 70 cm
22 - 28 inches
Weight Male:
70 - 90 kg
154 - 199 pounds
25 - 40 kg
55 - 89 pounds
Weight Female:
68 - 90 kg
149 - 199 pounds
25 - 40 kg
55 - 89 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
11 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 10
6 - 8
Size:
Large
Large
Other Names:
South African Boerboel, African Boerboel, South African Mastiff, African Mastiff
Weim, Grey Ghost
Colors Available:
Fawn, Red, Brown, Brindle
Silvery Grey
Coat:
Short and dense
Short, sleek and smooth
Shedding:
Minimal, Constant
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

boerboelThe name ‘Boerboel’ is derived from an Afrikaans/Dutch word, and the large Boerboel dog from South Africa has been specifically bred to be a farmer’s dog. Bred also to be a strong guard dog, the Boerboel is a mix of different African and European breeds, which in all likelihood, will include the Bullmastiff, the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Bulldog. These dogs were used to hunt baboon and leopard.

There is some information that suggests that the Boerboel was brought to South Africa by Jan van Riebeeck in 1652. Other information suggest that the dog is a descendant of the old Boer Hund, a powerful animal which was invaluable to the farmer.

In was in January 2010, that the American Boerboel Club was elected as the AKC’s Parent Club. The Boerboel was accepted into the Miscellaneous Class in the Working dog group.

smooth haired weimaranerThe Smooth Haired Weimaraner is a beautiful silvery-grey dog that was once bred for hunting way back in the 19th century.

He has always been described as an all-purpose gun dog bred from crossing different German and French hunting dogs with the Bloodhound.

History of this dog dates back to 1897. This is when a club was formed in Germany for the breed.

Description

Looks

boerboel puppy - descriptionThe Boerboel is a big, strong dog with powerful muscles. His height is between 61 – 66cm. He is similar looking to the Boxer dog, just heavier and bigger. The head of the dog is broad and big and the short, smooth coat can be of various shades, with breeders trying to achieve a single color of light tan and with no white. Their coats can also be red, different shades of brown and brindle.

The dog has a black facial mask and the eyes are brown with the ears being of medium length and floppy. The Boerboel’s tail has always been docked, but today breeders are keeping the tail long. Many Boerboel lovers object to this, saying it detracts from the distinctive look of the Boerboel.

Temperament

The Boerboel can be a wonderfully loyal and loving pet to their owners. They are territorial dogs and suspicious of strangers. This is a dog where it is imperative that they receive training and socialization as a puppy. They have leanings towards being aggressive so they wouldn’t be recommended to first time dog owners, unless of course the first time owners are firm and strong.

Boerboels raised the right way can be gentle giants. They often get bad publicity as regards to aggression, but this is because of they way they have been raised. Boerboels have been bred to be tough and fearless and they make excellent watchdogs. When raised and trained correctly, they make awesome, devoted companions, even around children and other pets.

smooth haired weimaraner puppy - descriptionThe lean, well muscled Smooth Haired Weimaraner is athletic to look at, brimming with energy and vitality. The coat is smooth and short and is a magnificent steel grey to silver coat which even tends to be a blue-grey color.

The short coat makes the dog low maintenance. He is also a low shedding dog. He is a medium to large sized dog standing at between 57 and 70cm in height and weighing in the region of 25 to 40kg.

The tail has always been docked, giving him that distinctive, dignified appearance. The tail then measures about 6 inches in length.

These dogs are also excellent water dogs with their webbed paws. The ears of the dog are medium length and floppy and the eyes are light amber or a blue-grey color.

Temperament:

You just have to look at the Smooth Haired Weimaraner and you can see how he just loves being with his human owner all the time, so much so that he is known for separation anxiety. Sometimes he can become so distraught separated from his owner that he can even injure himself trying to reach his owner. Being separated for too long can cause him anxiety issues.

Certainly this dog is going to need the right kind of training and socialization to calm him. They’re also full of energy too and are going to require a good amount of exercise.

Characteristics

boerboel dog - characteristicsA well trained, socialized Boerboel makes a splendid pet. This is one breed known to have excellent guard- and watch dog characteristics. Boerboels are known for being protective when necessary. When not on guard, they make wonderful pets. He’ll need plenty of exercise, but he loves to also spend time indoors with his human family.

This a a bold, fearless dog who becomes devoted to his family. With the right training he is obedient and affectionate and knows how to behave appropriately indoors- and outdoors. For such a big dog, the African Boeboel’s temperament can be surprisingly gentle and affectionate around the family that he loves.

smooth haired weimaraner dog - characteristicsYour distinctive silvery-grey Weimaraner with his velvety ears and striking eyes is such a loving dog, desiring to be with his human family as much as possible.

They are also good with children. Their loving nature and eagerness to please will ensure that you have a fully integrated 4 legged family member in your home who wants to be involved with everything you're busy with.

Health Problems

boerboel puppies - health problemsMany health problems experienced with any dog are found in the way dogs are fed, the way they are exercised and the way they are attended to when they are ill. Boerboels are healthy dogs and suffer fewer health defects than most similar breeds. The average life expectancy of a Boerboel is about 10 to 12 years. There are one or two health issues you’ll want to watch out for with your Boerboel.

Hip dysplasia

This aliment is typically found in large breed dogs. It’s a problem caused by a malformation of the hip joint. Over time hip dysplasia causes discomfort, pain and even arthritis and lameness. It is genetically inherited, with its severity being influenced by environmental factors. There are treatments available to alleviate the symptoms and make the dog more comfortable.

Obesity

The Boerboel has plenty of muscle mass, and because he is such a large dog with a big appetite, he can lean towards obesity. Plenty of activities will be imperative to maintain muscle mass and ward off obesity. Over-eating suppresses the immune system, so over-feeding your dog simply contributes to ill health.

smooth haired weimaraner puppies - health problemsThere are some common dog illnesses that most dog owners fear, and hip dysplasia is one. Fortunately the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals tells us that Weimaraners aren’t prone to this dysplasia the way some dogs are.

One cause for concern however is bloat, and as a deep chested dog breed, the Short Haired Weimaraner can be prone to this life threatening illness.

Known also as gastric torsion, the stomach swells up and the dog becomes lethargic and restless. Immediate veterinary intervention is required. One way to diminish your dog’s chances of getting bloat is to rather feed him two smaller meals a day as opposed to one large meal.

Also, skin allergies are fairly common with these dogs. If redness appears on the skin or the skin is dry and itchy with a rash and he is losing his hair, you may well need to get your pet to the vet. It is why we always recommend giving your pet some raw meat added to the diet and this can help to prevent skin allergies.

Caring The Pet

Grooming

boerboel dogs - caringBoerboels are a robust breed and their short hair doesn’t shed heavily. Your Boerbul will require a thorough brushing twice a week to remove loose hair and to keep the coat shiny and healthy.

Boerboels, just like any other dog, should have their teeth brushed regularly to prevent tartar and plaque build-up. Left unattended, your pet can battle with tooth decay and gum disease.

Feeding

Your Boerboel puppy will need ‘large breed puppy’ dog food. Speak to your veterinarian about wet- or dry kibble choices. An adult Boerboel will certainly need raw meat in his diet. When you do research, you find that the best Boerboel breeders are advocates for raw feeding. Home made food with rice, vegetables and meat as well as the best quality commercially manufactured dog foods for large breeds are excellent choices but raw meat is imperative as part of every dog’s diet.

Training:

smooth haired weimaraner dogs - caringEvery dog, especially the Smooth Haired Weimaraner with his anxiety issues, should be trained and socialized, and these dogs are easy to train because they’re intelligent and they want to please.

Grooming:

The short silvery coat simply requires a good brush-down twice a week to remove the few loose hairs there are. Even if you don’t need to brush him, just do it because of the type of dog the Weimaraner is.

He loves the closeness of owner and dog. It’s a good time to check him over for ticks and fleas, to feel for unusual lumps, to look inside his ears for signs of infection, to check his eyes too, that they’re bright and clear.

Diet:

If you feed your Smooth Haired Weimaraner commercially manufactured dog food, it needs to be one of the best ones with fairly high protein content. If feeding kibble, you can enhance the food by adding in some tasty home-made food. The Weimaraner’s stomach is easily upset so you want to add in easily digestible home-made food free of exotic spices and richness.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots is super tasty and nutritious. Your Weimaraner will love such simple, good food and you can add a little to his dry kibble twice a week.

Also important is to add in some raw meat as this ensures a healthy skin. Make sure he has a constant supply of cool, fresh water.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Boerboel vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Boerboel vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Boerboel vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Boerboel vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Boerboel vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Boerboel vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Boerboel vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Boerboel vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Boerboel vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Boerboel vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Boerboel vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Boerboel vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Boerboel vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Boerboel vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Boerboel vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Boerboel vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Boerboel vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Boerboel vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Boerboel vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Boerboel vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Boerboel vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Boerboel vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Boerboel vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Boerboel vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Boerboel vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison