9 guides
Boerboel training basics
A Boerboel grows into one of the strongest dogs in any neighborhood, so the basics are taught early, with rewards and clear rules, before size makes every mistake expensive. These guides cover sit, down and stay for a 150-pound dog, potty and crate training, loose-leash walking, recall for a dog who may never be off leash, impulse control games and the mat cue that gives a calm Boerboel a place to settle.
Training basicsAre Boerboels Easy to Train? Temperament and Trainability FAQAre Boerboels easy to train? They can learn readily, but willing to learn does not mean effortless to manage.
Training basicsHow to Start Boerboel Training Before the Puppy Phase FadesA soft, agreeable puppy trots after you from room to room, takes every cue for a bit of chicken, and seems to have been born knowing what you want.
Training basicsCrate Training a Boerboel and Preventing Separation AnxietyA Boerboel who naps comfortably in a crate has learned to rest in that space.
Training basicsHow to Potty Train a Boerboel PuppyPotty training a young Boerboel puppy starts with prevention. Choose one outdoor destination, take the puppy there before the need becomes urgent and reward…
Training basicsLeash Training a Boerboel: Pulling, Lunging and Loose-Leash WalkingA full-grown Boerboel can weigh 150–200 pounds. Once that mass is moving toward a smell, person or dog, momentum turns a small leash habit into a safety…
Training basicsRecall Training for a Boerboel Who Never Gets Off-LeashStart recall games indoors as soon as the puppy has settled into the house.
Training basicsImpulse Control Games: Wait, Leave It and SettleTypical advice is to tire the dog out and keep repeating a cue until it finally works.
Training basicsSit, Down, Stay: Reward-Based Basics for a 150-Pound DogYou say sit, and a 150-pound Boerboel simply looks at you. So you say it again, then louder, then a third time in a pleading tone, and by now the word has…
Training basicsThe Mat Cue: Teaching a Calm Boerboel to Settle on CommandYou teach a Boerboel to settle by rewarding them for lying on a mat, over and over, until the mat itself becomes the cue and the dog heads there on their own.