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Boerboel training blog
21 guides, written for the breed and free to read.
Training basics
All 9 training basics guides
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.Puppy training
All 3 puppy training guides
Puppy trainingYour Boerboel Puppy Month by Month: Training From 8 Weeks to 2 YearsAt a year old, some Boerboels greet a guest by sitting, waiting and taking a treat from a calm hand.
Puppy trainingBoerboel Puppy Socialization: A Practical Early PlanYour Boerboel puppy has spent the afternoon tumbling around the yard, all wiggles and oversized paws. A stranger steps through the gate and everything stops.
Puppy trainingStop the Jumping and Mouthing Before Your Puppy Hits 100 PoundsA Boerboel puppy can turn an ordinary greeting into a tangle of paws, teeth and sleeves before anyone has decided what behavior to reward.Behavior
All 5 behavior guides
BehaviorAre Boerboels Aggressive? Guarding Instinct at HomeThe breed standard describes a Boerboel who is calm, stable and confident, with the judgment to tell a real threat from a harmless one.
BehaviorIs a Boerboel a Good Family Dog Around Kids and Other Dogs?Yes, a Boerboel can be a good family dog, provided you socialize early and supervise every interaction with children and other dogs.
BehaviorDoorbell Drama: Managing a Boerboel When Visitors ArriveHow do you stop a Boerboel from going off when the doorbell rings? People often recommend more socialization, but that advice falls short for this breed.
BehaviorStop Destructive Chewing in a BoerboelIs your Boerboel wrecking one thing after another, and how do you stop it for good? Most advice tells you to add exercise and chew toys.
BehaviorTerritorial at the Fence? Managing Property-Guarding BehaviorA Boerboel hears footsteps beyond the fence, moves to the boundary and starts a deep bark before the passerby reaches the gate.Exercise and jobs
All 2 exercise and jobs guides
Exercise and jobsBoerboel Sports and Jobs: Putting the Breed's Instincts to WorkA Boerboel does not need the most dramatic job available. They need an outlet that makes daily life calmer, gives their mind a clear problem to solve and…
Exercise and jobsBoerboel Exercise Needs and Brain Games for a Working BreedA Boerboel puppy, a teenager and a settled adult each need a different amount of movement, which is why timing is the question owners ask first.
CareTeaching Your Boerboel to Stand for Handling and Examination
HealthHow to Muzzle Train a Boerboel for Calm Vet Visits