Introduce Yourself!

[Marco]

Hello, and welcome!!  Don't be shy and no need for anything fancy.  Just tell us who you are, and what brings you here.  We are happy to have you share with us!

[Michelle]

Hi, my name is Michelle, and we are bringing home our first Boerboel next summer. I'm sure anyone looking at my avatar is probably thinking, "uh, are you sure about this?" :)

I've actually been a Dobe owner for all of my adult life, but my most recent Doberman passed away of cancer at only 20 months. Dobes are subject to a ridiculous amount of illnesses and their lifespan is rapidly decreasing. After the heartbreak of losing our Remy, I just couldn't put myself or my family through that again. So after a TON of research into dogs with similar breed traits, we decided to bring home a Boerboel.

We'll be getting a male from Select next year--even though it will be a long trip from Ohio to Utah. While we wait, I'll be passing the time soaking up as much experience and expertise as I can from current Boerboel owners.

[Chrissy Elmazi]

Welcome Michelle,

 

Sorry to hear about the loss of your Remy.  That is terrible, especially at such a young age! I'm sure in your research you have found that Boerboels have some similiar "lifespan issues", according to many.  Obviously breeding, etc. has much to do with the health of any animal, but in my opinion, proper nutrition and the absence of poison (ie vaccines, flea/tick meds, etc.) play HUGE roles in giving a dog (especially one with substandard breeding in his history) a chance at a long, healthy life.

 

Now this is all obviously being said assuming you do not raw feed, which if you do, then my apologies for "preaching to the choir".  If you do not then here is my advice: Since you have plenty of time before your new puppy comes home, I STRONGLY suggest researching raw feeding and natural rearing as much as possible.  There are many yahoo groups with thousands upon thousands of seasoned raw feeders (some with decades of experience) that give freely of their knowledge.  Join now, learn all you can, and you can be ready and rearing to give that pup the best chance at a heatlthy life by the time he comes home.

 

Best wishes!

Chrissy (and Diesel - a wonderfully happy, healthy raw fed pup :)

[Michelle]

Thanks for the welcome, Chrissy. One of the reasons we decided to get a dog from Select despite about a billion local Boerboel breeders is because of the health testing she does. I know there is no 100% certain way to avoid health problems, but we needed to give our family the best odds to get a healthy dog. Since my Remy died in July, I've had SEVEN friends lose their Dobermans before the age of 5. That's just in five months, which is horrific. They're prone to cancer, heart disease, epilepsy, wobblers, and on and on, so pretty much any breed is healthy in comparison. :(

We do feed grain free, but we don't raw feed yet. It's definitely something we have researched, but at the moment, the biggest issue is space. We just don't have the storage space for a big freezer right now, but we haven't ruled it out for the future.

[Chrissy Elmazi]

It is pretty scary the health issues we see these days. The only good thing to come of it is some (not enough, but some) people are opening their eyes to the "whys" and not just accepting it as typical, normal or a "breed characteristic".  My sister has a 3 year old goldendoodle who started seizing... But she is so wrapped up in what the gods in white coats have to say that it can have nothing to do with the crap she feeds the dog nor the poison she puts on and in him.  She was told "poodles are prone to epilepsy and so are golden retrievers".  Please, that's all the vets can say these days because they can't blame it on the garbage they recommend... 

I digress, sorry... I am quite passionate about this as you can probably tell.  Space for a freezer can be a hurdle, but shouldn't stop you, if at all possible.  There are plenty of options and many compact size chest freezers can be found free and/or cheap on craigslist and the like.  You will be amazed at the difference between a proper raw fed dog and a crapple fed one, really.  Although food can't fix everything, like inherited vaccine damage etc., it can sure help along the right path!

[Nicole V]

My name is Nicole my husband and I own Drake who came from Sumsare Kennels. Drake is 9 1/2 months old. Sire- Sumsare Frisco and Dam- Egoli Lucy.

[Susan Bradford]

Hi everyone!  My name is Susan, but Mamba (Black Mamba) is really the star of the show.  Mamba is the sister to Avel, one of the other forum members.  Her Mom is Mabruka and her father was Gator (who passed away recently at the age of 15); neither were registered dogs but Mamba doesn't let that get in the way of her Boerboel-ness.  Our little Boerboel (she's a dainty 67 pounds) is just over a year old.  Her first Mama named her Black Mamba because she is a reverse brindle like her father.  Mamba is so true to everything we read about BBs.  My niece and nephew adore her almost as much as she adores them, and she hasn't met a dog at the dog park she doesn't get along with.  She knows what I am feeling almost before I do, and tests us daily to make sure we are still in charge.  We are so pleased with her temperament and 'roll-with-it' personality that we would like to add a second BB to our family very soon.  Thank you for starting this great forum and for posting all of the awesome pictures!  We look forward to getting to know y'all!!

[Debora Huebner Malcolm]

Hello,

I'm from Manitoba Canada and the proud owner of 2 magnificent  (my opinion of course) Boerboels, a male from Proudfoot Kennels - Marcella Burgess, and he is 1 year old.  I have a female from Klein Sandfontein - Beverli Steenkamp who will be one on Feb 7.  Both of the dogs are as different as they are the same....wonderful wonderful additions to our family.  I have so enjoyed watching them grow and play with our other dogs - working Louisianna Catahoula Leopards, and have the priviledge of taking my precious babies to work with me so that I can hear them snore by my feet.  Love the dogs...and love this website.

 

[Marcella Burgess]

Hi Debora!!!

I am so glad to see you here.. it's a great group of people whom I am sure you will enjoy meeting!

Can't wait to see more pics of your beautiful boels...  :)

 

Marcella

 

[Marco]

Hello, and welcome, look forward to seeing more from you all!  Feel free to post as many photos, and videos as you would like.  Be sure to also ask any questions you might have, or share something with the group.  You can normally find others in the chat room each day so stop on in, and say hi.  Any suggestions you might have for the site please let us know. You can help better the breed, and the owners here by taking part in this great network.  Welcome to Top Boerboel!

[Carol Buchen]

Hello, My names is Carol my husband Jim and I just lost our 2 1/2 mo old boy. His name was Tau
He had allergies and then passed away during surgery due to eating everything in sight. Even though he was well fed with 3 meals a day.
We are quite lonesome without him even though we have a boxer also, who is lonesome too.
We were looking to foster a boerboel however, I do think we are probably going to look for a puppy instead. We live in Arlington Heights Illinois.
If any one has any suggestions we are open to them.
Thanks for the Welcome From Top Boerboel

[Kay Schauer]

So sorry for your loss, can not imagine losing one of my fur kids at that young of an age, but before a pup please listen to this, There is a very sweet female BB in foster in Michigan named Tula, she's having a rough go at life now, severe heartworms, going through treatments and will be needing a great, loving forever home very soon, Please think of her before a pup, she has no home, and has a bad existence, she needs love. I will email you photos and updates from her foster family if you like and I'm sure we can find transport for her if you are still interested (she was on death row) and just wants a chance at a normal life-Kay [e-mail]

[Lee May]

Sorry for your Loss Carol and Jim. Good luck to you on your new search.