How long does a Boerboel live?

The listed lifespan for a Boerboel is 9–11 years.

How tall is a Boerboel?

The listed height for a Boerboel is 24–27 in (male), 22–25 in (female).

Is a Boerboel good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Boerboel is 4 out of 5.

When is a Boerboel full grown?

The growth size band for a Boerboel is up to 24 months.

Working Group

Boerboel

Boerboel is a giant dog in the Working Group. Adult weight is 150–200 lb, height is 24–27 in (male), 22–25 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 9–11 years. AKC describes the temperament as Intelligent, Confident, Calm.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Boerboel dog — Photo: Abri_Beluga · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan9–11 years

Weight150–200 lb

SizeGiant GroupWorking Group

Height

24–27 in (male), 22–25 in (female)

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

4 / 5

Good with kids

4 / 5

The breed record

Across 36 single-size giant breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 10 years is about the same as the 10.2-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 175 lb is about 59 lb heavier than the 116 lb average for those giant breeds.

The listed origin is South Africa. The coat is described as smooth, short. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 0.7 points below the group average of 3.7 for the Working Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 4 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 4 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 2 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 112 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in up to 24 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): larger breeds require up to 24 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation, Elbow Evaluation, and Cardiac Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

Frequently asked