Boerboel

When Assurbanipal conquered Egypt, Assyrian dogs were also taken along and thus they were spread further into the known world. Through the ages these dogs developed into two definite strains, the mastiff, which is mainly used for protection and as soldiers, and the hound, which was used for hunting purposes. This dog was known as a "Bullenbitjer", a large, heavy Mastiff-type dog. These dogs arrived here from many different countries. Survival was of the utmost importance and it was here that the hardiness of today's Boerboel was bred into the dog.