How did your owner decide they wanted a small friend and that you would be the right small friend for them?
My owners had had many discussions about the type of dog they wanted. One wanted a ‘good guard dog’ (starting at a Rottweiler!) and the other wanted a ‘nice dog with a good temperament’ (starting at a poodle!). They were polar opposites, but after much debate and research, they agreed on me – a South African Mastiff: “Boerboel”. I’m not sure if you could class me as a “small” friend though – I weighed 87kg at my last weigh in!
Where did your owner find you?
After agreeing on the type of dog they wanted, they looked up breeders with the ACT and NSW. After locating a few, they made some telephone calls and sent a few emails to locate a breeder with any litters for sale.
How did your owner choose your name?
My name is the name of a former pet from one of my owner’s childhoods.
What do you enjoy doing? eg: walks / swimming / sleeping / playing?
I go to work every day, I love running around the building sites and I especially enjoy smoko and lunch, when I am fed treats! I am taken walking everyday – at least once and, at times, twice a day. I am getting better at swimming. As I’m so big, I have to work my legs a lot harder to stay afloat! I love being with my owners, playing with my toys and eating a lottttt of food!
Do you have a favourite treat, spot or toy?
I love my pull rope and my gigantic tennis ball. I used to have a regular sized tennis ball but they are far too little for me to play with. I end up breaking them too easily! I love my puppy mince (yes, I am only 15.5 months old), biscuits and raw chicken drumsticks.
What do you think makes you so special to your owner?
My loyalty, temperament, that I ‘look after the pack’ instead of favouring one over the other, how loving I am (but protective if they are threatened!) and just how perfect I am generally! My owners tell me they would never purchase another breed after having me.
Are there any funny or interesting stories about you that you can share with us?
At 15.5 months old, I weigh over 87kg. I eat at least 0.5kg mince , 9 cups of dog biscuits and 1.2kg of raw chicken drumsticks a day. My paws are the size of a human hand and my chest is 105cm. Depending on the environment I am in (eg: if my owners are at ease with you) – I am one of the nicest dogs in the world. However, if I sense my owners are in danger, I am also one of the best (and biggest) guard dogs in the world. I have never done anything destructive to my owners’ property (which is good considering the damage I could cause!), however, I do love to snore like a train at times!
