Training

The African Boerboel is an intelligent dog that is very eager to work with the owner. They do have the tendency to try to dominate the owner until a hierarchy is developed. These dogs must learn as puppies that the owner is the boss, rather than allowing the dog to think that they are making the decisions about what he or she will do. This does not mean that the owner has to be mean or harsh with the puppy, rather they need to be firm and consistent and prevent the dog from developing any bad habits such as ignoring commands or "doing their own thing".

The sheer size and weight of the African Boerboel combined with its natural protectiveness and guard dog tendencies means that the African Boerboel must be under control at all times. An untrained or poorly trained African Boerboel is a potentially dangerous animal if it ever gets out of the yard or fenced area. Obedience training is recommended at a very early age and socialization should be a key component of the training.
Since this breed is a large dog and does have a tendency to be dominant it is not recommended as a first dog for a family. If you do not have experience in working with dominant types of dogs a African Boerboel from a rescue that is already trained and socialized may be a great option rather than trying to train and manage a puppy through the difficult teen years.

The African Boerboel is not typically a problem barker. They can tolerate being in a kennel for short periods of time but may become prone to chewing, barking or digging if confined in a small space for long periods of time. The African Boerboel does best in training with a combination of exercise and training rather than just set training times. Allowing for play time and fun time during training helps with the bonding process as well as allows the dog to break the focus into shorter, more concentrated times.