Table of Contents

Pigmentation

The Boerboel is well pigmented, especially on the lips, palate, the skin and hair around the eyes, nose bulb, paw pads, toenails, the anus and the skin and hair around the genitals.

Black pigmentation is important to protect the Boerboel against skin cancer in the harsh African sun. The only Boerboels who don’t have this black pigmentation are either the pied dogs, who may have the white coat run into their skin. These dogs are more likely to die of skin cancer. Also red or liver nosed Boerboels occasionally pop up. It is this lack of pigmentation that leaves the dog much more susceptible to skin cancer, and that is why it is not allowed in the breed. It is also very genetic, so if these dogs are allowed to breed, the fault will begin to increase in the population very rapidly, like with what has happened with the Dogue De Bordeaux.

This pup has poor pigmentation. His nose lips and eye lids are pink and not black. He lacks the black eumelanin pigmentation that protects all his exposed skin from the sun. This pup has a lot more chance of getting skin cancer and dying at a young age, more so, than a dog with the correct black pigmentation. Also if you breed a grown dog with this pigmentation fault with another dog with the same fault ALL the offspring will have pink nose and accessories.

Only dogs with black eumelanin pigmentation are acceptable.

This part is very clear, if a dog has parts of its exposed skin that should be black and it isn’t, the dog should be disqualified at its appraisal.

Breed Standard - The Skin Breed Standard - The Coat & Colour