What do I Do if my Boerboel is Biting People?

Devon: My 4-year-old male Boerboel is biting people, what do I do?
I have a 4-year-old Boerboel, male, amazing animal, the problem is that he is biting people. If anyone comes around to our house, I have to lock him in the garage I don't want to get rid of him because he is an amazing watchdog and protects my family so well.
We moved into a townhouse complex just after the puppy training ended, there were children in the complex that used to tease Rossi and threw stones at him over the wall.

We moved from there back into a house a year ago, and he has started biting people. He gets really angry when a child is visiting and he wants to attack. Recently he bit my son in the face but Rossi was asleep at the time and my son stuck upon him, and Rossi woke up with a fright and attacked. He has bitten a family member, our maid, and really goes for anyone who doesn't live on the property.

Answers and Views:

Answer by ladystang
Professional trainer to train or tell you what to do.

Answer by Lorraine
When you own a large guarding breed – you either have to train them out of it and make sure you are in charge. It’s alright some of you talking about this whole pack structure and pack leader thing is a load of rubbish but your dog MUST see you as in charge and have respect for you.

Or… you go for the complete temperament testing of which most dogs will fail and then go for the multi-thousand dollar complete training.

It is no good allowing a dog to just be your “protector” when you want and expecting it to know the difference when you have visitors around. Most people are just not capable of training their dogs to that extent.

I have my rottweilers and by instinct, they will bark like mad if someone is on my property when they shouldn’t be. These dogs will react to anything out of the norm by instinct and barking should be enough to scare anyone off. I don’t want my dogs barking all the time and so they don’t. But one day the dustman just flicked the catch on the back gate to get in for the dustbin at about 5.00 am and all hell let loose… Four rottweilers REALLY up on their toes. Instinct. You need nothing more.

To be honest – I can’t see much future for this dog as you have allowed it too many privileges already.

Serious serious behavioral training or PTS.

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Answer by JenVT
Put him down. Boerboels are not good family pets in general, especially if not purchased from a responsible breeder and properly trained. Puppy training is NOT enough for these dogs and clearly you have one that you can't control. I'm surprised you would allow him to BITE YOUR CHILD and still live. There is no excuse for it at all. He needs to be euthanized. He is NOT a good pet and is a lawsuit waiting to happen. If you get another dog get something less dominant. Any large dog is a deterrent to someone wanting to break into your house. Or better yet, get an alarm system. They never bite.

Answer by allbreeds
Of course, you can have a dog that guards your family and be nice too. I have a Boerboel also 3 yo neutered male. Is still being trained in personal protection (all training is an ongoing process). Do I trust him? Yes. Does he bite people that come over that I let in no… Would he bite people that jumped the fence or come in when I wasn't there that he didn't know FOR SURE..
He needs to be trained.

Most problems that occur with dogs is lack of training which leads to a lack of obedience and at the moment your dog just isn't obedient
Yes PTS is the simple answer at least you won't have to train it but hey that's the losers way out.

Answer by Stephanie Navarro
My dog did that to put a muzzle on her to keep her from biting

Answer by Jessica A
He's probably being protective of the house, you need to teach him that visitors are amazing and something to be totally excited about, dont tell him off for going feral at people, this teaches him that you get really angry when others are around, so he will try to get rid of them for you
I suggest getting a muzzle and organize people to come over, let them know that the dog may jump on them, etc

when the person comes in, the dog suddenly gets so much praise and a happy owner, but if he's going feral simply tug his lead and give him the sit command, he needs to know that YOU control the situation and its YOUR house, don't tell him off or get angry though, simply make him sit, then overload on praise if the visitor comes near him.
also have the visitor throw treats around them, let him know that visitors means treats

try not to reinforce any bad behavior

Answer by Tess Sharpe
Wow, you have a huge problem here. The big dog in total control of you, and your property. I have a large guardian breed dog (Turkish Akbash). She is 8 months old and has been socialized from day one. A dog should be able to sense Friend from Foe, I fear that you may have to give some serious thoughts as to re-homing this dog before he really hurts someone.

Answer by koehlerdogtraining ©
Contact a trainer and get him into a class, or a board and train arrangement, or arrange for some private training ... just get-r-done.

Problems such as what you describe can be dealt with in as little as ten weeks using the board and train services of an experienced trainer who specializes in bite work, or thirteen weeks using the services of a trainer who is comfortable with your handling skills and who will work with you to teach you how to work your own dog. Either way, the solution is exactly the same ... you set-up trials designed to allow the dog to learn to become more discriminate, and then allow the dog to experience the consequential results of its own actions. It isn't all that hard.

Of course, the alternate 'fix' is to look your dog in the face and let him know that you have failed as the owner of a hard-dog and so now you choose to kill him under the guise of euthanasia (assumes, of course, that you understand that passing him off to someone else would be an act of questionable ethics).

So, Devon, you have two choices here ... find the dog the training help he needs so that he can keep his place at your side, or kill him. Again, one or the other, get-r-done. Hopefully, before your Boerboel hurts someone.
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