Boerboel vs American Pit Bull Terrier: Strength, Size and Temperament
Short answer: The American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium-sized athlete of 30 to 60 lb, known for drive, friendliness and pound-for-pound strength. The Boerboel is a giant guardian of 150 to 200 lb, bred to protect a homestead. A pit bull is usually friendly with strangers. A Boerboel is naturally watchful of them. In weight pull, pit bulls are a staple of the weight classes, while Boerboels can move more total weight because of their size.
Boerboel vs American Pit Bull Terrier at a glance
Trait | Boerboel vs American Pit Bull Terrier |
Origin | Boerboel: South Africa American Pit Bull Terrier: Developed from Bulldog and terrier crosses in England, Ireland and Scotland, then in the United States |
Original job | Boerboel: Farm and homestead guardian; first line of defense against predators American Pit Bull Terrier: Catch dog for semi-wild cattle and hogs, farm dog and family companion |
Height | Boerboel: Males 24 to 27 in; females 22 to 25 in American Pit Bull Terrier: Males 18 to 21 in; females 17 to 20 in (UKC) |
Weight | Boerboel: 150 to 200 lb American Pit Bull Terrier: Males 35 to 60 lb; females 30 to 50 lb (UKC) |
Coat | Boerboel: Short, dense and smooth; low grooming American Pit Bull Terrier: Short and glossy; low grooming |
Registry group | Boerboel: AKC Working Group American Pit Bull Terrier: UKC Terrier Group (not AKC recognized) |
Guarding style | Boerboel: Calm, confident home and family guardian American Pit Bull Terrier: Friendly, eager to please, usually not a guardian |
Boerboel height comes from the AKC breed standard and weight from the AKC breed weight chart. Typical lifespan reflects what we see in the breed. American Pit Bull Terrier figures come from the breed standards and AKC resources listed under Sources.
Size and build
There is no real contest on size. The UKC standard puts a male American Pit Bull Terrier at 18 to 21 inches and 35 to 60 lb. The AKC lists the Boerboel at 150 to 200 lb, with males standing 24 to 27 inches. A large Boerboel can weigh three times as much as a large pit bull.
Temperament and guarding style
This is the biggest difference between the two. The UKC standard describes the APBT as "extremely friendly, even with strangers" and says aggressive behavior toward humans is uncharacteristic and highly undesirable. That makes most pit bulls poor guard dogs. The Boerboel was bred to guard. It bonds tightly with its family and is naturally watchful of people it does not know. Both breeds can show dog aggression, so careful introductions and supervision matter for each.
More on how Boerboels behave with family, children and visitors is in our Boerboel temperament FAQ.
Training and handling
Pit bulls are usually very eager to please and food-motivated, which makes them a forgiving breed to train. Boerboels are smart but more independent, and a 150 lb adolescent testing boundaries is a very different handling job than a 50 lb one. Boerboel owners need to get structure and leash manners in place while the puppy is still small.
Our puppies start that work early through Cold River HomeStart™, the early foundation every Cold River puppy receives, and our Boerboel training FAQ covers house training, leash work, mouthing and more.
Exercise, work and performance
Weight pull is where these breeds are most often compared. Pit bulls are one of the most common breeds in the sport and excel in the lighter weight classes, where pulling a large multiple of body weight wins. Boerboels compete in the heavy classes, where total weight moved is what stands out. Conditioning, training and a well-fitted harness matter more than breed for any dog, which we cover in our dog weight pulling guide.
Performance is how we measure the breed at Cold River. Cold River's Sun Wukong and Cold River's Mr. Wednesday both pulled 22,039 lb at a UPF event on May 9, 2026, the heaviest pull in any weight-pull federation's published results. Sun competes at about 164 lb and Wednesday at about 186 lb. The full results and sources are on our world record page, and our dog weight pulling guide explains how the sport works.
Health and lifespan
Pit bulls are a medium breed and generally live longer than giant breeds. Boerboels generally live 9 to 11 years. Both breeds can be affected by hip dysplasia and skin allergies, so ask breeders about health screening. For growth, lifespan and bloat prevention in Boerboels, see our Boerboel size, growth and health FAQ.
Which breed is right for you?
Choose a Boerboel if:
You want a true home and family guardian
You want a giant, powerful dog for heavy-class strength sports
You have the experience and space for a 150 to 200 lb dog
Choose a American Pit Bull Terrier if:
You want a friendly, people-loving dog rather than a guardian
You want a medium-sized athlete that is easier to handle and travel with
You want to compete in lighter weight-pull classes
Whichever breed you choose, pick a breeder who can show you health results and what their dogs actually do. Our guide on how to choose a Boerboel breeder covers what to ask.
Common questions
Is a Boerboel stronger than a pit bull?
In total weight moved, yes, because a Boerboel can weigh three times as much. Pound for pound, pit bulls are among the strongest dogs in weight pull. The heaviest pull in any federation's published results, 22,039 lb, was set by two Boerboels.
Is a Boerboel a pit bull?
No. The Boerboel is a South African mastiff breed. The American Pit Bull Terrier was developed from Bulldog and terrier crosses. They are separate breeds with different builds and temperaments.
Which breed is a better guard dog?
The Boerboel. It was bred to guard a homestead. The UKC standard describes the pit bull as friendly even with strangers, which is not a guarding trait.
Are pit bulls or Boerboels banned anywhere?
Some places restrict both. The United Kingdom bans the Pit Bull Terrier type outright, and some cities, counties, landlords and insurers restrict pit bulls, Boerboels or large guardian breeds in general. Check local laws and your insurance before bringing home either breed.
Thinking about a Boerboel?
Start with our puppy application, see our available puppies, or read the Boerboel puppy price FAQ. To compare the Boerboel with more breeds, see Boerboel vs other breeds.
Sources
By Cold River Boerboels. Updated October 2026.
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