Boerboel vs Other Breeds: How the Boerboel Compares

Cold River

5 days ago

4 min read

Short answer: The Boerboel is a South African mastiff-type guardian. Males stand 24 to 27 inches, and the AKC weight chart lists the breed at 150 to 200 lb. Compared with most guardian and working breeds, it carries more muscle and mass for its height, stays calm and watchful at home, and is built for power. That build is why Boerboels hold the heaviest documented results in weight pull.

How the Boerboel compares

Breed	Origin, height and weight
Boerboel	South Africa. Males 24 to 27 in; females 22 to 25 in. 150 to 200 lb.
Cane Corso	Italy. Males 25 to 27.5 in; females 23.5 to 26 in. Males 99 to 110 lb; females 88 to 99 lb (FCI).
American Pit Bull Terrier	Developed from Bulldog and terrier crosses in England. Males 18 to 21 in; females 17 to 20 in (UKC). Males 35 to 60 lb; females 30 to 50 lb (UKC).
Kangal	Turkey. Males 29 to 33 in; females 27 to 31 in (UKC). Males 110 to 145 lb; females 90 to 130 lb (UKC).
Rottweiler	Germany. Males 24 to 27 in; females 22 to 25 in. 80 to 135 lb.
Doberman Pinscher	Germany. Males 26 to 28 in; females 24 to 26 in. 60 to 100 lb.
German Shepherd	Germany. Males 24 to 26 in; females 22 to 24 in. 50 to 90 lb.
Belgian Malinois	Belgium. Males 24 to 26 in; females 22 to 24 in. Males 60 to 80 lb; females 40 to 60 lb.
Dutch Shepherd	The Netherlands. Males about 22.5 to 24.5 in; females about 21.5 to 23.5 in (FCI). 42 to 75 lb.
Bullmastiff	England. Males 25 to 27 in; females 24 to 26 in. Males 110 to 130 lb; females 100 to 120 lb.
Mastiff	England. Males at least 30 in; females at least 27.5 in. Males about 160 to 230 lb; females about 120 to 170 lb.
Fila Brasileiro	Brazil. Males about 25.5 to 29.5 in; females about 23.5 to 27.5 in (FCI). Males at least 110 lb; females at least 88 lb (FCI).
Dogue de Bordeaux	France. Males 23.5 to 27 in; females 23 to 26 in. Males at least 110 lb; females at least 99 lb.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog	Switzerland. Males 25.5 to 28.5 in; females 23.5 to 27 in. Males 115 to 140 lb; females 85 to 110 lb.
Presa Canario	Canary Islands. Males about 24 to 26 in; females about 22.5 to 24.5 in (FCI). Males about 99 to 126 lb; females about 88 to 110 lb (FCI).
Tosa	Japan. Males at least 23.5 in; females at least 21.75 in (UKC). 100 to 200 lb (AKC weight chart).
Dogo Argentino	Cordoba. Males about 23.5 to 27 in; females about 23.5 to 25.5 in (FCI). 80 to 100 lb (AKC weight chart).
Anatolian Shepherd	Turkey. Males from 29 in; females from 27 in (AKC). Males 110 to 150 lb; females 80 to 120 lb (AKC).
American Bulldog	United States (American South). Males 22 to 27 in; females 20 to 25 in (UKC). About 75 lb (AKC weight chart); the UKC sets no weight, only "in proportion to height".
Olde English Bulldogge	United States (Pennsylvania). Males 17 to 20 in; females 16 to 19 in (UKC). Males 60 to 80 lb; females 50 to 70 lb (UKC).
Tibetan Mastiff	Tibet. Males 26 to 29 in preferred; females 24 to 27 in (AKC). 70 to 150 lb (AKC weight chart).
Caucasian Shepherd	Caucasus region; the FCI lists the USSR. Males at least 27 in, ideally 28 to 29.5 in; females at least 25 in (FCI). Males at least 110 lb; females at least 99 lb (FCI); 99 to 170 lb (AKC weight chart).
Great Dane	Germany. Males at least 30 in, preferably 32 in or more; females at least 28 in, preferably 30 in or more. Males up to about 175 lb; females up to about 140 lb.
Chihuahua	Mexico. No height in the standard; usually about 5 to 6 in (AKC). Not to exceed 6 lb.
French Bulldog	France. About 11 to 13 in (AKC). Not to exceed 28 lb (AKC standard).
Greyhound	Ancient; first known from the Tomb of Amten in the Nile Valley. Males 28 to 30 in; females 27 to 28 in (AKC). Males 65 to 70 lb; females 60 to 65 lb (AKC standard).

Figures come from each breed's published standard or AKC resources. Each comparison below lists its sources.

Every Boerboel comparison

What sets the Boerboel apart

The AKC Boerboel standard describes a dog that is "calm, stable and confident, at times displaying a self-assured aloofness," one that "should recognize a threat or lack thereof" and is "loving with children and family." It also asks for "strength, suppleness, nimbleness and agility" in a large, muscular frame. That combination of a discerning guardian temperament and athletic power is what we breed for.

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.