THE CAPE BULLMASTIFF CLUB FEBRUARY 2017 FROM THE CHAIR: THE BULLMASTIFF AND THE BOERBOEL

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1 THE CAPE BULLMASTIFF CLUB FEBRUARY 2017 FROM THE CHAIR: THE BULLMASTIFF AND THE BOERBOEL Bullmastiff Boerboel Both the Bullmastiff and the Boerboel are very popular breeds in Southern Africa and are sometimes confused with each other even though they are very different. Their ancestry, long past, is very likely to be from similar gene pools of the ancient molossors and within recent times there is documented breeding of the Bullmastiff into the Boerboel bloodlines which has been published in many articles making for fascinating reading. However, the objectives of this article will be focused around the Southern African context of both breeds and the most prominent differences and similarities as they are today. A brief History of the Bullmastiff in Southern Africa: Folklore out of South Africa s Free State Province has it that General Christiaan de Wet rode around during the Boer War ( ) with a group of large brindle dogs at the heels of his horse. These dogs, if indeed they existed, may well have been brindle mastiff type dogs,

2 Boarhounds or Boerboels, but it is almost certain that they were not Bullmastiffs, as is believed by some today. The first two recorded Bullmastiffs that entered Southern Africa were brought in to Windhoek in South West Africa* (now Namibia) by Mrs Mary Heard in There was a clear coloured bitch named Farcroft Vigil and a small brindle male named Farcroft Joe. Neither of these two dogs, bred by Mr S.E. Mosley in the UK were registered with the Kennel Union of Southern Africa and unfortunately, neither were their progeny a litter of ten pups of which only one was brindle and died soon after birth. The Kennel Club (UK) only gave recognition to the Bullmastiff in 1924 after a common consensus by the early breeders produced an acceptable Breed Standard: it is therefore highly improbable that these two dogs were registered in the UK prior to being exported. The Kennel Union of Southern Africa (KUSA), the only accepted registering body for Bullmastiffs in SA, accepted its first registered Bullmastiffs in There were two bitches - Brittania of Damara (# 32516) & Trustful Peggy (34346) and a dog named John Bull of Damara (#32915). All three Bullmastiffs were clear coloured and were imported by Mrs Heard. The Kennel Club (UK) country of origin Breed Standard was adopted by KUSA at this stage and is still applicable today in Southern Africa with the exception of one sentence referring to the circumference of skull which has been removed by the Kennel Club. All FCI affiliated countries use this standard. The USA & Canada are two countries that have slightly adapted the standard. The well- known Ch. (UK) Springwell Major that was imported by the De Beers Diamond mines was registered with the KUSA in 1935 and was not, as is commonly spoken about, the first Bullmastiff in Southern Africa. Ch. (UK) Springwell Major In 1937 Ch. Castlehill Sally, a clear coloured bitch, became the first KUSA registered show champion. She was followed by Ch. Bullar of Dunmar, a clear coloured dog, in 1944.

3 The first brindle coloured Bullmastiff to become KUSA registered was Bulstaff Amaryllis of Bagdannes bred by Mr. & Mrs. Short in the UK and owned by Mr Behrman & later by Mr Christo Swanepoel of Senekal in the Free State. Bulstaff Amaryllis of Bagdannes Bagdannes Quixote of Zexta The first recorded brindle Bullmastiff to achieve KUSA champion status was only in 1966 Ch. Nagar of Islairg - however it was Bagdannes Quixote of Zexta, a dark brindle male out of Amaryllis that was the first brindle to appear in the breed show ring in Southern Africa. The majority of Bullmastiffs go into pet and companion households these days. A small minority are used as police or protection dogs and even less go into the breed show ring. There are no restrictions on the Bullmastiff in Southern Africa although there are some countries which have limitations and one country, Bermuda that has a total ban on the breed. There are two Speciality Clubs for Bullmastiffs registered with the Kennel Union of Southern Africa namely the Cape Bullmastiff Club info@capebullmastiffclub.co.za / established 2011 KUSA # 1151 with its Headquarters in the Western Cape and the Bullmastiff Club of Southern Africa with its Headquarters in Gauteng. The SA Bullmastiff of today showing imported dogs & local bloodlines UK Denmark USA RSA For the breed to survive within the 21 st Century s economic climate breeders need to reevaluate why they are placing breeding restrictions on their stock and running closed kennels.

4 Those Affixes will be unknown in 5-10 years time as they will not be in any pedigrees. This in some cases will be a disaster for the gene pool and the continuation of the breed in Southern Africa. TO BE CONTINUED IN THE MARCH NEWSLETTER: REFERENCES TO FOLLOW. ************** SHOW TIME/ SHOW RESULTS FCI: CACIB & BOB: Ch LaGratitude Atticus Earl - Bouwer KA : CC dog Ch Sanniesebos Spooner - RBOB Ch. LaGratitude Atticus Earl LKC: RCC dog Ch. Sanniesebos Spooner - RBOB Ch. LaGratitude Atticus Earl COMPETATIVE POINTS SYSTEM EXPLAINED KUSA Conformation Shows (the Breed beauty shows ) have a sliding scale of points ranging from the top Breed accolade of Best of Breed right through to Best in All Breeds Show and are applicable to both Open & Championship shows The KUSA Disciplines of Obedience / Agility/Carting/ Canine Good Citizen/ APT & DMA / CBA are also included in the points system and can be awarded to any dog receiving an accolade in that area. All recipients of accolades, as long as the owner is a member of the CBC, are recognized and awarded COUNTRY WIDE. It is important to understand this is not just for the dog s resident in the Western Cape region. The only exception is the Sue Spooner Memorial Trophy for the KUSA disciplines: this trophy can only be awarded to a dog resident in the Western Cape as per the wishes of the donor the late Dr Kurt Whiffler & Mrs Margaret Whiffler.

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7 Anyone interested to contact

8 FROM THE FAMILY ALBUMS

9 SAVING A DOG WON T CHANGE THE WORLD BUT FOR THAT DOG THE WORLD CHANGES FOREVER ********** Friends and fraternity colleagues are reminded to pay their Cape Bullmastiff Club membership fees R120 annually and R75 for Pensioners First National Bank, Strand Branch Code , Account number If you don t receive a Newsletter for March you will know why THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PAID!! ************* A FUNNY STORY FUNNY HAHA OR FUNNY PARCULIAR YOU DECIDE! CBC member Sue Hook recounts the story of how her Bullmastiff on Guard sign has been nicked off her gate probably she says when Baxter was at the gate greeting everyone with a friendly wag of his tail Baxter was featured in our January Newsletter ************** The CBC website has been updated - have a look! Remember YOUR news and photos are news too so send them in to info@capebullmastiffclub.co.za

10 New Breed Grand Champion Title - KUSA requirements sent out to Exhibitors on 10 th February Changes to the Bullmastiff Breed Standard as expected the letter sent from the two Bullmastiff Clubs to the mother Club in the UK was too no avail. The changes remain **************** The information in this magazine is confined to its members. Statements or opinions may be expressed in this communication that are personal to the writers and do not necessarily represent the views of the Club. The Cape Bullmastiff Club Post Net Suite 65 Private Bag X 15 Somerset West 7129 info@capebullmastiffclub.co.za or