While doing a little research on the Boerboel, we came across several mentions of the Ysterberg Mastiff. We wondered if this was a breed unknown to us, or something else. As it turns out, the answer isn’t very clear, at least not to us.
Some write that the Ysterberg Mastiff is a Boerboel bloodline that existed in the early 1940s in South Africa. Bred by Klaas van Waveren before the Boerboel was officially recognized, the Ysterberg has been described the oldest living bloodline in Boerboel history.
Some sources indicate, however, that the Ysterberg Mastiff was part of the foundation stock of the Boerboel; in other words, a breed unto itself. When the first Boerboel organization was founded in 1983, Ysterberg dogs were included because their conformation fell within the parameters of what founders were looking for in the Boerboel.
In 2010, however, like-minded individuals came to realize that their vision for the Boerboel was very different from what Boerboel organizers had in mind. In order to protect Ysterberg bloodlines, these folks decided to resurrect the original Ysterberg type of the past by isolating those lines out of Boerboels, and the Ysterberg Mastiff Breed Council was formed. For the past decade, Ysterberg Mastiff bloodline breeders have adhered to a controlled program of the Council which makes a distinction between the Boerboel, South African Black Mastiff, Ysterberg Mastiff™ and South African Mastiff®.
Evidently, there was enough confusion associated with the names, “Ysterberg Mastiff” and “Boerboel” that in 2019, the Council re-branded itself and changed the organization’s name from Ysterberg Mastiff™ Breed Council to “South African Mastiff® – powered by Ysterberg since 1948.”
There are those who maintain that early on, some dogs were registered as Boerboels, even though they were Ysterberg Mastiffs, and as proof, they cite issues of size and coloring appearing in Boerboel litters even today. Original Ysterberg Mastiffs could be piebald and Irish marked, and they were big! Indeed, when comparing a Ysterberg to a Boerboel, the former is a frame size or two bigger.
We always defer to breed experts and welcome additional insights into this topic!
Image of Ysterberg Mastiff found on Pinterest and will be credited upon receipt of information
I like the ysterburg dog please provide me with the Price of it I need a female one
We are not breeders of the breed, Molisana, nor do we help locate puppies.
I’m lookin for a ysterberg mastiff puppy can you kindly assist me with locating a breeder.
Apologies, Andrew, but we’re not in the puppy-locator line of work, and we honestly don’t mean for that to sound snarky. We have no connections to the Boerboel world and would do the same thing we’d suggest to anyone looking for a puppy: Research the internet. Good luck!
I was against this decision originally but after reviewing so many photos and videos it is so OBVIOUS!!!
The Ysterberg has so many distinctions that differ from other lines of the Boerboel like the Mizpah line, Mouser line, ect.
In actuality this confirms that the Boerboel Breed Standards need to be differentiated and New Breed lines should be defined.
Hound like, bull like, terrier like Boerboels look different and shouldn’t be within the same standard!
Yep, the ysterberg mastiff is in a class of their own; best dogs ever!!!
Wow, what’s this lovely’s name???
His name is Barney
I have an Ysterberg Mastiff. He is already 6 years old. He is the most loving, protective and lovable dog ever. He is so intelligent. I can not imagine my life without him.
I don’t understand how people can confuse the Ysterberg Mastiff with a Boerboel.
Education is key! Your boy is dazzling!
Hey Marinda,We had a boerboel for almost 11years,fullbred boerboel.
If i look at the discription of an ysterberg….she would be an ysterberg,because she fitted the description perfectly.
Very large female…..just under 30″at the wthers….weight 200lbs,and ribs clearly visible,so absolutely not to fat….she was huge.
Also extremely intelligent and very loving and protective,especially when our son was born…..one could argue she ticked all the boxes for an ysterberg,but it was a boerboel.
So sometimes the differance is not as big as you think.
Sadly she passed away november 2022…miss her so much.
Her mother was BJ Bruceline,and her father was Groot Geluk Cobus.
All the best and warm greetings from the Netherlands.