about

Zena is a foundational female in our program and one of our all-around best balanced dogs. She possesses several exceptional qualities that make her a standout as a breeding female.

From a Boerboel temperament perspective, she exhibits the perfect balance of multiple personality traits. She is initially aloof with strangers until she can evaluate them, or sees that her owners are accepting of them, or give her permission to approach. But once she senses that there is no danger or is given permission to interact, she immediately warms up to people. Her sometimes distant public persona belies the fact that Zena has the biggest and happiest personality of probably any dog in our program. She has a bubbly, outgoing manner that exhibits itself in a constantly happy and somewhat mischievous expression.

Physically, she is extremely athletic and we sometimes joke about her leaping buildings in a single bound, given her feats of physical prowess. But she shows great restraint with livestock, small animals, and children, knowing how to moderate her behavior to fit different situations and interactions. Zena exhibits the best movement of any dog in our kennel, and walks and runs with a cat-like, fluid buoyancy, a gait that is highly desired in this breed.

She is still a young dog, and we expect her to continue to develop and improve over the next year. We hope to re-appraise her when she finishes developing, after SABBS begins allowing re-appraisals again sometime post-pandemic.

From a lineage perspective, Zena has a long line of Linjo Boerboels in her pedigree. This kennel has the old lines of the Boerboel that are key to maintaining the breed’s unique landrace qualities, many of which we feel manifest themselves strongly in Zena and will be passed on to her offspring.

Thank you to Linjo and Kadima Boerboels for this incredible lineage, to her previous owners at Jubz Boerboele for raising such an amazing girl, and to all the judges that have recognized Zena and encouraged us on our journey.