For 18 years I was an Over the Road trucker and loved it. During this time I’d traveled through each Lower 48, Canada and Mexico. There is a freedom there that allows travel and exploration; seeing new faces and meeting new people everyday.
October 2017 I received my DoD Security Clearance after waiting 2 years. This was necessary to haul ammunition, explosives, and radioactive material. Now I’m super excited about this new transition. Monday, November 27, 2017 it all ended. After spending the weekend home enjoying my family, I left out heading for Canada. Forty-five minutes into my trip I was struck by another truck. This injured my back, ruptured two discs in my neck that affected my spinal cord resulting in my inability to walk. This unfortunate tragedy left me in a difficult place both mentally and physically. My faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and my family is what brought me through.
My Doctor recommended that I get a service dog; one that could help with mobility, anxiety and depression. During my research I came across the South African Boerboel. As I read more the more I longed for this canine companion. Instead of doing a more in depth study of the breed: health, temperament and what issues to expect; we began searching for breeders. Fortunately I found a great breeder and got not One but Two South Boerboels, Isabella and Sophia.
It was after joining The Boerboels Owners Group on FaceBook that I 1st learned of the horror stories within the breed. These are the genetic health issues many Boerboel breeders don’t want you to know or ask about: SAS Subaortic Stenosis, DM Degenerative Myelopathy, HUU Hyperuricosuria, Wobblers Disease, CMR1 Canine Multifocal Retinopathy 1, MDR1 Multidrug Resistance 1, Food Allergies, Entropion, Ectropion, Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia. These issues will hinder your Boerboel from living and enjoying a full life. After learning this I first researched canine DNA testing; found EMBARK to be the world’s leader in the Canine Genetics field.
Even though I had bred Boxers for 15 years prior, I had no intentions of becoming a Boerboel breeder. Once my girls were genetically DNA tested I was relieved. Knowing of all the hurting people who love and depend on their dogs, I thought why not give back. Then my guest for a quality male began, it led me to James Brenann of Coomore Farm Dogs in South Africa. Even though Coomore did not health test, armed with what I had previously had learned I imported Coomore Raptor.
Today all of our dogs are genetically DNA profiled with EMBARK, we test each litter of pups produced also. The DNA testing results are made public and can be verified on Embarks website. All IBK breeding dogs have been OFA Health Tested and can be verified via OFA.org.