Long research has traced the ancestry of the Boerboel as far back as the time of Herodotus, to Tibet, Assure and Babylon. In Assirian dogs were used as soldiers, even covered with reinforced material to protect them. When Assurbanipal conquered Egypt. These dogs were also taken along and thus they were spread further into the known world.

Later Alexander the Great was responsible for spreading them to Europe. Apparently In 326bc he received a present 156 of these large dogs whom had been specially trained to fight lions and elephants. Through the ages these dogs developed into two definite strains, the mastiff which was mainly used for protection and as soldiers, and the hound which was used for hunting purposes. Both these dogs were large and strong and typical working dogs, with only slight differences in appearance and build. It is reputed that all dogs of the western world are descended from these two dog types. About 600 years ago the Europeans started specialized breeding from these two basic dogs and through fine-selection and crossbreeding the different breeds evolved. Some dogs were bred especially for hunting. Others had to retrieve the prey, guard and herd the livestock and for many other uses they could be put to, but the basis of all these dogs were still the original strong breed of the past.

When the settlers came to the cape (modern day South Africa ) in 1652 they brought their own dogs along to protect them and their families in this wild and unknown country. This dog was known as a ''bullenbitjer' , a large, heavy mastiff-type dog . At this time the original dog had been much diversified and many of the western world countries had its own distinctive, specialized breed of dog.

The settlers who came after also brought along their strongest dogs to protect them against all the unknown dangers of this strange land. Thus dogs arrived here from many different countries. As the pioneers moved further and further inland and settled on remote farms, the dogs were forcibly isolated and a lot of inbreeding took place which had the result that the characteristics of the original Assirian dog started to reappear. Survival was of the utmost importance and it was here that the hardiness of today's Boerboel was perforce bred into the dog. There was no veterinary surgeon or medicines available for dogs and they had to look out for themselves to a large extent.

Existing today are many good Boerboel breeders who are keeping the breed strong and healthy. It is unknown exactly what mastiff combinations and other breeds were used in the original breeding to make up today's Boerboel . Throughout history the Boerboel has proven to be a very courageous, strong, protective and loyal dog.