Health testing is where a breeding program shows whether it is serious or just selling puppies. A Boerboel is a giant breed with a lifespan commonly in the range of 9 to 11 years, and the choices made before a litter is even conceived shape the years you will have with your dog. Testing does not guarantee a perfect animal — nothing does — but it stacks the odds in your favor and it tells you the breeder cares about outcomes, not just deposits. Here is what real testing looks like and what you should be asking for.
Large, heavy dogs put more load on their joints, their hearts, and their frames than smaller breeds do. That means the conditions worth screening for tend to be the ones that shorten or diminish a big dog's life. Responsible breeders test the parents before breeding so that dogs carrying known problems are not passed forward. The goal is simple and honest: fewer preventable issues, sounder dogs, and buyers who know what they are getting.
No single test covers everything, so a good program layers several. These are the pillars you should expect to see for a breeding pair.
Orthopedic evaluation through programs such as OFA or PennHIP, using controlled scoring to assess joint conformation and reduce the risk of dysplasia.
Heart screening, including evaluation for conditions such as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), to help keep serious cardiac issues out of the line.
Examination for eyelid conditions the breed can carry, such as entropion and ectropion, where the lid rolls inward or outward.
Beyond those, DNA and genetic screening adds another layer, checking for inherited conditions that can be identified through a laboratory panel. Genetic testing lets a breeder make informed pairings — for example, avoiding mating two carriers of the same condition. Alongside health screening, recognized breed appraisals through registries such as SABBS (the South African Boerboel Breeders' Society), WBBA and NABBR evaluate a dog against the standard for conformation and temperament, which is part of preserving the breed honestly.
The Boerboel is a deep-chested breed, and deep-chested dogs carry a higher risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus, commonly called bloat or GDV. This is a sudden, life-threatening emergency in which the stomach fills with gas and can twist. No genetic test screens it away, so awareness is the tool that matters. Every Boerboel owner should learn the warning signs, understand the risk factors, and know that bloat requires immediate veterinary care. A good breeder will talk to you about it rather than pretend it does not exist.
Certificates only mean something if you can see them. When you talk to any breeder, including us, do not be shy about asking for documentation. A serious breeder welcomes these questions because the answers are their proof of work.
If a breeder cannot or will not provide this, that is your answer. At W3 Gods, health testing is not a marketing line — it is the foundation of the program. We test, we document, we breed for soundness, and we would rather do less volume and do it right. No short cuts. Only quality. That standard is exactly why the dogs we produce are worth the wait.
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian about health screening, testing, and any concerns specific to your dog.
See the standard behind our program and ask us anything — documentation included.
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