Our Story
Why We Decided to Raise Boerboels —
Many families seek that strong sense of connection and security from a guardian dog — one that not only watches over the family and homestead but becomes a loving member of the family.
With Paige working from home, a guardian breed like the Boerboel – with it’s natural protective nature and a strong devotion to it’s family – gave Jeff peace of mind while at the office or on the road.
Our genuine appreciation for this amazing breed continues to grow, as does our commitment to producing outstanding family-oriented pups for our extended “Badgerland” families. Our aim is to respect the breed standard while helping new families discover these loyal companions.
Enter Kobe: Our First Boerboel
Our big rescue dog Cooper was amazing in many ways but he came with his share of problems – in particular, he could be very aggresive with unfamilair dogs. We spent a good deal of time and effort on vets, trainers, and behaviorists trying to change a less than ideal temperament. Unfortunately, we lost him to cancer far too young. And while we would never trade the love and joy Cooper brought to our lives, we began to recognize what a pure bred dog might provide in terms of the health and temperament.
We knew we wanted another big dog and the Boerboel breed checked a lot of boxes for us – powerful, loyal, easy to groom. After some research and finding an outstanding breeder here in our state, Mae Kobe soon entered our lives. We knew upfront that proper training was non-negotiable. We decided to feed a healthy raw diet, and also prioritized socialization from puppyhood. By keeping expectations high, Kobe is a well-balanced, fulfilled dog who integrates naturally into our lives.
Knowing Kobe was on watch gave Jeff peace of mind that Paige and the property were safe. Always up for a hike around the perimeter or through the woods, Kobe is our constant companion in the house. He’s well-socialized with our other pet dogs, the cat and the chickens. (We’re still working on the UPS guy).
The Unexpected Benefits
Adding Kobe to our family, brought out the best in us individually and as a family unit. The mantra of Boerboel training is “Keep expectations high” and this became our North Star.
Paige enjoyed the most dramatic transformation. Recovering from pandemic burnout and struggling to establish a consistent exercise plan, Kobe’s obedience training needs helped Paige achieve her physical activity goals. Rather than sitting in front of her laptop all day, Kobe walks gave her a much needed break from work. Time spent on obedience requires you to be fully present and to live in the moment. This means less time worrying about the future or ruminating about the past. Time in nature, being fully present and bonding with a beautiful dog was the perfect way to heal.
As we focused on providing Kobe with optimal food and supplements, our own meal habits changed. We started buying more food from local farmers and less from fast food restaurants. As we lost weight and felt better we became more active and less stressed.
Our pandemic pups got an obedience refresher and pack walks became fun, enjoyable exercise rather than a frustrating chore.
The commitment to Kobe initiated a virtual cycle in which our physical and emotional health improved and our marriage strengthened. We are humbled to have the opportunity to help other families find a remarkable companion that will change their lives.
“The price of greatness is responsibility.” — Winston Churchill
Breeding Dogs
Humans
Brave Cat
Years as Vet Tech
What Life is Like at Our House…
Our house is on 7 acres, surrounded by woods and farmland. We are blessed in that we can simply step out our front door and be on a hiking trail in minutes. We spend a lot of time outside and our dogs do too.
We strive to provide an excellent life for all of our breeding dogs. Each day they enjoy exercise, socialization and lots of affection and attention from us. In the evenings, the breeders get some individual house time with us so that when they retire, they’ll be familiar with family life.
Breeding Life Photos – Behind the Scenes
