Every year on 24 September, South Africa celebrates Heritage Day: a day for the cultures, languages, recipes and stories that make up this country, and for recognising that all of them belong here. It began as Shaka Day in KwaZulu-Natal and was kept after 1994 as a public holiday for every South African to celebrate their own traditions and everyone else's.
Heritage is not only about people, though. A few of the dogs asleep on South African couches right now carry a history that is as local as it gets. Some have been here for well over a thousand years. Others were shaped on our farms and in our bushveld. This Heritage Day, we are celebrating the dogs whose story starts right here, and what it takes to look after them properly.
The Africanis: Southern Africa's Own Dog
.jpg?width=1500)
Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Long dismissed as a "township dog" or a mongrel, the Africanis is in fact one of the oldest dog populations on the continent. Dogs travelled south with farming and herding communities, and for centuries they lived alongside people in villages across Southern Africa, guarding homesteads, herding and hunting. Nobody bred them to a standard. The climate, the land and the work did the shaping, and what survived was a dog built for this place.
A typical Africanis is medium sized, lean and athletic, with a short coat in almost any colour, a wedge-shaped head and a very expressive face. Some carry a ridge of hair along the back, one of the traits they are believed to have passed on to the Rhodesian Ridgeback. They are clever, alert and deeply attached to their people, and they need both space and company.
Looking after an Africanis
- Do not overfeed. A healthy Africanis is naturally slim, and in good condition you should just be able to see the last ribs. That is not a sign of hunger. A quality all-life-stages food like Diamond Naturals All Life Stages Chicken & Rice, fed to the guide on the bag, suits them well.
- Stay on top of ticks. These are outdoor dogs at heart, and ticks are a year-round risk in much of the country. Keep them on reliable protection from our tick and flea range, such as the Bravecto chewable.
- Give that brain a job. A bored Africanis will find its own entertainment. Puzzle and treat toys and long walks keep them happy.
The Boerboel: The Farm Guardian
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The name gives it away: boer is Afrikaans for farmer, and this is a farmer's dog through and through. The Boerboel was developed on South African farms from large dogs brought by settlers, mixed and selected over generations for one job: protecting the family and the homestead. It needed to be brave enough to stand its ground against a leopard, and steady enough to live with the farmer's children.
Today's Boerboel is a big, heavily muscled mastiff type, often well over 60kg, with a calm temperament and a strong sense of who its family is. It is confident, intelligent and protective, which means early socialisation and consistent, kind training are not optional.
Looking after a Boerboel
- Grow them slowly. Giant breed puppies that grow too fast are more prone to joint problems. A dedicated large breed puppy food controls calcium and energy for steady growth. Orijen Puppy Large Breed, Acana Puppy Large Breed and Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy are all built for it.
- Look after the joints for life. For adults, move to a large breed adult formula such as Acana Adult Large Breed, and consider a joint supplement made for big dogs, like GCS Joint Care Advanced Powder XL. A proper orthopaedic bed takes the pressure off hips and elbows.
- Buy toys that survive. A Boerboel's jaw makes short work of soft toys. The Kong Extreme is made for power chewers.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback: The Lion Dog
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The Ridgeback's famous ridge, a stripe of hair growing the opposite way along its spine, comes from the ridged dogs kept by the Khoikhoi. European settlers in Southern Africa crossed those dogs with their own hunting breeds, and over time produced a hound that could cope with heat, cover huge distances and stay calm around big game. Their reputation as "lion dogs" comes from their job: holding a lion at bay, not fighting it, until the hunters arrived.
Modern Ridgebacks are athletic, dignified and famously independent. They are gentle with their families, reserved with strangers, and they need a lot more exercise than their love of the couch suggests.
Looking after a Ridgeback
- Feed an athlete. A lean, high-protein diet keeps muscle on and extra weight off the joints. Orijen Large Breed Adult and Taste of the Wild High Prairie with bison and venison are both good fits.
- Mind the short coat. Ridgebacks feel the cold on Highveld winter mornings. A light fleece like the Ruffwear Climate Changer makes a real difference.
- Take water on long walks. They will happily go further than you. A collapsible bowl like the Ruffwear Quencher clips onto a belt or backpack.
And the Pavement Specials
Most South African dogs do not have papers, and plenty of them carry a little Africanis, Boerboel or Ridgeback somewhere in the mix. The rescues, the "pavement specials" and the dogs who simply turned up one day and never left are as much a part of our heritage as any breed. They deserve the same good food, protection and care.
FAQs
Is the Africanis a recognised breed?
The Africanis is a landrace, meaning a natural population shaped by its environment rather than a breed standard. It is not recognised by the major international kennel clubs, but the Africanis Society of Southern Africa works to document and protect it.
Is the Rhodesian Ridgeback South African?
The breed was developed in Southern Africa from local ridged dogs and European hunting breeds. It takes its name from Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, where the first breed standard was written in 1922.
What should I feed a Boerboel puppy?
A large breed puppy food, fed to the guide and not free-fed. Controlled growth is the goal, and extra calcium supplements should only be given if your vet recommends them.
Is delivery free?
Local orders over R550 in Johannesburg and Cape Town qualify for free delivery. Everywhere else, delivery is calculated at checkout.
