A guard dog from Bonteheuwel has been named Dog of the Year at the South African Boerboel Breeders Society (SABBS) International Show 2025.
Elton Daniels and his boerboel, Pioneer Magic - born, bred and raised in Bonteheuwel, stole the show on Saturday in Bloemfontein when the sturdy dog was crowned the International Senior Champion Male, International Grand Champion Male and International Dog of the Year.
A proud Daniels says his 21-month-old top dog showed pedigree at the competition to finish best in show.
"There are many things that the judges look at. such as his temperament, structure, height, bone density, eyes and top line.
"Friends of mine always say Magic has the topline of Table Mountain because it is straight and Magic came out tops on Saturday.
"Pioneer Magic travelled across the country to various regional shows, SABBS shows and Western Cape club shows and he always placed first at these shows and won many championship classes throughout South Africa.”
Pioneer Magic has been a champion dog for a second year running after he was crowned the International Junior Champion at last year's SABBS International Show at just nine months old.
And at only 12 months Magic was appraised at 86.4%.
Pioneer Magic’s mother, named Malakas Honey, and half-sister Pioneer Manuka, also competed at the SABBS Championship on Saturday.
Pioneer Manuka was crowned the International Junior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Female and Malakas Honey placed first in her class with multiple Dog of the Day titles in the Western Cape.
“There is loads of training that goes on and it usually starts at four weeks for me," Daniels said.
"Training does not stop but to get them ready for competitions we usually start about five weeks before the event starts where I put my dog in some sort of conditioning."
Daniels said he has five Boerboels and his love for dogs started at a young age.
He bought his first Boerboel as a dog guard for his property in 2017.
"The dog did exceptionally well growing up and guarding my property then I decided to attend shows and that is where the passion started.
"At 18 weeks old I make sure I socialise my puppies like taking the dogs on walks in the community of Bonteheuwel and I also make sure to take them to different areas such as Clifton and Sea Point so that they can get along with other dogs and humans.
"Pioneer Magic is now retired from the show ring, there is nothing more for him to achieve in the Boerboel industry but I have been in contact with people who want to use him in their programme.”
Cape Argus