South African Boerboel and Bull Mastiffs
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Historically South African Boerboel Breeders have used any dog would do the job and further enhace their farm dogs (boerboels) in their breeding programs. Many dog breeds have been used in boerboel breeding history.
Bullmastiffs Served as the game keepers night dog. They were used to illegal hunters. The dogs were taught to tackle and hold the poacher without mauling and killing him. First created for large estates in England. Poaching was frowned upon. The punishment was death. Wealthy estate owners hired the gamekeepers to protect game. The original bullmastiff was 40% bulldogg and %60 mastiff. Mastiff too big and slow lacked drive necessary Bulldogg was to viscious and would tear up the poacher too bad. What the game keeper needed was a big strong dog powerful enough to knock down a man and hold them without viscously mauling them or killing them. to keep up wiht poacher. People are often mistaken when they see a boerboel. They think that it is a Bullmastiff. 
The South African Boerboel does have the influence of the Bullmastiff.
In some of the lines you can see the resemblance in others you will not. Bull mastiffs were the dog of choice in South Africa for guarding the diamond mines. At the time these dogs were fierce protectors and highly valued guradians. These dogs later fused with other breeds better suited for farm life and farming purposes. The reason that it is important to mention the bullmastiff when talking about the boerboel is because of how heavily inluence the dog carries. The Bull mastiff is integral to the foundation of the boerboel breed. They are relatives and more similar than they are different.
The difference betweem the Boerboel and the Bullmastiff.
In South Africa the English Bullmastiff later bred with many other breeds and evolved into the ultimate protector the modern boerboel. The pure bred Bullmastiff's genes were locked and rarely did fresh dna enter the pool. The result is a less functional mastiff who is mainly bred as a pet rather than for its abilities.