A BONTEHEUWEL guard dog 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 innie Bontas, stole the show last Saturday held in Bloemfontein when the stewige hond was crowned the International Senior Champion Male, International Grand Champion Male and International Dog of the Year.
A proud Elton says his 21-month-old top dog made his stem dik and showed pedigree at the competition to finish best in show.
Elton explained: “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 hond 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 percent.
Pioneer Magic’s mother, named Malakas Honey, and half-sister Pioneer Manuka also competed at the SABBS Championship on Saturday.
Pioneer Manuka won the International Junior Champion award and Reserve Grand Champion Female and Malakas Honey placed first in her class with multiple Dog of the Day titles in the Western Cape.
Elton added: “There is loads of training that goes on and it usually starts at four weeks for me. 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.”
Elton owns five boerboels and his love for dogs started at a young age and bought his first boerboel in 2017.
He said: “The dog did exceptionally well growing up and guarding my property then I decided to attend shows...
“At 18 weeks old, I make sure I socialise my puppies like taking the dogs for 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... 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.”