BONTEHEUWEL BOERBOEL TAKES TOP HONOURS AT SABBS INTERNATIONAL SHOW

A powerful Boerboel from Bonteheuwel has earned the prestigious title of Dog of the Year at the 2025 South African Boerboel Breeders Society (SABBS) International Show.

Elton Daniels and his 21-month-old Boerboel, Pioneer Magic, born and raised in Bonteheuwel, stole the spotlight on Saturday in Bloemfontein. Magic was crowned International Senior Champion Male, International Grand Champion Male, and ultimately, International Dog of the Year.

Daniels, beaming with pride, said Magic’s outstanding pedigree and performance set him apart from the competition.

“The judges look at many things—temperament, structure, height, bone density, eyes, and top line,” Daniels explained. “Friends often say Magic’s top line is as straight as Table Mountain—and on Saturday, he proved them right.”

Pioneer Magic has travelled extensively across South Africa, consistently taking first place at regional, SABBS, and Western Cape club shows, with multiple championship class wins to his name.

Pioneer Magic’s Reign Continues with Back-to-Back Titles

Pioneer Magic has proven he’s no one-hit wonder, securing top honours for a second consecutive year. At just nine months old, he was named International Junior Champion at last year’s SABBS International Show—and now, he’s added even greater titles to his growing list of achievements.

By the age of 12 months, Magic had already impressed judges with an appraisal score of 86.4%, a strong indication of his exceptional quality.

The winning streak runs in the family. Magic’s dam, Malakas Honey, and his half-sister, Pioneer Manuka, also competed at this year’s SABBS Championship. Manuka walked away with the titles of International Junior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Female, while Malakas Honey placed first in her class and holds multiple Dog of the Day titles across the Western Cape.

From Guard Dog to Grand Champion: Daniels Shares His Boerboel Journey

“There’s a lot of training involved, and for me, it usually starts as early as four weeks old,” says Elton Daniels.

While training never truly stops, Daniels explains that he begins specific conditioning about five weeks before a competition to ensure his dogs are in peak form.

Currently, he owns five Boerboels, with a love for dogs that traces back to childhood. His journey began in 2017 when he purchased his first Boerboel as a guard dog for his property.

“That dog exceeded all expectations—not just in protecting my home, but in temperament and build. That’s when I decided to start attending shows, and the passion grew from there.”

By 18 weeks, Daniels makes it a priority to socialise his puppies. “I walk them around Bonteheuwel and also take them to places like Clifton and Sea Point to expose them to different environments, people, and other dogs. Socialisation is key.”

Now, after a decorated show career, Pioneer Magic has officially retired from the ring. “There’s nothing left for him to prove in the Boerboel world,” Daniels says. “But I’ve already been approached by people who are interested in using him in their breeding programmes.”