How to Wash a 130 Pound South African Boerboel

It's that time again.  Zulu is scratching a bit too much and the thought of a potential flea infestation along with the continuing war against ticks, bed bugs, Nairobi flies and a variety of other bizarre African biting insects is just too much to take.  So, time for a bath and another dousing of Frontline Advantage Flea and Tick control for Zuboy.  Bath, yes, how to wash a 130 pound South African Boerboel who is not particularly fond of getting wet.

1.  Wait for the weather to clear up.  It is rainy season in Rwanda, raining everyday, mud everywhere.  A sunny day is a must as all the blankets he sleeps on must be washed which requires sunlight to dry the blankets.  Yesterday the sun came out, the first time in four days....Hallelujah, it's bath time!

2.  Go for a bike ride.   Yes, this is part of the overall strategy.  First, to plan the military maneuvers necessary to complete the washing task, secondly, to psyche out the dog.  He feels the "wash the dog" energy and is already becoming a bit tense, if you go for a ride you throw him for a loop.

Plus, it's sunny today and I need a ride...see #1.  Also, after two hours on the bike in Rwanda, 16 Muzungu Amafarangas (Whitey give me money), two near miss collisions with clueless taxi cyclists turning directly into your path and one bus/cow accident, you have enough adrenalin cursing through your body that tackling a 130 pound dog is akin to lifting a 2 ton vehicle!

3.  After ride, go for a quick mountain bike ride to wear the dog out.  A tired Boerboel is a washable Boerboel.

4.  While one person is taking the dog for the mountain bike run, another person must prepare the washing theater.  This particular Boerboel, disdains the shower so a large wash basin, pitcher and bottle of shampoo must all be in place when the dog is sneakily ushered into the bathroom after his run.  It also pays to have a really crappy bathroom/shower area so nothing is destroyed in the process.

5.  Wash dog.....once Zulu gets wet, generally it becomes a bit easier, however, no camera was allowed in the bathing room as it wouldn't have survived the onslaught of water and soap.


6.  Assess the damages....as noted in step #4, a crappy bathroom is a must if washing a Boerboel indoors.

7.  Let Boerboel dry in the house...make sure all doors to the house are secure as once the dog is released from the bathing room the first order of Zulu business is to race into the muddy yard and rub his body "dry" on the wet grass.

8.  Make peace...with lots of love, brushing and a good long walk.  Zulu is clean, Frontlined and now sound asleep in his half eaten banana leaf bed with two clean and DRY blankets and all trauma is forgotten....until the next time!