\nCR: Jesse Cortez at Patriot K9
On Christmas Eve, Fallon and her husband brought home their first-ever Boerboel puppy and surprised their kids. The dog became a beloved member of their family and lived for a decade before dying in 2018.<\/p>\n
Over the years, that first experience turned into a long-term devotion to the breed. Fallon and her family have now owned five Boerboels since 2008, carefully managing the dogs to maintain the balance in their home.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re a really active family,\u201d she says. \u201cWe hike, we camp, we travel \u2014 and our dogs come with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Today, Fallon currently shares her Georgia home with two Boerboels \u2014 a male named Gronk and a female named Gigi, both named after the Dave Matthews band \u2014 and says she has learned that the breed often does best in male-female pairs.<\/p>\n
Given that Boerboels are naturally territorial guardians, Fallon explains that strategic management is essential if you own one or more of the breed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way we like to line it up is that we always have two [because] they work better as a team,\u201d she explains. \u201cThey [also] do better when it\u2019s a male-female combo because there can be same sex agression with this breed.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the breed\u2019s protective instincts are part of its history as a working guardian dog, Fallon says that same quality can also feel empowering in her everyday life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very empowering as a woman to just go, ‘Yes, I\u2019m safe,\u2019\u201d she says in response to her dogs accompanying her to the ATM or to the gas station.<\/p>\n
In recent years, Fallon has built a growing social media presence by sharing her life with her dogs online.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did not imagine my videos doing well,\u201d she says. \u201cI had no idea about a following or making money or brand deals \u2014 it was literally just, \u2018Here\u2019s some cute videos of my dogs.’\u201d<\/p>\n
As her followers around the globe became curious about the breed, Fallon began sharing more training clips and daily life with her Boerboels. But over time, she realized she could also help clarify misinformation about the breed online.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce I saw all the misinformation that was out there about the breed and a lot of what gets shared on social media showing incorrect dogs and unstable temperaments, I was like, \u2018I\u2019ve got to put some better information out there,\u2019\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\nWoman Devoted to Raising Boerboels Says the Powerful Breed Isn’t for Everyone.
Within a few years, her platform grew into a community, one she says is largely made up of women who feel inspired by her content.<\/p>\n
\u201cI get messages every day from women saying, \u2018I just want you to know you\u2019ve inspired me to go hiking with my dog,\u2019\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n
Even for people who don\u2019t own protection breeds, Fallon believes that simply having a dog by your side can boost confidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cI often say just a dog in general is a deterrent,\u201d she says. \u201cI’m not saying they’re gonna protect you, but having something visible often will deter, instead of having pepper spray in your pocket.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite doing her best to keep her content relatable and accessible, Fallon is transparent about the commitment required to raise a Boerboel.<\/p>\n\n\nWoman Devoted to Raising Boerboels Says the Powerful Breed Isn’t for Everyone.
\u201cIf you’re going to get into this breed, it is not cheap \u2014 bigger dog [means] more food, more expensive vet bills.<\/p>\n
Fallon also feeds her dogs a carefully balanced raw diet designed with the help of a canine nutritionist.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe probably spend \u2014 and this is going to sound outrageous \u2014 probably food alone about $800 a month,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
For her two Boerboels, their diet includes rotating proteins like turkey, duck, venison and rabbit along with organ meats and supplements.<\/p>\n
She also trains her dogs to wear muzzles in certain situations, not because they\u2019re aggressive, but as a safety precaution.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, muzzles get such a bad reputation [as if] it means [that] muzzle equals danger and it doesn’t,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\nCR: Hannah Kuck; Georgia.shepherds
Fallon points out that muzzles don\u2019t always signal bite risk. In fact, many times it\u2019s to make sure your dog doesn\u2019t eat other animals, species or stuff on the ground that could potentially affect their health. It\u2019s a safety precaution nonetheless.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don’t know when you’re gonna need it,\u201d she says. \u201cEspecially with a power breed, because what if we had a medical emergency in our home? My dogs are territorial by design.\u201d<\/p>\n
In testing scenarios, the breed’s bite has been measured at roughly 500-800 PSI (pounds per square inch), which is among the strongest recorded in the canine world.<\/p>\n
For Fallon, sharing her life with her Boerboels online has become much more meaningful than simply posting videos of her dogs.<\/p>\n
Today, her social media platforms have become spaces where she hopes to educate people about the breed and encourage others to feel more confident venturing out with their dogs.<\/p>\n
As her audience continues to grow, Fallon says she intentionally keeps her content grounded in real life rather than turning it into something overly polished or performative.<\/p>\n
Read the original article on People<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n