To all suggesting GSD, I absolutely love them. I really really do. But after my second-to-last died at 5, and my last one became effectively crippled at 7 from spine problems, I can't do it again. I've heard too many horror stories, even from those with well bred ones.
I so wish someone out there would just outcross to Malinois, Dutch shep, etc., then breed back for the added health. I just don't understand the siloeing of breeds when so many are riddled with so much disease. Careful, deliberate expansions of the most afflicted gene pools could make great strides towards fixing this, as in the case of Dalmatians. They also do it in KNPV and military, which would be way too much dog for me. But I digress...
On the rough/smooth collie suggestion, I'll have to look into that. A smooth I might consider - the rough has too much hair. I'd also worry about them being a little soft? Though certainly SAR is not for soft dogs, so that may answer that question.
With Boerboel, as cold as it gets up here, I don't think they would work. My Plott Hound really struggles with it, and for that reason I don't think I'd do another short haired, single coated dog. For example, our windchill tomorrow morning is predicted to be -25°F to -44°F. It's sad because he loves to come out with us, but just can't hack it when we snowshoe, etc.