Facts About The Little Known Bull Arab Dogs
If you’ve never before heard of Bull Arab dogs, chances are you haven’t spent any time in Australia. That’s where this breed comes from, and there are very few Bull Arabs outside of the country.
Bull Arab dogs are sometimes called the Pig dog, which seems a bit unflattering, but the breed has been trained to hunt feral pigs and boars, a task at which it excels.
Bull Arab Dogs Are A Cross – The Bull Arab dog is not a pure breed, in fact has not yet gained the recognition of being a separate breed. It is a cross of several breeds and a very popular cross. The dog as we know it today was developed in Australia in the 1970’s for the purpose of finding just the right type of dog to hunt and control the wild boar.
Even though it is not yet recognized a distinct breed, there is a registry, The Australian Bull Arab Registry, and a dog must meet the standards set forth by that registry, including passing a DNA test, to be registered.
The Registry is working very hard both to gain recognition of Bull Arab dogs as a recognized breed, and to keep the blood lines within boundaries. Because some breeders cross a Bull Arab with another breed, it can at times be difficult to identify what is a true Bull Arab should you wish to purchase one. The best guarantee is to purchase a puppy that will satisfy Registry Standards and pass the DNA test.
It can be very difficult to purchase a Bull Arab dog, unless you live in Australia, and even there, breeders can be a little difficult to locate. Once you have located a Bull Arab breeder, expect to pay a fairly steep price for the dog, and also expect to have to wait in line until your name comes up.
Conformation And Coloring – In the absence of a photographic image, a look at the Bull Arab Registry Standard will give good idea of the Bull Arab’s appearance. This is a medium to large dog, standing approximately 25″ at the shoulder.
It has a strong and powerful head and muzzle, with full drop ears and a strong, muscular and slightly arched neck. Its body is neither slender nor overly stocky, but well balanced, and conveys a sense of activity and motion.
The Bull Arab has powerful hindquarters, built for speed and quickness. The hindquarters appear somewhat angled when viewed from the side but are straight when viewed from behind. The tail is thick at the base, tapering to a point, and is a length proportional to the length of the dog’s body.
Bull Arab dogs have a short, smooth coat, and a soft undercoat during the winter months. There are a variety of colors which are acceptable as far as registry is concerned. These include, red, liver, black, buckskin, blue, silver, tan and brindle, though most dogs are white with patches of one of the these colors. Others are one of the aforementioned colors with white patches.
In other words, the coloring can be quite varied, although dogs that have black and tan, merle or harlequin coats do not meet the standard.
If It Runs It Will Chase It – Bull Arab dogs have been bred for both its hunting capability and its temperament. If trained properly the Bull Arab is not a vicious dog at all, but a good companion and family dog. A Bull Arab can be a hunter, a show dog, and a family pet all at the same time.
If it has a bad habit, it is that it will tend to chase whatever might be running, so when around other dogs or taken outside for a stroll it must be kept on a leash. If another dog runs by the Bull Arab may just pursue it and kill it. The same would be true of course for the neighbor’s cat.
The Bull Arab does not have the reputation of the American Pit Bull. Unfortunately there have been attacks by dogs which are Bull Arab mixes but not true Bull Arabs and the latter has sometimes taken the blame. Those who own and breed this dog will tell you it is a wonderful breed and, if properly trained, a wonderful companion as well.
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