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Bull Arab Rescue was established to help people understand that even though the Bull Arab breed was a breed originally used and created to hunt feral pigs in Australia, they are a very loving, loyal dog. They are amazing family pets, great with kids and people and an all round amazing dog. Some of our dogs have gone onto becoming assistant dogs, scent dogs and most of all family pets. We do not condone the hunting of this breed, we do not adopt out to any hunters as we feel the 'stigma' of the breed  'just being a Pig Dog' needs to be changed because of their loyal, gentle and sweet natures, which makes them the perfect family pet!

 

                                 

      Establishment of the Bull Arab Breed

 

Mike Hodgens commenced breeding of the Bull Arabs around 1972. They are comprised of 50% English Bull Terrier, 25% Greyhound and 25% German Short Pointer. Although another well known breeder will tell you 25% English Pointer was added instead of German Short Pointer.

 

He stopped breeding Bull Arabs in 1981 and all other dogs in 1989. Mike Hodgens went through difficulties to create this breed. The trials and tribulations to create this breed cannot be understated and the price he paid was enormous. Now this breed is established as the number 1 Pig Hunting breed in Australia in terms of popularity and notoriety.

 

                                              Original purpose of the breed

 

Bull Arabs were originally bred to catch wild pigs at close range (less than 1 km) and clear out properties in QLD.

 

Other breeders subsequently further refined the original breed as history progressed.

 

Attributes of the breed

    *Power of a bull-terrier
    *Speed and Sight ability of a Greyhound and ;
    *Scenting, Intelligence and Good Nature of a German Short-Pointer.
 

                                                This is what a Bull Arab is!

 

It is an extremely versatile breed that is good natured around family and children, yet when taken Pig hunting turns into a high drive dog that wants to work. They have been worked in Australia on Buffalo, Scrub Bulls and Pigs with excellent results and the popularity increases each year. In addition there is evidence of Bull Arabs being demonstrated and worked in Victoria at Police Dog/Security Dog boot camps.

 

These dogs can do it all and also have excellent tracking abilities for Search and Rescue situations due to their versatile body structure and short coats in hot and humid climates.

 

The Bull Arab is an awesome hunter, great addition to the family as a pet or as a loyal guard of the car/house or family members.

 

It must be noted that they are a working dog and need to be exercised daily without exceptions.

 

                                                    Adaptation of the Breed

 

         The adaptation of the original Bull Arabs can be split between two regions (NSW and QLD).

 

NSW

It came about when Gary Anderson visited from NSW and bought original dogs from Mike Hodgens in the early 1980s.

It is known by some that Gary Anderson put a small percentage of English Mastiff into the original dog from Mike Hodgens to grow its size and power for Mountain Pigs around the New England and Great Dividing Ranges. This was part of his own breeding program and ideas. What is important to note is that Gary Anderson laid a foundation for Bull Arab breeding in NSW and the varied type of Bull Arab that is now often seen in NSW. Other breeders purchased dogs and continued to breed Bull Arabs suited to NSW.

 

QLD

The evolution of the original breed in QLD is rich and diverse and reflected by the larger numbers of pigs and terrain in the state. Peter Paulsen from QLD bought original dogs from Mike Hodgens in 1982. Like Gary Anderson, he too added other breed/s to the mix for the purposes of his own plan and ideas. This breed is known as the Bloodhound. It has increased the finding ability of the Base breed. Other people continued to use and breed Bull Arabs in Qld.

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