Dog breed · Australia
The Bull Arab is an Australian breed of dog, developed in the 1970s for pig hunting. The breed was originally established through the crossing of 50% Bull Terrier, 25% Greyhound, and 25% German Shorthaired Pointer, a mix that combined speed, strength, scenting ability, and trainability. This original combination is still reflected in older bloodlines, though later additions in certain bloodlines include Great Dane, Bloodhound and Mastiff, with variations being made depending on the sort of country hunting took place on.
The Australian Bullarab Breeder's Association was launched in 2007, acting as the breed's parent club, with the ultimate goal of achieving ANKC recognition.
Temperament: The ABBA standard for the Bull Arab indicate that the ideal temperament should be "kind and loyal, balanced and placid nature, intelligent and independent, and have strong drive and determination when worked and a busy work ethic".
It is noted that the breed "must not show any signs of aggressiveness towards other dogs and under no circumstance towards other people."
Appearance: The Australian Bullarab Breeder's Association (ABBA) have published a written breed standard for the Bull Arab, with dogs needing to meet the standard in order to be registered.
Origins And Development: The Bull Arab begun development in Queensland, Australia in 1972 by breeder Mike Errol Hodgens. His original breeding formula combined 50% Bull Terrier, 25% Greyhound, and 25% German Shorthaired Pointer. The goal was to create a dog capable of locating, chasing, and holding feral pigs across rugged Australian landscape.
Hodgens dedicated over a decade to refining the breed, reportedly producing hundreds of dogs annually at the height of his operation. He faced significant personal and legal challenges during this time, including animal seizures and disputes with authorities, which ultimately led him to step away from breeding in 1989. Despite this, the breed gained a solid foothold among rural hunters.
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