The Bull Arab is a type of dog developed in Australia for pig hunting.[2][1][3] The dog was developed from crossing German Shorthaired Pointer, Greyhound and Bull Terrier. The result was a medium to large size, short-haired, muscular dog.[2]
| Bull Arab | |||||||||||||||||
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| Origin | Australia | ||||||||||||||||
| Breed status | Not recognised as a breed by any major kennel club. | ||||||||||||||||
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| Dog (domestic dog) | |||||||||||||||||
The Bull Arab was originally bred for feral pig hunting, and developed to locate pigs, pull them to the ground, and hold them by the ear.[4] The breed is able to locate feral pigs as far as 4–6 kilometres (2.5–3.7 mi) away by smell.[1]
Temperament
editWhile attacks on and killing of livestock have been attributed to Bull Arabs,[5][6][7][8][9] the Mackay Regional Council reports hunting dogs are not represented in greater numbers of dog bites than other dog breeds.[10] In a 2022 analysis of dog bite related injuries who presented to Sydney Children's Hospital from 2010 to 2020, no bites were attributed to Bull Arabs.[11]
One example of the breed is cited as being used as a therapy animal.[12]
Abandonment
editDue to restrictions on rental housing agreements in Queensland that prohibit larger sized dog breeds, many large breeds of dogs including Bull Arabs are often abandoned in that state.[13] RSPCA Australia also attributes this to a perceived rise in pig hunting, with hunters not desexing their animals, resulting in litters often being dumped.[14]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Tuskers Magazine, "Intro to Australia and Bull Arabs", Adam Mirfin, February 2013, p 26.
- ^ a b c Studdert, Virginia P.; Gay, Clive C.; Blood, Douglas C. (2011). Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary (4 ed.). Saunders Ltd. p. 163. ISBN 978-0702047435.
- ^ Sally Harding, City dog country dog, Wakefield Press, Kent Town, 2010, ISBN 978-1-86254-915-9, p 86.
- ^ The Sydney Morning Herald, "Policeman’s tussle with pig dog pack", 25 March 1979, p 20.
- ^ Northern Daily Leader, "Dogs mauled 30 sheep", 20 May 2010, p 3.
- ^ Daily Mercury, "Four sheep dead and 18 injured in dog attack", 6 April 2015.
- ^ Daily Mercury, "Man scared to leave own home after dog attack", 18 December 2013.
- ^ myGC.com.au, "Bull Arab put down following deadly dog attack on the Gold Coast", 10 April 2014.
- ^ Fraser Coast Chronicle, "Attack dogs euthanised by council", 26 February 2011.
- ^ Daily Mercury, "Mackay locals just as likely to be attacked by a Jack Russell", 20 March 2017.
- ^ Sulaiman, A; Liang, D; Gianoutsos, M; Moradi, P (28 February 2022). "Paediatric dog bite injuries: a 10-year retrospective cohort analysis from Sydney Children's Hospital". ANZ Journal of Surgery. 92 (5): 1149–1152. doi:10.1111/ans.17581. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ "An abandoned dog has helped a Gold Coast soldier get his life back". Gold Coast Bulletin. 2016-02-07. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ Sunshine Coast Daily, "The adorable dogs everyone has forgotten to love", 16 June 2014.
- ^ Brisbane Times, "Almost 25,000 animals surrendered to RSPCA Queensland", 11 January 2016.