Pyredoodle vs Bull Arab - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

In the 1970’s feral pig hunters wanted a dog that could be aggressive in finding and capturing the pigs. The hunters crossed the German Shorthaired Pointer, the Bull Terrier and the Greyhound to develop the Bull Arab. It is believed that the hybrid is at least 50% Bull Terrier. It is also possible that there is some Doberman, Mastiff, Great Dane and/or Pointer in the hybrid as well.

The job of the Bull Arab is to hunt out the feral pigs, grab one by the ear and hold it until the hunter arrives. They have a strong sense of smell and that is how they find the pigs.

Mike Hodgens, an Australian, developed the hybrid and added some Bloodhound as well to get that ability to smell out the pigs at great distances. They are also capable of catching buffalo and cattle. Some Australians use the breed in cattle or buffalo ranching. They are registered with the DRA or Dog Registry of America, Inc.

These dogs only originated in the 1980s, and as a designer dog they are a cross between a Standard Poodle and the Great Pyrenees, both ancient dog breeds.

The breeders were looking for a non-shedding variation of both these popular breeds. This dog isn’t part of the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) list of dogs.

Mike Hodgens succeeded in developing a powerful, well built dog. The Bull Arab has a powerful head and muzzle. He has moderate length drop ears and bright eyes that match the color of his coat. His chest is neither shallow nor deep and his back is straight and strong. Their tails are tapered and pointed yet the base is thick. They are a double-coated dog. They can be white with black, tan or liver, flecked or bicolor.

The Pyredoodle is a large dog standing at between 60 and 86cm in height and weighing about 38 to 46kg.

The coat varies quite a bit, depending on which breed the dog leans towards. Colors can be white, cream, apricot, silver or black. Essentially the coat is a thick double-coat of medium length hair which is fairly straight or wavy.

The dog is a low shedder, thought to have a hypoallergenic coat. Floppy ears mean you will need to check inside the ears for redness and infection brought on by an excess wax build-up, dirt and moisture. If you allow your Pyredoodle to become a parent, the can produce between 2 to 4 puppies.

Temperament:

Coming from dogs with good temperaments, the Pyredoodle comes as being good natured. He plays well with children and gets on well with other animals in the house.

He is protective and takes his role as watchdog seriously. You can be sure he is going to be a loyal family dog. His high intelligence means he can be trained and socialized with ease and then he becomes obedient and well mannered.

He is good with children, and even though he is looked upon as being sweet natured, he still makes a great watchdog and protector of his human family.

The Bull Arab is intelligent, calm and loyal. Like Pit Bulls in the U.S., the Bull Arab has a reputation for aggression against both people and animals. There is no data to support these claims. They have been used as therapy dogs and companion animals very successfully. They are great with kids and very affectionate. The breed is cited as being used for companion and therapy animals

Attractive to look at, independent in nature, the Pyredoodle also has watchdog characteristics, being a protector of his human family.

Like any dog, and particularly big dogs, it is important to train the Pyredoodle otherwise he could be too active and unruly when he comes indoors.

The Pyredoodle will absolutely thrive in a loving home where the people enjoy an active lifestyle.

The Pyredoodle comes from too excellent dog breeds. Both breeds make excellent watch dogs, they’re intelligent dogs who can be easily be trained. You can expect your crossbreed dog to be a loving, loyal, devoted pet who will add a wonderful dimension to your household.

This is an extremely healthy hybrid with no inherited issues, but they can possible have the same health issues as any of the parent breeds. This can include accidents while hunting, hip and elbow dysplasia and ear infections.

Designer dogs are often bred with the idea to eliminate some of the typical, common health issues that plague most dogs. These are among others, bloat, cancer, hip dysplasia, skin issues, ear infections, obesity, dental disease and others.

It is highly unlikely that your lively Pyredoodle will succumb to any of the major dog illnesses, but you need to watch him and get him to the vet when you see him displaying unnatural symptoms.

It is beneficial for your pet's health to have it neutered or spayed if you aren't interested in the dog having puppies.

Feeding

This is a working dog so he needs to eat the right kind of quality dog food. In order to avoid bloat do not feed large meals but rather feed one to two cups of food two to three times a day.

Health issues

Displaysia – can cause lameness and arthritis

Ear Infections – check and clean regularly

Hunting Accidents – this is the biggest reasons for health problems with the Bull Arab.

Exercise and games

These are working dogs that are inactive when not working. They need a lot of exercise if they are not used for hunting. Agility, Tracking and hunting games, and field trials.

Exercise:

The Pyredoodle is a large dog who will need regular exercise. Apart from walks every day, he’ll need ball- and rope games, throwing the frisbee, hide and seek games as well as games and toys that keep him mentally active as well.

Diet:

With the Pyredoodle, never try to skimp on his food and buy the cheapest there is. He’ll get sick often because of the unwholesome ingredients such as colorants, preservatives, fillers and very few vitamins and minerals.

If you choose one of the commercially manufactured dog foods, make sure it is the high quality ones. Give him a treat now and again by providing him with tasty home-cooked food. It doesn’t have to be every day, just once or twice a week.

An excellent choice of food is boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach, all chopped up and added to the dry kibble. When you can, try and include a little bit of raw meat too. Make sure he has constant access to fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

The Pyredoodle can have a coat which can be either short and thick or it can be longer, wavy or quite curly. Grooming will be aimed at removing any loose hairs the dog has by brushing twice a week. The dog is a low shedder.

His floppy ears may mean you needing to check the insides to ensure they are free from infection. Other grooming for this dog includes trimming the nails, checking his eyes and looking inside his mouth for rotting teeth. A bad tooth can be terribly painful for your pet but it can also cause problems with other body parts such as the heart and kidneys.

Get your pet immediately to the vet if you suspect anything that can be detrimental to your dog’s health.