Bull Arab vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison

Bull Arab vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed ComparisonBoth Austrailian Blue Heeler and Bull Arab are originated from Australia. Austrailian Blue Heeler may grow 19 cm / 7 inches shorter than Bull Arab. Austrailian Blue Heeler may weigh 34 kg / 74 pounds lesser than Bull Arab. Both Austrailian Blue Heeler and Bull Arab has almost same life span. Austrailian Blue Heeler may have less litter size than Bull Arab. Austrailian Blue Heeler requires High Maintenance. But Bull Arab requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Sporting dog
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Australia
Australia
Height Male:
45 - 50 cm
17 - 20 inches
63 - 69 cm
24 - 28 inches
Height Female:
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
61 - 67 cm
24 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
14 - 16 kg
30 - 36 pounds
30 - 50 kg
66 - 111 pounds
Weight Female:
12 - 14 kg
26 - 31 pounds
27 - 46 kg
59 - 102 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 16 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
1 - 7
8 - 10
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Queensland Heeler
Australian Pig Dog • Aussie Pig Dog
Colors Available:
blue, red
white with black, liver or tan[
Coat:
blue speckled or red speckled with dark or cream marks
short, harsh coat double
Shedding:
Constant
Moderate
Temperament:
Alert, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Courageous, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal
Grooming:
High Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

austrailian blue heelerIn 1840, George Elliott made a match with Australian Dingo and Collie and got a clever and very active dog breed – Australian Blue Heeler. Soon, he showed his good herding instincts and protective nature and got really popular among the cattlemen and ranchers. Soon, as the USA soldiers arrived in Australia, they decided that it will be a great dog to bring home.

Australian Blue Heeler has short, double coat. The coat is water resistant and helps them when the temperature is too high as well. Their coat is rough to the touch, naturally. They can be found in blue or red coat colour mix. The Blue Heeler isn’t actually blue, but their black coat has a bluish tint. Red Heelers have red fur instead of black. They have long tails, strong legs, Dingo-like heads with pointy ears and muscular necks and balanced and athletic bodies.

bull arabIn 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.

Description

austrailian blue heeler puppy - descriptionThis breed is somehow designed for an outdoor life and outdoor activity. This implies that Blue Heelers have nature made of the high dose of energy. They are always ready to go anywhere you go, and they will be a loyal friend. They are actually very clever, intelligent and ready to help.

If you are a type of the person who prefers being indoors and having minimal physical activity, Blue heelers are not the type of a furry companion for you. They have a high daily need for the activity, and they love having lots of space to run and explore. Sometimes, you will realize that having a leash is a must because they will get so playful that they will forget about you!

If you start teaching them to be friendly with other dogs while they are still pups, they will accept that kind of lifestyle. But, if your Blue Heeler is raised as the only dog on the ranch, note that they won’t be very friendly toward other dogs.

Since most of the herd dogs usually respond to only one person, most of the Blue Heelers can follow this old instinct. They can be very independent, as well, and they are usually not the type of the dog that will always be around your leg waiting for a cuddle or ear scratch. But, they build the respect towards humans depending on how they treat him so they can be very lovable and friendly pets.

If you are still confused about their name, you must know that the Blue Heelers can actually lightly nip your heel for attention. They are not aggressive, but they tend to be very protective of the family, humans around them and their property.

bull arab puppy - descriptionMike 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.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

austrailian blue heeler dog - characteristicsThey are generally good with children, but you must be aware of their inherent desire to herd. Always supervise when your Blue Heeler is around small children.

Special Talents

Ball tricks, frisbee fun, running companion, herding cattle.

Adaptability

It is best to buy a puppy. These dogs get attached to one human and to the territory.

Learning ability

They are generally quick learners. If you teach them to be playful, friendly and loving, they will learn it in no time. So be aware of the decisions that can cost you when the dog grows up.

bull arab dog - characteristicsThe 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

Health Problems

Eye problems

austrailian blue heeler puppies - health problemsProgressive Retinal Atrophy usually causes slow and painless loss of sight. This process takes years, but there are cases where this disease took only months before the dog ended up completely blind. It is advisable to take your Blue Heeler to the vet for a test that can tell you if your dog is carrying the gene for this disease.

Lens luxation is a disease where the lens of dog’s eye separates partially or completely. Good news is that this disease can be treated.

Joint diseases

Most common is the hip or elbow dysplasia. This is the disease where hip joints do not develop properly and begin to grind. This condition can sometimes be treated with physiotherapy, but there is a chance that your Blue Heeler will need a surgery. If you have a habit of regular vet checks and keeping your dog slim and fed with quality food, you can a make a big difference.

Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) causes the dog to have excess cartilage and deficient bone, where cartilage does not get replaced by bone during fetal development. This disease usually requires surgery and prescribed medicines.

Deafness

Congenital hereditary sensorineural deafness – CHSD is a common form of deafness.

Bilateral deafness can be identified when the dog is still a puppy, more-less at six weeks of age. A puppy with deafness in only one ear is harder to identify, but it can happen.

Portosystemic shunt means that the blood flow is getting back into the bloodstream instead of passing through the liver. That means that liver can’t clear out the toxins, and the organ itself fails to grow properly. This inherited type of shunt can be treated with surgery if the diagnose is set on time.

bull arab puppies - health problemsThis 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.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

austrailian blue heeler dogs - caringChoose a dog food that will provide nutrients that will help in the bone developing. Since they are more likely to suffer from joint diseases, you must take this advice seriously. It would be great if you speak about this with your vet before you choose food on your own.

Feeding the adult

The best food for Blue Heeler is a high-quality food which supplies them with premium nutrition to fuel their activity.

They also drink a lot of water, so be sure that they always have a fresh water available.

Points for Good Health

Lots and lots of the outdoor activity and a quality food. You must be very cautious because this kind of dogs gets overweight easily because they just love the treats and extra food portion.

Games and Exercises

Any outdoor activity that is mentally challenging and interesting enough to keep them from running in the field trying to catch anything that moves.

Feeding

bull arab dogs - caringThis 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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  3. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  8. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
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  14. Austrailian Blue Heeler vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
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  26. Bull Arab vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Bull Arab vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Bull Arab vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Bull Arab vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Bull Arab vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Bull Arab vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Bull Arab vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Bull Arab vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Bull Arab vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Bull Arab vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Bull Arab vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Bull Arab vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Bull Arab vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Bull Arab vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Bull Arab vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Bull Arab vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Bull Arab vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Bull Arab vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Bull Arab vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Bull Arab vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Bull Arab vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Bull Arab vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Bull Arab vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Bull Arab vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Bull Arab vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison