About the breed
The American Bully is considered the bodybuilder among dog breeds. With a relatively small size, its muscles are striking by their size. Its appearance is frightening, a huge mouth can scare anyone.
American Bully is gentle and loving towards people. This dog is confident in his abilities and is able to protect his family. You cannot call him aggressive; viciousness manifests itself exclusively in dangerous situations.
American Bully
The American Bully is a relatively new breed of dog developed in the United States by selectively breeding American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and other bully breeds. They come in a variety of sizes, including standard, classic, and pocket.
American Bullies are known for their muscular build, broad head, and strong, compact body. Despite their intimidating appearance, they are generally affectionate, loyal, and gentle with their family. With proper training and socialization, they can make excellent companions and family pets.
Breed at a Glance
- Origin: United States
- Size: Medium to large (comes in various sizes: Pocket, Standard, Classic, XL)
- Weight: 66-110 pounds (depending on size category)
- Head shape: Round
- Lifespan: 9-12 years
- Coat Type: Short, smooth, and glossy
- Colors: Wide range of colors and patterns, including solid, brindle, or patched
- Temperament: Friendly, loyal, affectionate, confident, and eager to please
- Grooming Needs: Low; minimal shedding, requires occasional brushing
- Exercise Needs: Moderate; enjoys daily walks and playtime
- Best For: Families, individuals seeking a loyal companion, and homes with a yard
The American Bully is a companion breed known for its muscular build and friendly temperament. Despite their intimidating appearance, they are affectionate and great with children, making them excellent family dogs. They are confident and love being around people but need early socialization and training.
The standard of the breed
An ignorant person can easily confuse the American Bully with the American Pit Bull Terrier. Indeed, the breeds are very similar in appearance, there is a kinship between them, but they have a completely different character.
The American Bully dog is an independent species that has its own standard. Average size of mature individuals: weight about 30-50 kg. Height about 32-52 cm.
According to their size, intra-breed American Bully dogs are divided into 4 different types:
From 43 to 51 cm
From 43 to 51 cm. This type is similar to the classic, but noticeably heavier and more powerful.
No more than 43 cm.
From 51 to 57 cm.
Exercise requirements
Compassion for the owner
Friendship with strangers
Energy level
Playfulness
With other pets
Characteristics of the breed
Family
The representatives of the race get along well with the children. They are able to endure children’s singeries for a long time. They play outdoor games for hours. For a child, he is a great friend and at the same time a goalkeeper. But it is strongly not recommended to leave the children alone with the American Bully. The dog is strong, it can therefore harm inadvertently.
Well socialized dogs get along well with other pets. An exception may be the males that are involved in a fight for any reason – from the territorial to the sexual. Cats, decorative rodents and birds are not the best company for these dogs. If possible, limit the contact of the American Bully with these pets.
Physical qualities
The American Bully has a medium length head. It has a very large, deep and broad skull, prominent cheek muscles and facial features. It has wide-set eyes and high-set ears. The muzzle is medium length, slightly square under the eyes and rounded at the top. Nose color black, brown, etc. All colors are accepted. Its jaw is strong and solid. Its lower jaw has a feature that makes its bite stronger. The upper teeth meet on the outside and close. The lower teeth are seen to be forward or scissor-toothed. Its lips are closed, but there may be some looseness due to the structure of its teeth.
The ears of the American Bully dog are set high. Their ears may or may not be cropped. Not all countries legally allow cropping. That is why you may see the American Bully with uncropped ears in these areas. The uncropped ears fall to either side of the head, with the tips close to the cheeks.
The eyes of the American Bully breed are between round and oval in shape. They are set slightly below the head, set far apart. Eye color can be any color except albinism. The most common eye colors you will encounter are brown, hazel, and amber.
Strong with a scissor bite. The lower jaw is stronger than the upper jaw.
The body of the American Bully dog is medium in length. The neck is heavy and slightly curved, tapering from the shoulders to the back of the skull. Its shoulders are broad, strong, and muscular. The body has strong, deep, and well-sprung ribs. All ribs are close together. The chest is deep and broad. There is no sagging of the skin. The back is fairly short. There is a straight, sloping or slightly short slope from the rump to the base of the tail, from the shoulder to the rump. A high hindquarters can be observed, but this is not very common. Although it is frightening at first sight with its muscular and imposing body, it is a very playful and affectionate dog.
The coat is dense, of medium length with a dense undercoat. Shorter on the muzzle and ears than on the body, longer on the legs and tail. It forms a “breeches” on the hips and a “mane” on the neck. Color: red, black, zoned gray, black and red tan, gray and tan.
Front legs. Strong, muscular, slightly turned towards the forearms. The humerus is elongated, connected to long and wide shoulder blades at an angle of 35-45 ° C. The elbows are firmly pressed against the chest, a small space is allowed. Dew-covered toes should preferably be removed.
Hind legs. Broad, strong. Seen from the back, straight and parallel. The muscular system is well developed, especially in the thighs. Compared to the forelegs, they appear proportional. The hocks are well arched and set low. Deviations are only permitted for individuals in the XL category.
All combinations of colours and point shapes are permitted. An exception is the marble colour (merle).
Lifespan
Standards & Classifications
FCI
La race American Bully n’est pas reconnue par les principales instances cynophile FCI et AKC.
Les organizations qui reconnaissent cette race sont : UKC (United Kennel Club), ABKC (American Bully Kennel Club), et EBKC (European Bully Kennel Club)
What to expect when taking care of a American Bully
Taking care of a dog involves daily exercise, regular diet, grooming and veterinary care. Expect camaraderie, loyalty and joy, as well as responsibilities such as training, cleaning after them and the supply of a safe environment.
The owner of the bully should know what diseases the indicated breed is predisposed to:
- Cataract is an eye disease that, if left untreated, leads to significant visual impairment.
- Joint dysplasia – characterized by severe pain at the initial stage, at the last stage, the pain becomes intolerable, the dog partially or even completely loses its ability to move.
- Demodectic mange is one of the most common parasitic diseases. The causative agent is the Demodex canis mite
- Optic atrophy is an inherited disorder characterized by multiple retinal disorders that lead to blindness.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
- Dental problems.
Taking care of an American Bully is not very different to take care of another short -haired breed.
- Just comb the coat every week.
- The eyes are cleaned daily.
- The ears are cleaned 2 to 3 times a week.
- Cut the claws 3 times a month.
- Bathe the animal once a month
The American Bully breed is an energetic dog with a high need for exercise. It is observed that they have more energy compared to their small body. For the American Bully dog to be happy, his daily exercise needs, both mental and physical, must be met.
To meet the daily exercise needs, 60 minutes of activity or 2.5 to 3 kilometers of walking should be provided. When these needs are met, they will be happier and healthier.
American Bully is agile, strong, athletic and has an impressive structure. He should take long and brisk walks and exercise during the day. These activities, in which he spends time and has fun with his owner, will benefit him both psychologically and physically.
The American Bully can adapt to a variety of living conditions, both in a house and an apartment. However, due to their medium to large size and energetic nature, they may need plenty of room to move around and regular exercise to stay healthy and happy.
In an apartment, it is essential to provide them with adequate exercise through daily walks, playtime, and mental stimulation. Additionally, proper training and socialization are essential to ensure that they are well-behaved and comfortable in their living environment, whether it is a house or an apartment.
Character and behavior
The American Bully is very intelligent and is considered an excellent pet dog. Such an animal is sincerely happy each time it manages to please its owner.
Once in a new family, in a new house, the American Bully quickly joins the team, just as friendly, even with tenderness towards all the members of the house. But among all, the master considers only one.
Prolonged loneliness seriously affects both its character and its health. After seeing the owner work, he will patiently wait for his return, but if he is absent and does not come back to the usual time, the dog is stressed.
Despite their friendly character, the American Bully tends to dominate. If the owner is weak, the dog, taking advantage of the moment, will try to take the main place in the house. As a result, he will become mean and uncontrollable. He needs a master with will.
Sociality
Relationship with the human family
Attitude towards loneliness
Tendency to bark
Friendship with dogs
Adaptability
City life
Suitable as the first dog
Tolerance for hot temperatures
Tolerance for cold temperatures
Did you know?
- The American Bully is a fearless, powerful fighter, but only on condition that he is provoked to aggression.
- Bully is on the list of the most daring dogs in the world.
- American Bully has a very high pain tolerance.
Price and budget
Here’s an overview of the typical purchase price and annual maintenance costs of an American Bully in several countries (France, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, USA, and Germany), considering both mini and maxi values:
The American Bully comes in different sizes (Pocket, Standard, Classic, XL), and the prices may vary depending on the bloodline, breeder reputation, and country.
| Country | Purchase Price (Mini) | Purchase Price (Maxi) | Annual Maintenance (Mini) | Annual Maintenance (Maxi) |
| France | €1,500 | €5,000 | €800 | €2,000 |
| Canada | CAD 2,000 | CAD 7,500 | CAD 1,000 | CAD 2,500 |
| Belgium | €1,800 | €5,500 | €900 | €2,200 |
| Switzerland | CHF 2,000 | CHF 6,500 | CHF 1,200 | CHF 2,800 |
| USA | USD 2,000 | USD 10,000 | USD 1,000 | USD 3,000 |
| Germany | €2,000 | €6,000 | €1,000 | €2,500 |
Note: The prices may fluctuate depending on factors such as breeder, location, and specific care needs. If you need more details on breeders or a breakdown of the costs, feel free to ask!
History of the breed
The homeland of the American Bully is the United States of America. The appearance of the breed dates back to the nineties of the twentieth century. The main purpose is an exemplary family companion.
The American Bully originated from the crossing of American Pit Bull Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers.
The breeders have set themselves a seemingly impossible task. They had to create a friendly, non-aggressive, companionable breed from the genes of two fighting, pickling, aggressive dogs.
At the same time, the terrifying appearance, overdeveloped muscles, power, huge mouth should have remained the same as in the original breeds.
The beginning of the formation of the bully is recorded in California and Virginia. It was from these states that the new species of dogs spread throughout America, and then to the countries of Europe and Asia.
Over time, genes of other breeds were also involved in breeding work: French Bulldog, American Bulldog, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Old English Bulldog, English Bulldog.
These strong dogs were used to make the bully more physically bulky.
The breed was officially recognized in America in 2004. Internationally, American Bully remains unrecognized as an independent species to this day.