With a beautiful smile and a strong muscular body, American Bully will make you fall in love at first sight. American Bully is a loving and happy companion that resembles a Pitbull dog.
American Bully has all the characteristics of a Pitbull except their aggression, and it’s a misfortune that people confuse both.
In this article, we will learn everything you must know about the American Bully dog breed and clear any misconceptions.
What is an American Bully?
American Bully is a new breed that was bred to produce a dog breed that is strong yet unaggressive towards others. American Bullies are known for their well-built body and goofy happy nature.
It is often considered a dangerous breed which is entirely false as American Bullies love nothing more than to cuddle up with their owners and please them.
To understand better, let’s see the history of the American Bully.
History of American Bully
American Bully breeding started in the 1980s and was completed in the 1990s. Created through selective breeding, the American Bully carries desired genetic traits of two dogs, the American Pitbull Terrier, and the American Staffordshire Terrier.
But these two breeds are not the only ones that contributed to the bloodline of the American Bully; other breeds, such as the English Bulldog, the American Bulldog, and the Bull Mastiff, were all mixed to create this iconic breed.
Although in existence since the 1990s, the American Bully was only registered by the ABKC in 2004 and introduced written standards. And in 2013, the UKC (United Kennel Club) also officially recognized the breed.
Characteristics of American Bully
When someone talks about American Bully in general, they are referring to the Standard size of American Bully. You see, there are four official sizes of American Bully, the Standard Bully, Pocket Bully, Classic Bully, and the XL Bully.
We will learn about the classes in detail later, but let’s talk about the American Bully’s common characteristics that set it apart from other breeds.
American Bullies are stocky, strong, muscular, heavy, and have loose skin with big mouths.
1. Size and Weight of American Bully
American Bully is a medium breed full of muscles and dense bones. American Bully can weigh more than it looks, thanks to all the extra muscles on the body.
Standard American Bully grows tall at 17 to 20 inches and weighs 50 to 75 pounds. Officially the smallest size is the Pocket Bully, which is no smaller than 14 inches and no bigger than 17 inches; it can up to 50 pounds.
Classic has the same height as a standard bully but weighs less than 50 to 65 pounds, and XL Bullies are the biggest, which stands at 21 inches to 24 inches and weighing 80 to 130 pounds.
2. American Bully Coat and Color
If there’s one thing that makes American Bully recognizable other than its iconic muscles, it is its coat and color variety. American Bullies have short, stiff, shiny, smooth, and single-layered coat that looks amazing because it comes in various colors.
Since their coat is short, they don’t shed very often, so you may want to invest in a doggie sweater, as they can get cold. American Bullies need minimum grooming, making them ideal pets.
The American Bully dog can come in many colors, usually a mixture of two, but they can be tri-colored too. There is so much variety of color combinations that each puppy is unique.
American Bullies can come in the following colors:
Blue Bullies
An American Bully is not blue; it is silver-gray and looks blue. The Blue shade is the result of a recessive dilution gene that is present in Bullies. Also, note that not all Blue Bullies will look the same, as the intensity of the color differs from puppy to puppy.
Some Bullies will have a light blue coat, whereas others might exhibit a steel blue coat color. Here are a few blue color combinations in Bullies.
Blue Fawn Bullies
A blue fawn bully usually has a combination of light brown and light to dark blue coats. Some of them may also have some brindle makings.
Blue Brindle Bullies
A blue Brindle Bully stands out due to its tiger-like stripes or, as some people call it, a brindle pattern. These Brindle stripes have a touch of gray that looks like blue.
Black Bullies
A Black Bully features a shiny black coat on most of his body. A Black Bully commonly has white markings on its face, chest, and paws.
The Black Bully coat is the result of excessive eumelanin that is present in his skin. Excess eumelanin is responsible for producing black pigment.
Black and White Bullies
A black-and-white Bully has only two colors, black and white. Not all Bullies will look the same; some Bullies have a higher proportion of white, whereas others have less white scattered around their bodies.
White Bullies
A white Bully has a primarily white coat with some markings of black and tan. Some have spots of different colors on their body, usually called piebald white Bullies, and others have albinism.
Albino white Bullies have a genetic condition wherein the pigmentation in the coat, skin, and eyes is absent.
Brown Bullies
An American Brown Bully has a light brown or dark brown primary coat with white markings on the face, chest, and legs.
Fawn Bullies
A fawn Bully could be described as having a light cream to reddish-brown coat, resulting from agouti and black genes.
Gray Bullies
Gray American Bully is distinguished by having a lighter shade of Black for the base coat and a few other color patches, such as white and tan.
Chocolate Bullies
American Bully can exhibit a dark brown chocolate or chocolate fawn coat. Chocolate Bullies are uncommon and are highly sought after by American Bully lovers.
Red Bullies
A red Bully has a reddish to copper-rust shade coat color. They will also have white patches on the face, chest, and other body parts.
Tan Bullies
Unlike the chocolate Bully, a tan American Bully has a light brown shade with white markings on the legs, chest, and neck.
Champagne Bullies
A champagne Bully is distinguished by a recessive red gene mutation that causes the coat to be in the color range of cream, pearl, and light yellow. Nose color could be blue to red, depending on the total genotype.
Lilac Bullies
A Lilac American Bully has a coat that appears faded. Because it is a diluted black, it appears faded. The fact that an American Bully lilac puppy has twice the amount of black dilution—almost like diluted chocolate—makes it special. Thus, the coat looks faded black to purplish or grayish.
Tri-Colored Bullies
A tri-colored American Bully is one of the remarkable color variations of the Bully dog breed. A Tri Bully has three colors on a coat that are easily set apart, not mixed like a merle.
Tri-colored Bullies have many color combinations with any of these colors as base coats: Blue, Black, Lilac, and Chocolate.
The different Tricolor combinations are:
Blue TriColor Bullies: Blue TriColored Bullies are difficult to produce due to recessive and rare genes. Tri Bully is mostly blue, with white and tan patches on his chest, legs, and face.
Black Tri Bullies: A black Tri-colored American Bully will have a shiny black base coat with tan and white markings near their eyes, muzzle, and chest.
Tri-Chocolate Bullies: A Tri-chocolate Bully has a shiny chocolate coat with markings of tan on the legs, chest, and face. White color can also be seen in some neck and chest areas.
Lilac Tri Bullies: Among the tri colors of Bullies, the lilac Tri Bully is the rarest. Those with this coat color have a solid lilac base color with markings of tan on the ears, legs, snout, and paws. The white markings are normally seen around their necks.
Merle Bullies
Merle Bullies have three types of colors on their coats that are present in mottled patterns. The patches are faded in color with a few dots that almost resembles a Dalmation.
Both parents must have recessive Merle alleles to produce a Merle Bully. If only one parent has a recessive gene and the other has a dominant gene, the resulting puppy will have the dominant color coat.
Keep in mind Merle Bullies are not registered by any kennel club due to health concerns related to the genetic makeup of Merle Bullies.
The most common Merle coat combination is Blue Merle, but it can come in other colors too.
Blue Merle Bullies: A Merle Blue Bully has irregular patches of blue scattered around their body. A Blue Merle Bully often has a grayish base coat with blue dots and white or black patches.
Lilac Merle Bullies: A Lilac Merle Bully has faded black as the base color with lilac spots scattered across the body. There are some white spots on the body, and they usually have blue or white eyes.
3. American Bully Head and Facial Features
Despite the varying size, the general appearance of these dogs remains uniform in that they should be medium-sized dogs with compact, muscular bodies and blocky heads. The head is proportionate to the rest of the dog’s body and free of overstatement.
In addition, American Bullies feature a broad skull, heavy bone structure, and pronounced cheek muscles with pointed ears. The head of the American Bully is wide and thick with well-developed cheeks and a prominent stop.
Their muzzle is square and shorter than their skull, only taking up around one-quarter of the head. The nose is large, and their nares are not underdeveloped. Any color of the nose is OK. Their eyes should not be too huge or colored and should be evenly spaced apart.
The Bully’s erect ears make him look alert and curious. While most breed members will crop their American Bully’s ears, this is optional, and thankfully the practice is largely falling out of favor.
The shoulders and back are wide and strong, and the hips narrow. The American Bully has a slim tail that reaches down to the hock. The feet look short compared to the rest of the body.
American Bullies walk confidently and boldly. As a result, the dogs radiate interest and a sense of adventure. When running, the animals look athletic. Physical exercise usually succeeds the Bullies effortlessly.
4. American Bully Personality and Temperament
The American Bully is a loving family pet since it was bred to be more of a friend than a working dog like its ancestors.
American Bullies will never show any signs of aggression or hostility; these are not the traits of this breed. The American Bully is happy, extroverted, stable, confident, gentle, and loving toward people.
American Bully breed possesses the loyalty and stability of the American Pit Bull Terrier while retaining the friendly, amiable, and outgoing temperament of the American Staffordshire Terrier.
Bullies have an extreme tolerance for children and an overwhelming eagerness to please their owners. Confident yet not aggressive, this breed keeps a very pleasant character.
You may often hear that American Bullies are aggressive and have attacked somebody. Let me assure you; those are lies or, even if it’s true, caused by an incompetent owner.
If any dog breed, not just an American bully, is left alone and needs proper guidance, it will develop aggressive behavior. The owner must train and socialize his pet dog and teach him how to behave.
What is the Cost of American Bully?
The price of an American Bully depends on various factors such as the breeder’s reputation, quality of bloodline, class, color, and health.
American Bullies are expensive; one puppy can cost $2000 to $15,000. An American Bully named Venom was sold at $2 million.
Cost Based on Class
A Standard American Bully will cost around $2500, a Classic Bully will cost $2000, a pocket Bully at $5000, and XL Bully will be about $7000.
Cost of Color
The prices are further hyped up depending on the color; the rarer the color, the higher the price. For instance, a normal Black Bully will cost about $2000, but a Tri-colored Black Bully will cost $3500.
The same goes for the Blue color, as Blue Bullies are rare they can cost from $5000 to $12000.
Tri-Color Bullies cost between $4500 to $7000, but rare Tri-Color Bullies cost even more. A Merle Bully costs about $15000, and a Lilac Bully costs $12000.
Here is a chart for a better understanding:
| Color | Cost |
| Black | $2,000 |
| Red | $2,200 |
| Brown | $2,000 |
| Tan | $2,500 |
| Fawn | $2,300 |
| White | $3,000 |
| Blue | $5,000 |
| Blue Tri | $7,000 |
| Black Tri | $3,500 |
| White Tri | $4,500 |
| Lilac | $12,000 |
| Lilac Tri | $15,000 |
| Merle | $15,000 |
The Lifespan of American Bully
Some say that American bullies are not worth the investment as they do not live for that long. Well, as it turns out, American Bullies have a lifespan of 13 to 15 years, which is more than most medium-sized dogs.
American Bullies will be happy and healthy if you properly care for them. Often owners neglect their Bullies to the point that they become aggressive and develop health issues. That is horrible and inhumane.
Factors Affecting The Lifespan of American Bully
The factors that affect an American Bully’s lifespan are health issues, diet, and exercise.
Health Issues
All dog breeds tend to develop health issues; some might affect your American Bully more than others. But any health issues will have some adverse effects no matter what.
The health issues to which the American Bully is prone are:
- Hyp dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
- Heart disease
- Eye Conditions
- Allergies
Diet
Food is essential to living, forming, and maintaining a healthy body for an American Bully. Feed your American Bully a diet full of protein, healthy fats, daily carbs, and essential vitamins. Ask your vet for supplements to help him grow even better.
Different American Bully Types
There are four official size categories of American Bullies, making recognizing all kinds easier. There are also some unrecognized sizes of American Bullies that we will discuss.
Let’s take a look at the official categories:
1. Standard American Bully
The most common American Bully is the Standard Bully, which is compact and muscular. Standard Bully is a general standard for all American Bullies as they are strong, with proportionate muscles and a square head that looks perfect with their body.
Regarding the size, most Standard Bully males will stand at 17 to 20 inches and weigh 50 to 80 pounds. The most typical Bully breed owned in the US is the regular Bully. This particular American Bully breed is quite strong and squat.
2. Pocket American Bully
The Pocket Bully is the next in line. Sadly, despite its lovely moniker and slightly smaller form than many other American Bullies, it cannot fit inside your pocket.
Generally, Pocket Bullies are about 14-17 inches tall and weigh around 20-50 lbs. The Pocket Bully is the tiniest and most tiny breed of American Bully.
These canines are well known for having disproportionately huge heads and necks. If you pay attention to their squat legs, which are closer to the ground, you can easily tell Pocket Bullies from other species in the family.
In addition to being smaller, these puppies often share traits and colorations with other Bullies. The Pocket Bullies often cost more than your average Bully breed due to their charming size.
3. XL American Bully
The size of these dogs is greater than that of their other family members, as you undoubtedly guessed from the name. These big Bullies often only grow 3–4 inches higher than the other types.
However, they weigh slightly more at around 80-130 lbs. Purchasing an XL Bully is costly, and they are highly sought after due to their size and muscular build.
4. Classic American Bully
The Classic Bully is another popular variety for buying an American Bully. This breed has a traditional bulldog-like frame, as its name eloquently depicts.
The dimensions of this kind of bully and the standard bully are remarkably comparable. However, they can be distinguished from one another by a few traits.
The Classic Bully is around the same height as the Standard Bully, standing between 17 to 20 inches. They also tend to weigh in similarly. Classics generally weigh about 45-75 lbs.
What distinguishes a Classic from a Standard, then? The Classic has a more delicate build and is less muscular. However, although having a slightly less boxy build, they still have enormous heads and necks.
5. Non-Standard-Sized American Bully
Finally, the non-standard-sized Bullys means that the dogs aren’t officially recognized as breeds of American Bullies, but many people are still breeding and purchasing them.
Micro American Bully
It’s important to remember that some people call micro bullies pocket bullies. Any dog that is smaller than the Pocket Bully would be considered a non-standard Micro Bully.
XXL American Bully
Any Bully that has exceeded the standard XL Bullies sizing will fall into the non-standard XXL category. These pups are larger and even more muscular than their family members.
These are only a few of the many Bully variants. The American Bully is a brand-new breed that was only recently discovered. So more of these variations will be officially recognized as their breed over time.
Comparison of the Classes
| Class | Male Height | Female height | Weight | Cost |
| Standard | 17 – 20 inches | 16 – 19 inches | 50 – 75 pounds | $2500 |
| Classic | 17 – 20 inches | 16 – 19 inches | 45 – 70 pounds | $2000 |
| 14 – 17 inches | 13 – 16 inches | 20 – 50 pounds | $5000 | |
| XL | 20 – 24 inches | 19 – 23 inches | 80 – 130 pounds | $7000 |
| Micro | 10 – 14 inches | 9 – 13 inches | 20 – 50 pounds | $8000- $12,000 |
| XXL | 24 – 28 inches | 23 – 27 inches | 130 – 200 pounds | $10,000 |
Diet & Food for American Bullies
These stocky dogs are growing and need at least 30% protein content. Natural meats and meat meals provide high-quality protein, which should all be identifiable.
All these meals are also full of glucosamine, essential to support joints that soon have to carry a lot of weight, and omega fatty acids that will help his eye and brain function and overall development.
Bullies are known to have skin sensitivities, so other omega-fatty ingredients, including fish, fish oils, animal fat, and flaxseeds, will nourish their skin, as do vitamin E, biotin, and folic acid.
So overall, an American Bully needs at least 30% protein and 20% fats, and essential minerals and vitamins to grow and maintain their muscular body. To choose the correct food brand with all these nutrients, here is a list for you:
Top Dog Foods for American Bully
These are the best dog foods suitable for all sorts of American Bullies.
- Wellness CORE Senior Dry Dog Food
- ORIJEN Puppy Large Grain-Free Dry Puppy Food
- Taste of the Wild Dry Dog Food
- Nulo Freestyle Salmon & Peas Recipe Dry Dog Food
- ACANA Singles Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Food
- NutroLimited Ingredient Diet Premium Canned Dog Food
- NomNom Now Fresh Dog Food
- Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Dry Dog Food
- Stella & Chewy’s Stella’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dog Food
Vitamins and Minerals
Consult your vet for the dietary plan of your American Bully and ask him if he can prescribe any supplements such as vitamins and minerals. A, B complex, C, D, and E are necessary vitamins in a Bully’s diet.
The diet must also include minerals such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, iodine, and selenium. The dog absorbs these minerals as long as they are in their food.
Pros and Cons of Having an American Bully
American Bullies are fabulous pets, but they also have upsides and downsides. Here is a list of the pros and cons of American Bully.
Pros
- You will get a loyal, strong, obedient, and muscular friend.
- You can use your Bully for personal security without needing a weapon.
- You will have a dog that attracts attention when you walk with him through the dog park or other public places.
- Your American Bully will be a perfect way to start a conversation with other dog owners and people.
- Your kids will have a friend to play with that’s calm and gentle enough to endure their energy.
- Because of their size, it is very difficult to kidnap American Bullies.
- American Bullies make for wonderful family dogs and are loyal companions. They are also good guardians who will protect their families if necessary.
- American Bullies do not shed greatly, so you don’t have to clean up too much.
- While only the ABKC and UKC recognize American Bullies, they are gaining popularity rapidly in the U.S. and worldwide.
Cons
- You must be careful when introducing your American Bully to new people or pets since they can be overprotective.
- Your Bully will need a lot of exercises, and it may be too much of a dog for a small home or apartment.
- American Bullies are costly to own and maintain.
- American Bully is not registered by the American Kennel Club (AKC), so you cannot put your dog at AKC events.
- American Bullies develop health problems like hip dysplasia, heart disease, allergies, and skin issues.
- If American Bullies get lonely as they love interacting with humans, insufficient interaction can send them into depression.
If you decide to get an American Bully, make sure you do your research before buying or adopting one.
Tips for Taking Care of Your American Bully
Here are a few ways to take care of your American Bully Dog:
Give Exercise
Since American Bullies are a high-energy breed, they need some exercise. A perfect way to do this is by taking them on walks, runs, or hikes. You can also enroll them in skill classes or doggy sports.
Adequate Nutrition
Providing your American Bully with a high-quality diet to keep them healthy and stop obesity is essential. Be sure to confer with your vet about the best food for your Bully.
Proper Training
American Bullies are smart dogs and can be easily trained. However, they can also be stubborn, so it is fundamental to start preparing early. Ensure you give your dog positive reinforcement, such as snacks or praise.
Feeding Intervals
American Bullies need to eat two to three times a day. Puppies under six months old should feed three times a day. You can feed adult Bullies twice a day.
Grooming Needs
American Bullies do not shed much but must be brushed twice weekly. Be sure to bathe them when needed and trim their nails.
As you can see, there are numerous things to consider before getting an American Bully. But if you are prepared to handle their grooming needs, they can make wonderful family pets.
Vet Visits
Take your American Bully to the vet for regular checkups and vaccinations. You will also need to have them spayed or neutered if you plan on not breeding them.
Recreation
Regarding recreation, American Bullies enjoy games to use their muscular bodies. They love to run, play, and go for walks.
However, they can also be satisfied lounging around the house with their family. No matter what exercise they participate in, their goal is always to please their owner.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
What 2 Dogs Make an American Bully?
American Bully is the result of crossbreeding an American Pitbull Terrier and an American Staffordshire Terrier.
Other Bully dog breeds, such as American Bulldog, Bull Mastiff, English Bulldog, and French Bulldog, are also among the ancestors of the American Bully breed.
How Much is an American Bully?
American Bully has a very big price range depending on the color, size, bloodline, and breeder’s reputation. An American Bully can cost from $2000 to $15,000; keep in mind the prices can be below or above this price range.
Are American Bullies Considered an Aggressive Breed?
American Bully was bred for the sole reason of being family dogs with zero aggression. All the traits of aggression were left out during the breeding process, and only loving, outgoing, affectionate, and social behavior was left.
So, American Bullies are not an aggressive breed.
How Big Do American Bullies Get?
American Bullies have four sizes which divide its whole size range. An American Bully can be as small as 14 inches and as big as 24 inches and weigh from 20 to 130 pounds. The four official classes are pocket, standard, classic, and XL.
What is So Special About American Bullies?
The thing special about American Bullies is that they are a muscular, strong breed, yet they are very gentle and affectionate dogs that love to cuddle and please their owner.
In addition, American Bullies come in a wide range of colors and combinations that almost no other breed can do. They also have a nice, short, smooth coat that is easy to maintain.
Conclusion
American Bully is an amazing breed that is easy to maintain and will always give you love. The fierce, strong look is for the show, as they will never hurt anyone and love to receive praise and pats on the head.
American Bully will not cause you much trouble; instead, it will make you so happy that you want to stay with it 24/7. I only hope the misconceptions about this breed are cleared and people stop hating this breed.
