Pocket-size American Bullies are a new branch of the American Bully breed that is gaining popularity rapidly. But do not be misled by the name; they will not fit into your pockets.
It is perfect for small families with little children living in small apartments. Let’s talk about this breed in detail.
What is a Pocket Size American Bully?
Pocket Bully is the result of an experiment to try and create a smaller version of American Bully, and it worked. Pocket-sized American Bully is a product of crossbreeding American Bully with a Patterdale Terrier.
Breeders began crossing the American Pitbull Terrier with the American Bulldog, Staffordshire Terrier, and other Bully breeds in the 1980s to produce American Bully.
American Bully was completed in the 1990s, and soon after, it was crossbred with Patterdale Terrier. The result is a small compact, loyal, and affectionate dog perfect for families.
Let’s talk about its characteristics.
Characteristics of Pocket Size American Bully
Pocket Bullies are overflowing with personality cause of their loyalty, friendliness, and intelligence. A Pocket Bully will make a fantastic family pet, but it’s also a perfect companion dog for older owners.
Considering all the features, you will hardly find a more loving pet that likes nothing more than sharing time with you, whether going on a walk, playing in a park, or just sitting on the couch and watching movies.
What Does A Pocket Bully Look Like?
Pocket-size Bully is a small dog with a strong muscular body, a wide head, a large neck, and short legs. Usually, they have floppy ears that look trim with a solid build and medium-length tail.
Pocket Bully is the smallest among all the official American Bully classes. They have a fresh, single-layer coat, short hair, and a smooth, glossy look.
Pocket Bullies come in various colors, such as black, brown, red, white, blue, fawn, and liver, while some can exhibit tricolor coat and brindle patterns.
Pocket Bully Size
The ABKC has set the standards for Pocket Bully height, which states that a Pocket Bully should not be smaller than 14 inches and should not be taller than 17 inches.
They are medium-sized dogs making them bigger than other pocket-sized dogs such as Teacup Poodle, which has a height of only 10 inches.
Female Pocket Bullies are usually an inch shorter and stand about 13 to 16 inches. Females are also lighter in weight than males.
Pocket Bullies may not fit into your pockets or bags, but they are convenient for people who cannot have a large American Bully.
Pocket Bully Weight
Despite being smaller than Standard Bullies, Pocket Bullies weigh closely to them. A standard Bully weighs 50 to 70 pounds, whereas an adult Pocket Bully can weigh from 20 to 50 pounds; this is a lot of weight, considering Pocket Bullies only grow up to 17 inches.
Female Pocket Bullies weigh less than males at about 45 pounds.
Here is a size and weight comparison between all the classes of American Bully.
| Class | Female Height | Male Height | Female weight | Male Weight |
| Pocket Bully | 13-16 inches | 14-17 inches | 20-45 pounds | 20-50 pounds |
| Standard Bully | 16-19 inches | 17-20 inches | 45-65 pounds | 50-80 pounds |
| Classic Bully | 16-19 inches | 17-20 inches | 35-60 pounds | 45-70 pounds |
| XL Bully | 19- 23 inches | 20-24inches | 75-120 pounds | 80-130 pounds |
Colors
Pocket-size American Bullies come in almost every color and combination, just like their American Bully parent. There is so much variety of color combinations that each puppy is unique. No Pocket Bully puppy will be exactly alike.
Usually, the Pocket Bully has one solid coat color with white markings found over their chest, face, and legs. The type of marking and pattern they inherit is unique to the puppy. Pocket Bullies can come in the following colors:
1. Blue Color
A Pocket 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 Pocket Bullies.
Also, note that not all Blue Pocket Bullies will look the same, as the intensity of the color differs from puppy to puppy. Some Pocket Bullie will have a light blue coat, whereas others might exhibit a steel blue coat color. Here are a few blue color combinations in Pocket Bullies.
Blue Fawn: A blue fawn pocket 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: A blue Brindle Bully stands out due to its tiger-like stripes or, as sole call it, a brindle pattern. These Brindle stripes have a touch of gray that looks like blue.
2. Black Color
A Black Pocket Bully features a shiny black coat on most of his body. A Black Pocket 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.
Here are a few combinations of Black Color coats.
Black and White: A black and white Pocket Bully has only two colors, black and white. Not all Pocket Bullies will look the same; some Bullies have a higher proportion of white, whereas others have less white scattered around their bodies.
3. White Color
A white Pocket 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 Pocket Bullies have a genetic condition wherein the pigmentation in the coat, skin, and eyes is absent.
4. Brown Color
An American Brown Pocket Bully has a light brown or dark brown primary coat with white markings on the face, chest, and legs.
5. Fawn Color
A fawn Pocket Bully could be described as having a light cream to reddish-brown coat, resulting from agouti and black genes.
6. Gray Color
Gray Pocket 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.
7. Chocolate Color
A chocolate American Pocket Bully can exhibit a dark brown chocolate coat or a chocolate fawn coat. Chocolate Pocket Bullies are uncommon and are highly sought after by American Bully lovers.
8. Red Pocket Bully
A red Pocket Bully has a reddish to copper-rust shade coat color. They will also have white patches on the face, chest, and other body parts.
9. Tan Pocket Bully
Unlike the chocolate Pocket Bully, a tan Pocket Bully has a light brown shade with white markings on the legs, chest, and neck.
10. Champagne Pocket Bully
A champagne Pocket 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.
11. Lilac Pocket Bully
A Lilac American Pocket Bully has a faded-looking coat. It is a diluted black; hence, it looks faded. What makes an American Bully Pocket lilac unique is that a lilac Pocket Bully puppy has twice the dilution of the color black, almost like diluted chocolate. Thus, the coat looks faded black to purplish or grayish.
12. Tri-Colored Pocket Bully
A tri-colored Pocket Bully is one of the remarkable color variations of the pocket Bully dog breed. A Tri Pocket Bully has three colors on a coat that are easily set apart, not mixed like a merle.
Tri-colored Pocket 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 Bully: The tri Pocket Bullies are challenging to produce due to recessive and rare genes. Tri Pocket Bully is mostly blue, with white and tan patches on his chest, legs, and face.
Black Tri Pocket Bully: A black Tri Pocket Bully will have a shiny black base coat with tan and white markings near their eyes, muzzle, and chest.
Tri-Chocolate Bully: A Tri-chocolate Pocket 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 Pocket Bully: Among the tri colors of Pocket Bullies, the lilac Tri Pocket 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 typically seen around their necks.
13. Merle Pocket Bullies
Merle Pocket 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 Pocket 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: A Merle Blue Pocket 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: A Lilac Merle Pocket 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.
Pocket Bully’s Temperament and Behavior
Just like inheriting the looks of an American Bully, the Pocket Bully has also inherited temperament, behavior, and intelligence. With proper training, this muscular, willful, and headstrong puppy will be a great family pet.
By default, Pocket Bullies do not have any aggression, and with appropriate training by a responsible owner will loosen up even more and become the best family dog.
Adequately socialized Pocket Bullies make perfect nanny dogs for small children, and their patience makes them ideal play partners.
Pocket Bully is tolerant of other dogs as well when adequately trained.
American Pocket Bully v.s Other Designer Dogs.
Pocket American Bullies is a designer dog, and to know how it fairs against other dogs, here is a comparison:
Pocket Bully vs American Pitbull Terrier
The American Bully is a mix of many dogs, including a Pitbull terrier and the English Bulldog. The Pocket Bully gives us the best of both worlds as it is the offspring of an American Bully mixed with a Patterdale Terrier.
Pocket Bullies have the looks and build of Pitbull in a small size without aggression. It also requires less maintenance compared to a Pitbull.
Pocket Bully vs American Staffordshire Terrier
The American Staffordshire terrier is similar to Pitbull, but they are bigger. The Pocket is perfect for someone who wants a small-sized dog.
Staffordshire is one of the ancestors that were crossbred in an attempt to produce a more compact and agile dog.
Pocket Bully vs Boston Terrier
Boston terrier is a famous breed, but they can be bigger. A Pocket Bully is a perfect choice for someone who wants a small dog with the personality and strength of a Pitbull.
Pocket Bully vs American Bulldog
The American Bulldog is a much larger breed than Pocket Bully but less compact and muscular. The Pocket Bully has a better temperament and intelligence than an American Bulldog.
Pocket Bully vs French Bulldog
The French Bulldog is almost the same size as a Pocket Bullies and is a well-known breed. However, they are not as compact and muscular as a Pocket Bully.
Pocket Bully is a better choice for someone who wants a strong, small-sized, intelligent dog.
Caring & Traning for a Pocket Size American Bully
Caring for a Pocket Bully is easy, but they still have lots of energy and need exercise. Pocket Bullies also need a good diet, adequate training, and a fair share of your time.
Basic Training
As soon as you bring your Pocket Bully home, you can start with his obedience training so he knows who the real boss of the house is. After eight weeks, you can teach him tricks and other skills such as sitting, standing, staying, and leaving.
You can teach him how to play and greet other people and dogs, which will significantly help with socializing him. You can enroll your Pocket Bully puppy in a training school where he will learn basic manners and make new friends.
Necessary Exercise
Exercise is crucial in maintaining that iconic Bully body. Pitbulls were bred as working dogs, and that characteristic has found its way to American Bullies, so your Pocket Bully has lots of energy that needs to be channeled somewhere.
Therefore, you should exercise your Pocket Bully puppy for at least 30 minutes daily by taking him on walks, jogs, or swimming. You can also buy toys to distract him and exhaust all that extra energy.
Remember, a dull dog will always develop depression and aggressive behavior that can lead to destruction. So, keep your Pocket Bully engaged with one thing or another throughout the day, and remember to spend some time with him.
Here are a few activities you can do with your Pocket size American Bully for exercise and training.
- Swimming
- Running
- Playing fetch
- Going to the park
- Play tug of war with your dog
- Teach your dog obedience commands
- Enroll in a training class that offers protection, tracking, or weight-pulling competition.
- Hiking
- Jogging
- Agility Training
- Search and Rescue Training
- Ride a Bike with Your Dog
- Cross-Country Skiing with Your Dog
- Dog Frisbee/Disc Golf
- Canine Musical Freestyle
- Flyball Competition
Pocket Bully Grooming
Pocket American Bullies require professional grooming to keep their coat short, smooth, and clean. Brush your Bully’s skin once a week, check their ears for wax build-up and infection, brush their teeth, and trim their nail every two weeks.
The Pocket American Bully is a fabulous family dog loyal, protective, and easy to train. You can have a healthy and perfect dog for your family with a little effort and grooming.
Diet for a Pocket Bully
A healthy, full-of-nutrition diet is critical for a Pocket Bully to develop and sustain that muscular build and skeletal structure. You cannot keep your pocket bully hungry and exercise him simultaneously.
You must feed your Bully puppy at least three times a day and feed him a diet with lots of meats and fruits. A single-serving meal for your American Pocket Bully should contain at least 30% protein and 20% fat with essential carbs for daily energy.
You can also supplement his diet by adding calcium supplements and vitamins.
Pocket Bully Health
You need to pay extra attention to the health of your Pocket Bullies as they may have good health overall, but they can still contract diseases, and you need to be ready.
Like any other Bully dog breed, American Pocket Bully may inherit some health problems from its parents. Some common health issues are
Hip Dysplasia: Hip dysplasia is a genetic defect that can cause the hip joint to not fit properly into the socket, leading to pain and arthritis.
Elbow dysplasia: Elbow dysplasia is a congenital disability that can cause the elbow joint to not fit properly into sockets, leading to pain and arthritis.
Patellar luxation: Patellar luxation is a disorder in which the kneecap slips out of place, leading to pain and arthritis.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy: This genetic disorder leads to the retina’s degeneration, which can cause blindness.
Cleft palate: Cleft palate a congenital disability in which the roof of the mouth is not fully formed, which can lead to feeding and breathing problems.
Ear infections: Ear infections can be caused by excessive moisture in the ear canal, which you can reduce by keeping the ears clean and dry.
Heart disease: Heart disease is a common problem in all dog breeds and can occur at any age.
Allergies: Allergies are common in dogs and can cause itchy skin, hair loss, and ear infections.
Thyroid gland problems: Dog’s Thyroid gland problems are also common as insufficient thyroid hormones are produced. With this, a regular vet checkup is crucial, as your dog’s health will depend on it.
If you consider adding an American Pocket Bully to your family, talk to your vet about the potential health problems this breed may inherit.
The breeder can test some of these conditions before you get your puppy, so be sure to ask.
Finding a reputable breeder when getting an American Pocket Bully is crucial, as this will ensure that your dog does not inherit any health problems.
Are Pocket Bully Dogs Aggressive?
Pocket Bullies were first bred to become pet dogs, yet people have a different image of them in mind. For a long time, people have claimed that Pitbulls are aggressive, and that trait has been passed down to American Bullies.
This belief comes from their bull-baiting history. Humans indeed raised Pitbulls to be dog fighters, but in reality, they are one of the loveliest and most caring breeds.
Nowadays, you will likely find American Bullys in homes cuddling up next to their owner rather than causing trouble. A similar is true of the Pocket Bully; making trouble is not their thing.
Pocket size American Bullies were raised to be loyal and protective companions, which is how they got their reputation for being ‘nanny’ dogs.
Pocket Bullies will more likely keep your children from danger, which is why they are such great family dogs. They have big hearts and will care for you and your family no matter what.
Inside those tiny bodies is a lot of affection, and they will not stop showing you how much they love you.
How Much is A Pocket Bully Cost?
If you are bent on buying a Pocket Bully, you must prepare your Pocket because a Pocket size Bully puppy is not cheap.
If you are wondering how much is a Pocket American Bully puppy, well, among the four classifications of the American Bully, the Pocket Bully is the most expensive.
A typical Pocket Bully puppy’s price range is between $3,000 and $8,000.
A Pocket Bully puppy price is so high because of the high demand for that American Bully size. The other factors that affect the Pocket American Bully price are bloodline, breeder’s reputation, and color.
If your budget prevents you from getting a puppy, get an adult dog from a rescue or adoption site. Most likely, the Pocket American Bully price in these centers is between $200 and $800, which is way less than the Pocket Bully cost you’d get from a breeder.
As for colors, a Merle Pocket Bully could cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 or even more.
The same applies to Tri-colored Pocket Bullies because a Tri-color Pocket Bully price range is $8,000 or more.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes an American Bully Pocket?
A Pocket American Bully is a cross between a Patterdale terrier and an American Bully. A Pocket Bully has all the structural integrity of an American Bully but in a smaller size.
On average, Pocket Bullies are 14 to 17 inches tall and weigh 20 to 50 pounds.
What is the Difference Between a Pocket and A Standard American Bully?
The critical difference between a Pocket and a Standard American Bully is the height. Standard American Bullies are much taller and measure 17-20 inches, whereas a Pocket Bully stands at 14-17 inches.
Other than that, they look identical and have the same build type.
How Do You Measure a Pocket Bully?
A Pocket Bully is measured from the ground to the withers. Withers is the highest point on a dog’s shoulders when standing straight.
Pocket Bullies have short coats, so finding the withers is pretty easy.
Is a Pocket Bully the Same as A Micro Bully?
The Micro Bully is a much smaller version of a Pocket Bully. A Micro Bully is produced by breeding the Pocket Bully with a Patterdale Terrier.
Micro Bullies stand at 11 to 14 inches, whereas Pocket Bullies stand at 14-17 inches. Micro Bullies are more compact and muscular.
What 2 Dogs Make a Pocket Bully?
American Bully and Patterdale Terrier are crossbred together to make a Pocket Bully. Breeders produced Pocket Bully in an attempt to make a smaller Bully for families and one that requires less maintenance.
Conclusion
Pocket Bullies make for excellent pets; the evidence is many happy owners. Whether you buy a Pocket Bully or not is up to you, but one thing is for sure, whenever you meet one, you will want to meet again.
American Pocket Bullies have a warm aura that attracts people to themselves and fall in love, and you will, too, if you greet one.
