The American Bully dog is a happy and loving companion that closely resembles a Pitbull dog. Although thought to be a Pitbull, the American Bully is actually not and was first bred to remove the aggressive traits that can be carried through Pitbull breeds. Because of this, the Bully breed is now a very loyal and friendly companion that does especially well in family homes with children.

With a strong build, it is often thought that these dogs are aggressive, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Read on below to find out more about this gentle dog and whether you think they might be the right companion for your home.

History of the American Bully

The American Bully, as it is now known, began development in the 1980s with the majority of the final behavioral and aesthetic product being completed in the 1990s.

There is consensus that at least five other breeds were used to attain the more “bully” physical traits desired as well as the more diminutive size of some lines. The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) was the foundation (parent breed) used to create the American Bully.

The APBT has maintained a characteristic appearance and temperament for over a century. Within that span of time different strains of APBT emerged within the breed, each with different physical attributes.

 One particular APBT strain was crossbred to create a specific, stockier, physique that breeders originally misrepresented as purebred American Pit Bull Terriers.

Eventually, enough breeders agreed that these dogs were disparate enough from American Pit Bull Terriers that it warranted them admitting that they were a different breed altogether.

The bloodlines of these mixed breeds were further influenced by further, openly acknowledged breeding to the American Bulldog, English Bulldog, and Olde English Bulldogge in order to fine-tune desired physical characteristics and personality traits.

Breed Origin American Bully

The American Bully breed was established in the mid-1990s with the purpose of creating the ultimate family companion.

The American Bully was created through years of selective breeding by combining the desired traits of the UKC American Pit Bull Terrier and the AKC American Staffordshire Terrier. Some lines have added other bully breeds to the mix and sometimes non-bully breeds.

The American Bully’s origins can be seen both on the East and West Coast of the United States, primarily in Virginia and Los Angeles, California. It is spreading to all parts of the U.S.

Today the American Bully can also be seen in Europe and Asia. The American Bully, also called the Bully Pit, Bully Pitbull, and the Bully Pitbull, is often confused with the American Pitbull Terrier but is clearly a different breed.

Characteristics of the American Bully

There are three different sizes of the American Bully breed: pocket, standard and giant. These pups are normally born in litter size of 4 to 8 puppies and are known for being expensive. You can expect to pay anywhere between $2000 and $5000 for an American Bully puppy.

You should always buy from a reputable breeder. Despite being a muscular dog with a Pitbull appearance, some breeders use steroids to make them appear even more muscular.

Although this is illegal now and drug use has stopped, this may still get passed down to the litters and consequently their offspring may suffer from drug related issues.

Appearance

As with any other dog breed, physical characteristics and desired traits play a significant role in setting the breed standard for the American bully.

According to the American Bully Kennel Club, four types of American bullies are recognized, largely determined by adult height. 

These are the Pocket American Bully, Standard American Bully, Classic, and XL.

Despite differing in size, the general appearance of these dogs remains pretty uniform in that they should be a medium-sized dog with a compact muscular body and blocky head. 

The head should preferably be in proportion to the rest of the dog’s body and free of exaggeration.

In addition, they should possess a broad skull, heavy bone structure, and pronounced cheek muscles with pointed ears.

Unfortunately, many owners of American Bullies prefer to crop their dog’s ears for aesthetic purposes, which can lead to them looking more aggressive and fiercer than they are.

But let’s look at the breed’s appearance in more detail.

Coat

The American Bully has a short coat that is smooth. Therefore, they do not shed very much, which is great news for those with allergies. You will also not need to groom them very often, although we will go into more detail about that later on. However, their short coat means they can struggle when the weather gets colder. You may want to invest in a doggie sweater for them!

Color

The American Bully dog comes in a range of colors. They are normally a mixture of two colors but can be tri-colored too. They can be black, white, gray, brown, blue, tan, fawn, red and piebald.

Temperament

The American Bully is a happy, outgoing, stable and confident dog. Gentle and loving toward people. Good-natured, amusing, extremely loyal and an affectionate family pet.

Almost always obedient, this dog wants nothing more than to please its master. It is an extremely courageous and intelligent guard dog that has a lot of life.

This breed possesses the loyalty and stability of the American Pit Bull Terrier while retaining the sociable, amiable, and outgoing temperament of the American Staffordshire Terrier.

This unique breed is noted for displaying extreme tolerance for children and an overwhelming eagerness to please its family.

Confident, yet not aggressive, this breed possesses a very pleasant temperament. Physically, the American Bully has an impressive, athletic build, which is both muscular and defined, and displays strength and agility. The breed is versatile and capable of accomplishing a wide variety of tasks.

All around, the American Bully is well-rounded, reliable, trustworthy and an ideal family companion. The breed is very outgoing with an eagerness to please.

They are known for their courage. A persistent fighter if provoked. Highly protective of his owners and the owner’s property, it will fight an enemy to the death if the enemy traps the dog in a corner and threatens its loved ones. This breed has a very high tolerance for pain. 

Lifespan of American Bully

American Bully dogs typically live for about 10-12 years.However, if you take proper care of it, your American Bully will live for a few more years.

Known Health Issues of American Bully

Hip dysplasia	Hip dysplasia refers to the ball and socket hip joint failing to fit together snugly, which causes intense pain and lameness. American bullies’ broad and muscular build makes them particularly prone to this issue. The standard solution if the pain becomes unbearable is a total hip replacement.
Elbow dysplasia	American bullies are also prone to elbow dysplasia. It is a similar joint issue which is commonly a congenital abnormality. The condition can cause other joint problems due to self-correction to reduce pain and arthritis. Pocket American Bullies are most likely to suffer from this condition due to their compact build. Elbow dysplasia can often be managed through good diet and exercise.
Heart disease	Congenital heart failure can occur in American Bullies, present at birth, and can lead to heart failure later in life if not treated appropriately. Heart failure can also impact the brain and nervous system, so if there is a genetic diagnosis, you should get regular vet check-ups.
Hypothyroidism	Hypothyroidism is a hormonal condition that can lead to other health issues, such as hair loss, weight gain, and extreme tiredness. American Bullies and Pitbull breeds are prone to developing this condition caused by a genetic disorder or an autoimmune disease.
Allergies	Allergies are a broad umbrella; some of the most common are broken down below.
Food allergies	Individual American Bullies can be allergic or have an intolerance to certain foods such as chicken, beef, wheat, corn, soy, or dairy products. Allergies manifest themselves through itchiness, hair loss, and redness.
Environmental allergies	Environmental elements commonly cause allergies in American Bullies, including mold, fleas, pollen, and dust mites. These types of allergies typically lead to coughing, sneezing, and wheezing.
Eye problems	American Bullies are often prone to suffering from eye conditions, such as cataracts. Cataracts Cherry eye Glaucoma Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) Most eye conditions can be managed effectively if treated early, so it is essential to seek medical advice early.

Daily Life of American Bully

Now that we know what the traits and characteristics of the American Bully are, we can take a look at what everyday life with one of these dogs is like. We will cover their food and diet, their exercise requirements and their grooming needs.

Best Food and Diet for American Bully

With their big, muscular bodies and intimidating gaze, the American Bully may look like a bully to some. However, you’ll find that this dog has a tender heart and plenty of love and affection to give.

While it’s commonly thought that the American Bully is a pure Pitbull (or Bulldog), this is a misconception. But, it does have Pitbull relatives, particularly from the American Pitbull Terrier lineage.

If you are the proud pet parent of an American Bully, you know that their nutrition is of the utmost importance.

It can be challenging to figure out what food to give your pet, given the number of options on the market. This is why we created this guide that outlines everything you need to know about feeding your American Bully.

We highlight the different things you need to know about your American Bully’s dietary needs and how these change as they go through each life stage (puppy, adult, and senior). Since American Bullies are so fond of eating, you may find yourself with an overweight pup at some point.

We have recommendations for that as well. We aim to equip you with the knowledge you need to make an informed choice about your dog’s nutrition.

Exercise

The bully breed does not have huge exercise needs. However, you should try to exercise them for around 30 to 60 minutes a day. This includes walking and playing.

American bullies like to be outside and they love being with their people. If you can incorporate games with the family into your bully’s exercise regime, they are more likely to be interested in getting active! This also allows them to bond with you and provides them with mental simulation so they don’t get bored.

Family Compatibility

The American Bully breed is loving and caring and therefore makes an excellent family companion. They are particularly gentle around babies, so you won’t need to worry about introducing them to the littlest member of the family! They are also sweet with children but love to play with them too, making them the perfect playmate.

American Bullies make perfect lapdogs and are happy to curl up next to you on the couch and watch TV. They like to show you how much they love you with lots of licks and kisses! They are also very loyal, which is one of the reasons they make such loyal family pets.

The dog does not require a lot of exercise, but it would benefit from a large outdoor area outside of the house. However, they can live happily in apartments and smaller homes, as long as they do have a place to get out and play.

The American Bully gets on well with everyone, but this doesn’t mean they don’t need to be socialized from a young age. This is so that they don’t become scared when meeting new people.

Training Your American Bully

Right from the start, establish the behavior and habits that you want in a Bully Pit puppy. Don’t spoil the pup, but instead discipline it firmly, yet gently.

With this method, you can remove the pup’s negative behaviors. Encourage the pup’s success by using positive reinforcement.

Training also includes socialization with other animals or people and making the puppy accustomed to its environment. Of course don’t forget the usual doggie training like training your pet to “sit”, “stand”, “rollover”, “fetch”, etc.

If you want to start training your dog make sure to check out our guide on Best Collars for Pitbulls and Best Pitbull Leash

Socializing

The American Bully is a very sociable dog who loves people and wants to be everybody’s best friend. Therefore, socializing should not be difficult.

However, socialization should take place at a young age so that your American Bully learns not to be scared. You should introduce them to new places, sights, sounds, smells, people and animals.

Grooming

Despite being incredibly low maintenance, American bullies still have grooming requirements that need to be taken care of.

Their short fur hair makes cleaning them more manageable compared to other dog breeds. But the downside is that the American bully’s fur is also stiff, which means a lot of debris and dirt can accumulate in it.

As such, it is recommended that an American bully be washed at least once a month. In addition, it is advised that it is advised to keep an eye out for fleas, ticks, and lice as part of grooming activities.

Also, a regular weekly brushing routine should be establishe to minimize the shedding of fur and reduce the dirt and debris collected between the dog’s fur.

Nail clipping is also advise as American bullies’ nail grow fast.

Conclusion

The American Bully dog is a sweet-natured and loving dog that fits into any family perfectly. Although they have a reputation for being aggressive and are very muscular dogs, these pups are extremely gentle, especially with children and babies.

They love to play as much as they love to lay on the couch and give you kisses. With their low exercise needs and their low grooming needs, you do not need much experience when looking after this pup. You only need a lot of love and affection for them.

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