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American Bully Dogs are becoming a quite popular breed to own in the canine world. They are somewhat of a new breed, so people are curious about them. There has been an increase in American Bully Breed searches recently, which shows people are looking up information on bully care. Potential Bully owners want to know what kind of temperament American bully dogs possess and what to feed them etc. So, I thought it would be cool to put together a helpful article describing Bully breed care, nutrition guides, training pointers, etc. 

American Bully breeds come in different types and sizes, depending on the genetic lines that went into their breeding; this ensures that a potential American Bully owner will have a variety of types to choose from during purchasing or adoption. Bully breeds are lovely family dogs, and depending on the kind of Bully breed you get, they also make excellent apartment dogs. 

American Bully Dogs History 

The American Bully breed history is relatively new compared to many other dog breeds. These Bully breeds came to existence from the 1980s to 1990s. The primary genetic lines that went into creating the American Bully are from the American Pit Bull Terrier & the American Staffordshire Terrier. Different gene pools that went into breeding the American Bully include American Bulldog, English Bulldog, Olde English Bulldogge, and the French Bulldog. The ultimate goal was to create a new Bully breed with a curbed prey drive while keeping the Bully like appearance and traits. Unfortunately, this resulted in so many variances in the American Bully breed genetic lines. The result was different genetic sub-lines for the American Bully breed, such as Standard Bully, Pocket Bully, XL, Classic, and other less popular types like XXL and Micro.

American Bully Genetic Lines & Appearance

It may be good news for some that American Bully’s come in all different sizes. So, if you always wanted to own a Pit Bull type breed, and your apartment did not allow this. They may take a liking to a smaller American Bully breed. 

Weight Classification for the American Bully breed is as follows. They can vary significantly between dogs.

XL American Bully: The XL specification sets apart the slightly taller varieties of the American Bully breed. Males stand 23 inches tall, and females can get up to 22 inches in height. They are by far the most popular version of the American Bully dog. Except for their height, these dogs share the same body type and build as other American Bully variants. 

Classic American Bully: The Classic Bully was the answer to those of us who wanted an American Bully but a less bulky version. The Classic American Bully is slimmer. You can think of them as a bullier version of the American Pit Bull Terrier. They are not as wide-bodied as the XL Bully. 

Pocket American Bully:  Pocket American Bully dogs are smaller than your typical American Bully breed. Males stand 17 inches tall maximum, and Females stand 16 inches tall. There are even Pocket Bully’s that stand just 13-14 inches tall. Hence the naming, they are not pocket dogs and can weigh around 30-60 pounds. 

There are many other unclassified American Bully breeds such as the Micro Mini, XXL, Extreme Bully, etc. Kennel Clubs such as AKC and UKC cannot recognize these breeds due to too many altercations in the American Bully breed. Since the Kennel Clubs do not accept them, you may not be able to enter them into shows or list them as a “show quality” breed. 

American Bully Temperament & Training

American Bully dogs, despite their bulky and scary appearance, are well-tempered dogs. They are not generally aggressive toward their human family and are great with kids.

Being a bully breed, they do get a bad rep from our society. I, for one, believe that a dog’s temperament has a substantial correlation to how the dog owners treat them. Using positive reinforcement while training dogs will get you favorable outcomes as they get older. In Short, positive training with plenty of treats will get you beautiful results with this breed.

American bullies are brilliant dogs, and they are eager to please. Training them is not too tricky, but early socialization is crucial. They do tend to go after other animals, but they do very well once appropriately socialized. Most often, they do not go after other animals to harm them, but they do it for play, however other animals may not reciprocate the same way.

American Bully puppies are more comfortable to train as you can get them accustomed to your surroundings and build up their behavior block by block. Get your American Bully puppy accustomed to as many people, animals, and surroundings as possible. Also, teach them basic commands like sit, stay, come, and leave it early in life, so they become well-trained adults.

American Bully Health Issues

American Bully is overall a very healthy breed of dogs. After all, they share most of the same incredible genes as the American Pitbull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier. You can also expect American Bully dogs to live a long healthy life up to 13 years of age.

Even though they are generally healthy, no dog breed is entirely disease-free. Here are the most common health concerns associated with the American Bully.

Demodicosis – Mange is the most common health concern for an American Bully. Mange is the result of mites being passed on to puppies from the mother dog while nursing. These mites are usually not harmful, but in some puppies, it can cause an autoimmune response. Hair loss is the result of Mange, which can occur in patches or the entire body of the dog in extreme situations.

Hip Dysplasia – Hip Dysplasia is a common genetic health concern in dogs, especially in larger breeds. Hip Dysplasia results in an abnormal formation of the hip joint. You can read in-depth about hip dysplasia in the following EasyPetMD article. Hip Dysplasia sometimes can affect both hind legs of the Dog, resulting in painful movements. Also, See Elbow Dysplasia, which also affects the American Bully.

Cataracts – Cataracts, another health issue found in American Bullies. It is a cloudy lens in their eyes that blocks light from passing through, and it may get worse as the dog gets older. While the dog is young, a small onset of Cataracts may not pose a significant issue to the dog’s quality of life. However, Cataracts is a disease that tends to grow as the dog ages. Cataracts come in two different types, primary and secondary. Genetics cause primary Cataracts, and secondary cataracts occur during a puppy’s gestation stages or by diabetes later in their life. 

Hypothyroidism – Is a terrible disease that causes autoimmune annihilation in dogs. American Bully’s with hypothyroidism will show a lack of appetite, lethargy, hair loss, and weight gain. Hypothyroidism is the result of a Pituitary gland not signaling the thyroid to produce thyroid hormone. Dogs facing this problem will need an external supply of the thyroid hormone.

Gassiness – If you ever owned a Bully type dog like a Boxer, an American Bulldog, or a Pit Bull Terrier, then you are aware flatulence (farting) is just in their genes (LOL). American Bully is not a stranger to the game either, but we withstand it because we love our dogs. However, we can manage flatulence in dogs by giving them a diet they can easily digest. Avoid giving them foods that contain high fats, spicy meals as well as human leftovers that include legumes.

American Bully Cost & American Bully Puppy Cost

American Bully puppies can cost a hefty amount depending on where you get them. Reputable dog breeders will charge a premium for these dogs. Expect to pay the premium for the dog you want depending on whether you want a show quality dog or a puppy for breeding purposes.

Most breeders will charge anywhere from $1500 to $5000 for a quality lineage. However, you can expect to pay even higher in some cases. 

XL lineage will usually cost the highest at around $3000 plus. Standard Bully will range from $1500 – $2500, and Pocket Bully will range from $2000 – $2500.

American Bully Dog Breeders

Here are a few reputable American Bully breeder listings. If you are an American Bully breeder, please do send me your website and details so that I can evaluate and add you to the list below.

Hustle Line Kennels

Texas Size Bullies (Venom Line)

Signs of Reputable American Bully Breeders

Some reputable American Bully breeders will be affiliates of UKC & ABKC. Most breeders are affiliated with at least one of the Organizations. 

Most reputable American Bully breeders will be transparent about their dog’s genetic lines, and often, they are willing to show the puppies parents as well as littermates.

Reputable breeders will be able to answer all of your American Bully questions, and they will show great enthusiasm in doing so. 

Reputable Bully breeders should be able to differentiate the different types of Bully breeds out there and tell you the difference between each — for example, XL, Standard, Pocket, etc.

American Bully Dog Adoptions

Adopting an American Bully is the best way to own the breed if you don’t intend to breed them or enter them into shows. Many American Bully breeds in adoption sites are waiting for the right home. The adoption fees are generally much lower than if you were to buy a purebred American Bully puppy. You can also feel good knowing that you saved a dog’s life.

If you are interested in adopting an American Bully, here are a few adoption sites that you can find them in. A Google search should fetch you many more results in your area.

Amazing Grace Bully Rescue – Flordia

Bullies & Buddies – California

Don’t Bully Us – New Jersey & Philadelphia

Big Bully Rescue – Arizona

Bullies In Need – Canada

Bully Paws – Virginia, DC & Maryland

American Bully Clubs & Bully Merchandise

American Bullies are recognized in the following Clubs in the United States. These include the United Kennel Club (UKC) & the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC). The (ABKC) lists other dogs as well, but Bully breeds are their primary focus. Both clubs allow you to register your American Bully breed or even entire litters online. The following page lists the expected breed standards, faults, as well as serious faults, are also listed here.  

Both of these clubs mention the top quality American Bully genetics, which includes the Gottiline, Remyline & the Daxline.

Gottiline – It is one of the most famous American Bully bloodlines. Richard Bajaras from West Side Kennels first produced Gottiline. The bloodline came to life in 1997. The Gottiline American Bully’s that you see today are the offsprings of the notorious Juan Gotti, who was a 100 percent Greyline dog.

Remyline – Second comes the Remyline bloodline, and Fabian Chichester first created Remyline. Remyline is a newer bloodline created in early 2004. The bloodline was unintentional, but the offspring of a breeding between a male Razors Edge bloodline and a female Pit Bull Terrier was so perfect that it deserved its lineage. The female Pit Bull’s name used in the breeding was Remy Martin, so Chichester gave the new bloodline the name Remyline.

Daxline – Ed Shepherd created the Daxline bloodline, he created a mellow American Bully without the Pit Bull like drive and gameness. The Daxline is credited as one of the best American Bully bloodlines in American Bully history.

American Bully Care 

American Bully dogs make excellent family dogs, and they are easy to care for. They are a short-haired breed that doesn’t require a lot of grooming. They don’t tolerate extreme heat or frigid climates.

Due to their varying sizes, they can be kept in apartments. They are mellow dogs as much of the aggressive tendencies toward other animals etc. have been bred out over the years.

They can get excited when meeting new people, and strangers and visitors may be scared off by this fact, but it is nothing a bit of training cannot fix.

American Bully dogs love any form of exercise that can stimulate them. They enjoy jumping, fetching, and even brisk walks outdoors.

American Bullies are not picky eaters, and they seem to be satisfied with just about any type of dog food. However, here are some of the best dog foods for the American Bully as recommended by Bully dog owners.

All three are very good dog foods for your adult American Bully that will provide nourishment for years to come.

American Bully Puppy Care 

American Bully puppies are a joy to have around in your home. They are adorable and loves to play with just about anything and anyone. They do enjoy tug of war, fetching, and even simple obedience training. Bored American bully puppies can cause some devastation around your home, so it is essential to give them plenty of chew toys to let out that energy.

The Kong toy is a must-have for any American Bully puppy owner!

American Bully puppies have different nutritional requirements. Here are some of the recommended puppy foods.

You cannot go wrong by having an American Bully by your side. Despite their intimidating appearance, they are among one of the most affectionate dogs of all time. They form close bonds with their whole family pack instead of a single owner.

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