The American Bully – Complete Guide & Facts – Animal Corner

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 which 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

It is often thought that the American Bully is a type of Pitbull but this is not true. These two breeds are actually completely different. They look very like Pitbull’s which can often lead to a negative stigma around the breed. However, they have actually been bred to produce a dog with a soft and mellow personality.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) does not recognize the American Bully breed and therefore they do not have a breed standard. However, they are recognized by the American Bully Kennel Club that was founded in 2004. There are over 20 different Bully breeds.

Breed Origin

The American Bully originated in the United States between 1980 and 1990, making them a relatively new breed. They are the result of an American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pitbull Terrier and other Pitbulls. They were established as their own breed in the 1980s, with the American Bully Kennel Club founded 20 years later.

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 sizes 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. Although already a muscular dog with a Pitbull appearance, some breeders use steroids to make these dogs look even more muscular.

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

Appearance

The American Bully closely resembles their Pitbull parent. They have a muscular body with a large head and pointed ears. Their muzzle is square shaped with loose skin hanging down the sides and a well defined jaw. Their eyes are oval shaped which may be dark brown or blue.

As we mentioned above, there are three different sizes of the American Bully. The males are normally always bigger than the females. For a Pocket variety, the height of the Bully breed is normally between 13 and 17 inches tall. The Standard breed measures anywhere between 16 and 20 inches tall and the Giant between 19 and 23 inches tall.

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 can come 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 pie bald.

Temperament

The American Bully temperament is one trait of the dog that stops many people from buying. Because these dogs are often thought to be a Pitbull and they look like a Pitbull, people think that they are aggressive. Although the idea that all Pitbulls are aggressive is not true, this is still widely thought across America and many places ban Pitbull’s from being out in public. Therefore, when the American Bully gets associated with them, people also think they are aggressive.

In reality, the American Bully is a very sweet-natured and loving dog. This is one of the reasons they were bred. This pup makes an excellent family dog because of their kind and affectionate nature. They also love attention and know how to show you that they love you — giving you lots of kisses and cuddles!

If you want a watchdog or a guard dog, the American Bully is not for you. They love all people and will happily show a stranger love rather than aggression. These pups make excellent companion dogs for everyone.

Lifespan

The American Bully has a life expectancy between 10 and 13 years, on average.

Known Health Issues

Due to the fact that the American Bully is a relatively new breed, we cannot be sure which health problems the American Bully is prone to are specifically related to them. However, we have laid out the most common health concerns below.

• Cherry Eye — this is when the gland under the third eyelid protrudes and looks like a cherry in the corner of the eye. Your vet may have to remove the gland.
• Hip Dysplasia — this is when the thighbone doesn’t fit snugly into the hip joint. Some dogs show pain and lameness on one or both rear legs, but you may not notice any signs of discomfort in a dog with hip dysplasia.
• Elbow Dysplasia — this is a common condition in large breed dogs. It can be caused by different growth rates and can cause lameness. It can be fixed with surgery.

Regular vet checkups and keeping an eye on your dog will ensure you can catch any of these issues before they become untreatable.

Remember — buy from a reputable breeder and the chances your dog will suffer any health conditions will be greatly reduced.

Daily Life

Now we know that 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.

Food And Diet

Because the American Bully varies in size, it can be difficult to know how much you will need to feed them. On average, the rule is 30 calories per pound of body weight.

Of course, you should always double check the back of the food packet to see the exact amount you should be feeding your dog based on their weight. Splitting your pup’s meal into two meals a day is also normally advised.

You should always make sure that the food you are feeding your American Bully is high-quality and nutritious. We also recommend finding a dog food that is specifically formulated for medium to large dog breeds, so you can make sure they are getting all the nutrients they need.

Best Dog Food For The American Bully

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We recommend the Purina ONE SmartBlend dry dog food for the American Bully. Formulated especially for large dog breeds, this recipe contains real chicken as the number one ingredient, ensuring that your dog gets all the protein they need to keep their muscles lean and strong. Also in this food there is a natural source of glucosamine that ensures your pups joints stay supple and healthy, which is very important for larger dogs.

With omega-6 fatty acids and vitamins and minerals, your American Bully’s skin and coat remains in the best condition and the antioxidant blend supports their immune system. All the ingredients are also high digestible in this food and there are no fillers.

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 Bully’s like to be outside and they love to be with their people. If you can incorporate games with the family into your Bully’s exercise regime, they will much more likely 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 the perfect playmate.

American Bully’s make perfect lapdogs and are happy curling up next to you on the couch and watching 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 good family pets.

This dog does not have huge exercise requirements but they do best in a home with a large space outside the exercise. However, they can live happily in apartments and smaller homes, as long as they do have a place to go 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 so that they don’t become scared when meeting new people.

Training

Training the American Bully breed should not be difficult. They generally pick up on commands easily and will know what you want them to do. You should always use positive reinforcement training and reward based training such as verbal praise and treats. Avoid punishing your Bully because they will not understand and they won’t want to learn.

Training your dog can be a great way to bond with them. It also helps to keep the mentally stimulated so they don’t get bored. You should start training them from a young age so they learn to be obedient and well-mannered.

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 from 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

Fortunately, the American Bully does not have many grooming requirements thanks to their short, smooth coat that does not shed very much. You will only need to brush them once a week. You should also only bathe them once a month.

Brushing your American Bully’s teeth is important and this should happen every day or as often as you can manage. You can give your pup dental sticks to chew on if this is easier. Nail clipping can be done by your vet or your groomer and will make cuddling your American Bully a lot less painful!

American Bully FAQ’s

How much does an American Bully cost?

An American Bully puppy is expensive. They can cost between $2000 and $5000 each. You should certainly ensure you are buying from a reputable breeder.

If this is out of your price range, you can always check your local shelter. There are also a couple of rescue groups for the American Bully breed — the American Bulldog Rescue and the Brave Bully Rescue — where you can go if you are looking to adopt.

Is an American Bully aggressive?

Is it a common misconception that American Bully’s are aggressive dogs. American Bully’s look like their Pitbull parents. Pitbulls have a reputation for being an aggressive dog because of their fighting heritage, however, the majority of Pitbull’s are very sweet dogs. Due to the fact they look similar, people often think American Bully’s have this fighting heritage and are aggressive too.

However, American Bully’s were actually bred to remove the aggressive traits which can be carried through Pitbull breeds. American Bully’s are, therefore, very sweet natured and gentle. They love to be around humans and are especially affectionate and kind with young children. They love to show their humans how much they love them by giving them kisses!

Summary

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 with you 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 — just a lot of love and affection for them!