American Bully dog breed

The American Bully is a medium-sized dog with a short coat that sheds minimally, requiring very little grooming. A good brushing once a week or bi-weekly is enough to get rid of any dead and loose hair. They are also known to be low-barking dogs, barking only to alert. The American Bully might have a scary look, but they are actually very laid-back loving dogs that make great family dogs. They are loving, playful, loyal, and fond of kids. These muscular dogs are also great lap warmers, as they love to snuggle. They are currently not recognized with the American KC, but the British United Kennel Club recognized the breed in 2013

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Reddit
Tumblr
LinkedIn
Telegram
Email
American Bully
Breed height

M: 33 - 50 cm / 13 - 20 in
F: 33 - 50 cm / 13 - 20 in

Breed weight

M: 20 - 60 kg / 44 - 132 lbs
F: 20 - 60 kg / 44 - 132 lbs

Breed lifespan

Healthy dogs of this breed lives
average between 10 to 12 years

Breed group

Not categorized or recognized by the American Kennel Club yet

Breed size
The American Bully breed comes in multiple sizes. There are 4 official variations. Classic, Standard, Pocket, and the XL version
Coat size
American Bullies have a short glossy coat that feels smooth to the touch. The coat length should not be more than 1.27 cm / 0.5 in
Shedding
American Bullies are not known to shed a lot. Brushing the coat once or twice a week is sufficient to get rid of dead and loose hair
Trainability
American Bullies are considered generally easy to train. They may however not be the best breed for the inexperienced dog owners
Breed health
American Bullies health conditions have not been thoroughly researched as the bred is quite new. Read more in the health section
Socialization
American Bullies get along fine with strangers and tolerate other dogs. But they should be socialized from an early age, as with all dogs
Energy
American Bullies are quite calm and laid-back dogs. They should have at least 45 minutes of daily exercise to burn off their energy though
Barking
American Bullies do not bark a lot. Usually, they only bark to alert of dangers, or if they are bored due to not getting enough exercise

American Bully breed information

The American Bully is a fairly new breed, until the 1990s, it didn’t even exist. By crossing the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier, the new American Bully was created. A breed that was to serve only as a companion and show dog and not a fighting dog like its ancestors. Making this new breed was done to eliminate the high energy and aggression levels towards other dogs from the pit bulls, thus getting a dog that was more suited for companionship. It is also most certain that the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the English Bulldog were also used while breeding the American Bully, as well as multiple other breeds. The American Bully was recognized as a breed by the British United Kennel Club in 2013, but the American Kennel Club has yet to follow. They do however have their own American Bully Kennel Club

American Bully breed appearance

The American Bullies’ heights and weights vary depending on the size type. There are 4 different types that are recognized by the American Bully Kennel Club, Standard, Classic, Pocket, and the XL version. The height of all these types ranges from 33 cm / 13 inches and up to 50 cm / 20 inches, with the weight being anywhere from 20 kg / 44 lbs and all the way up to 60 kg / 132 lbs. No matter what size they are, their coats should be short, not exceeding 1.27 cm / 0.5 inches in length. Their coats can be in all colors and patterns, with the exception pattern being Merle. They have powerful massive bodies, packed with muscles and a large broad head on top. For a full list of all the appearance traits, read more at the American Bully Kennel Clubs overview

American Bully breed temperament

American Bullies might look like scary dogs due to their bulky muscular body and big wide mouth, but they are very kind, loving, and affectionate dogs that love to snuggle in the lap. They have a tendency to form close bonds with every member of the family, and they adore children, usually making them their best friends. The American Bullies are also very protective of their families, although they are not aggressive dogs, they will become fearless and take on any opponent that harms their family physical. American Bullies get along with strangers fine and are tolerant of other dogs, but as with all dog breeds, socialization should start at an early age to teach the dog how to behave in a healthy way when encountering strangers and other canines

American Bully breed health

The American Bully breeds health has not been thoroughly researched yet due to it being such a new breed, but their ancestors the American Pit Bull Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers are very healthy dogs. But then again, another of their ancestors, the English Bulldogs is one of the most unhealthy of all breeds. One of the most concerning issues found in the American Bully is demodicosis, a parasitic skin disease. As with all dog breeds, they are also prone to developing certain common dog diseases. This can include eye problems, skin allergies, orthopedic problems, and ear infections. Regular wellness checkups at the vet should be done at least once a year to track the dog’s development and catch any potential health issues at an early stage

Breed Shedding and grooming

American Bullies are generally considered low-shedding dogs, but the vary from dog to dog can be large, while some shed minimally, others can shed heavily throughout the year. Thanks to the Bullies’ short coats, grooming requirements are minimal. Brushing the coat once or twice a week will prevent dead and loose hair from floating around the home. Keeping the dog on meat-rich dog foods also helps reduce the shedding amount and prevents dry skin. Meat is digested and absorbed quickly, promoting better overall health in your furry little buddy. If your furry buddy is subject to excessive shedding, contact your local veterinarian and ask for guidance and hear with them if the dog should come in for a checkup, just to be on the safe side

American Bully barking level

American Bullies are not very vocal dogs, they are generally a low-barking breed that only bark if they have something to notify you of, or if they are bored due to lack of exercise. Other common reasons for barking may be attention-seeking and separation anxiety, or just simply saying hello. You can read more about barking at this guide from WebMD Pets: Understanding why dogs bark. All breeds can be trained to reduce barking, including American Bullies, another thing that should be focused on learning from an early age. There are plenty of online resources where you can learn how to reduce barking, like YouTube, online courses, and websites you can find by Googling. You might also want to shop for dog books online that address this issue too

American Bully dog training

American Bullies are intelligent dogs that are easy to train, they are eager to please their owners and can learn a great variety of tricks and commands. However, they might not be the best choice for inexperienced dog owners as they will not just blindly follow commands. The owners of American Bullies must be dominant, established as the pack leader, otherwise, the dog may consider itself the pack leader and become the one in command. The first step on the long road is signing up for a puppy class, here you will learn the basics about dog care and training, most classes also have supervised playtime among the puppies for socialization. You can also watch dog training videos, attend online dog training courses, or maybe get yourself a dog training book

Breed exercise requirements

American Bullies are not one of the most energetic dog breeds out there as they were bred to be calmer versions of their ancestors, but they are not couch potatoes either. American Bullies should have at least 45 minutes to an hour of exercise daily in order to stay healthy and happy, as well as mental exercise in the form of games. Dogs that don’t get enough exercise can become depressed, bored, and destructive towards furniture. A great and fun way for dogs to burn off energy is playing fetch, either with a ball or a stick. American Bullies can live in apartments as long as their physical and mental exercise needs are met. While being indoors, learning the dog new tricks and commands are perfect for avoiding the dog from getting bored and restless

Caring for dogs

Grooming is not the only maintenance your dog requires throughout its life. Complete examinations at the vet should be done at least once a year for adult dogs. Puppies should come in every 3 or 4 weeks until they are around four months old. Contact your vet and they will set you up with schedules.
Trimming the claws should be done whenever they touch the ground when the dog is standing up, or make it a frequent routine to keep them short
Brushing the teeth should be done on a daily basis to prevent gum diseases. Chew bones and toys will also help strengthen your dog’s teeth and gums
Cleaning the ears to prevent ear infections is also another important part of the dog’s routine maintenance. You can have your vet show you how to do it

Socializing dogs

No matter what kind of dog breed you have, socializing it from an early age is the most important thing you can do in order to get a well-behaving buddy that reacts to the world around it in a healthy way. Until your puppy is around 16 weeks old, it should encounter different kinds of people, situations, and locations, learning that the world is a wonderful place to live. Puppies have a short developmental window in which their experiences will form their future selves. Puppies should however not be forced into situations they might feel uncomfortable with, as bad experiences may imprint and stay with the dog for the rest of the life. You can watch free videos from professional dog trainers on how to socialize your new puppy and learn how to do so the correct way

American Bullies on Instagram

Here are some pictures of the American Bully on Instagram. See even more photos of them by exploring #AmericanBully or by using the Google Image Search

Video of the American Bully

Here is a video of the American Bully breed from Animal Insider on YouTube, covering the most important features wrapped up into this 10-minute long video

Frequently asked questions

American Bullies are great family dogs, they are loving, affectionate, and protective of their families. They are also highly fond of children and will protect and care for them as they were their own. As with all dog breeds, playtime with young children should be supervised for the safety of both parties

There are no dogs that are hypoallergenic, some breeds can however cause fewer allergic reactions than other breeds. The proteins that dogs produce are what causes the allergic reactions. These proteins are found in the hair, saliva, dander, and urine. Some individuals may have an irritant response to the actual dog hair, the solution for that is getting a dog with a low level of shedding. You can continue reading about allergies and reactions at HealthLine

American Bullies are generally low-shedding dogs, but it can vary a lot from dog to dog, some may even be heavy shedders throughout the entire year

Yes. American Bullies are intelligent dogs that are eager to please their owners. Then can learn a variety of tricks and commands

American Bullies can adapt well to apartment living as long as their physical and mental exercise needs are met

Well-trained American Bullies can handle being alone well for a moderate amount of time

American Bullies are not aggressive dogs, they are kind and affectionate companions that get along and enjoy socialization with all people of all ages

References and resources

You can absorb more knowledge about this dog breed from the resources below. Websites, books, and social media sites where you can ask dog owners questions

Latest dog breeds published

Greyhound

Greyhound

The Greyhound is the fastest dog breed in the world, they are large-sized dogs with a short coat that sheds moderately. These sprinters are also great family dogs that are calm and quiet while being indoors, relaxing on the couch

Shih Tzu

Shih Tzu

The small-sized breed Shih Tzu is a playful, loving, and affectionate little family dog that gets along with just about everyone. They can perfectly live fine in small apartments thanks to their small size and low exercise requirements

Beagle

The Beagle is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. This affectionate dog is generally friendly towards strangers, other dogs, and other pets. Beagles are known to bark and are not the easiest dogs to train

Explore dog breeds by size

Explore dogs by coat size

Explore dog breeds by group