Posted by Even though it is not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club, the American Bully Dog is growing in popularity around the world and was finally recognized by the United Kennel Club on July 15, 2013.
Categorized as a companion dog group, the American Bully does have a gentle and friendly demeanor, making it a great family dog. Despite its large muscles and strong body structure, this dog breed is very gentle with children.
However, you should know what the American Bully is like and what the character of this breed is. By knowing it as a whole, you can understand enough how to treat and train them so that it could be a good friend.
Okay, here’s everything you can know about the American Bully Dog!
Overview
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- Origin: United States
- Breed Group: Companion Group
- Lifespan: 8–13 years
- Height: 14 to 22 inches
- Weight: 63 pounds (male) and 46 pounds (female)
- Hypoallergenic: No
- Intelligence: High
- Exercise Needs: Moderate
- Ideal Environment: Apartments or small houses
- Training: Early and consistent training
The American Bully Dog, or sometimes called the “American Bully Pit” or “Bullypit,” is a modern dog breed from the United States that resulted from the crossing of various Bulldog and Terrier dog breeds, including the American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Olde English Bulldog, and many more.
Due to the crossbreeding of various dog breeds, the American Bully comes in a variety of types and sizes, including the Standard, Classic, Pocket, and American XL Bully. Of course, each has a different size and appearance.
Basically, the American Bully Dog is a natural continuation of the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT), a breed that has maintained its distinctive temperament for more than 100 years.
This dog breed is known to have evolved from a parent who has a very unique form and structure, so it can be recognized as a completely different breed and does not resemble any dog breed in particular.
History
The American Bully Dog was developed in the 1990s in the United States. It was originally created as a companion dog.
This dog breed can be found on the East and West Coasts of the United States, especially in California and Virginia, and eventually spread throughout the rest of the United States. Now, you can also see them in Asia and Europe.
Over the years, the breed was created through selective breeding by combining desirable traits from the AKC American Staffordshire Terrier and the UKC American Pit Bull Terrier. Having been developed over many years, it is no surprise that the American Bully Dog has had several bloodlines, adding other Bully breeds into the mix and sometimes non-Bully breeds.
General Appearance
The American Bully Dog can be recognized by its physical characteristics. Specifically, the appearance of the American Bully Dog reflects the strong American Pit Bull Terrier breed base, which is combined with other bull breeds.
The American Bully Dog’s body is thick-set, solid, and muscular. At first glance, this breed reflects a fighting dog breed, but in fact, they are very gentle and friendly.
Here is an explanation for each part of its body:
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- Head: They have a uniquely broad and large head with a flat-top skull with no dome between the ears. Their heads appear square from the side and front without a wedge appearance. Since their head is too large, this makes it disproportionate to the body.
- Nose: They have a large nose with well-opened nostrils.
- Muzzle: They have a broad, square snout with a straight top. Their snout is shorter than the length of the skull, at 25 to 35 percent of the total head length.
- Teeth: They have a set of white teeth that are evenly spaced and meet in a scissor or even bite.
- Eyes: They have oval or diamond-shaped eyes of medium size and are set quite far apart and low on the skull. If they have round, protruding, blue eyes, they are not acceptable as an American Bully dog.
- Ears: They have high or short ears, with no preference. If they have flat, pointed, and wide ears, they may not be acceptable.
- Neck: They have a muscular and fairly long neck, with a slight curve at the top. They also don’t have excessive skin folds on their neck.
- Body: They have a compact body with a broad, deep chest, but not excessive. Their backs are also strong, sturdy, and broad, and their loins are wide and short. If they have a curved back, a too wide chest, or lack muscle tone, they are unacceptable.
- Forequarters: They have muscular shoulders with broad, long shoulder blades. Their upper arms are the same length as the shoulder blades and come together at a visible right angle. Their forelegs are muscular, with large bones set fairly wide with the feet straight forward.
- Hindquarters: They have strong, broad, and muscular hindquarters with a full and deep rump. Their feet are also round, firm, and well-arched. They also have a distinctive tail, often called a cranktail or pumptail.
- Coat: They have fine, dense, and glossy fur that is somewhat stiff to the touch. But its fur is curly, wavy, or sparse.
- Color: They are acceptable in any color pattern and combination, except merle.
Sizes
The American Bully Dog commonly comes in three different sizes, including:
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- Pocket: Adult male pockets have an ideal height of under 17 inches and not less than 14 inches at the withers. While adult female pockets will usually have a height of under 16 inches and not less than 13 inches at the withers.
- Standard/Classic: Adult Standard males typically have an ideal height of 17 to 20 inches at the withers, and adult Standard females have a height of 16 to 19 inches at the withers. The Classic, on the other hand, has less overall body mass and a lighter frame than the Standard, but still has the same size at the withers.
- XL: Adult male XL dogs have an ideal height of more than 20 inches to 23 inches at the withers. While adult female dogs have a height of more than 19 inches to 22 inches at the withers.
Personality
Despite being called a “bully” dog, the American Bully Dog does not live up to its name; they are the gentlest and sweetest. They are cheerful, outgoing, and confident dogs. Because of their affectionate nature towards humans and their desire to please their owners, many people end up keeping them as family pets.
This breed tends to spend their time with the people they love. Sure, it is no wonder that they’re very suitable as companions when playing in the background, hiking, or socializing. They will remain protective and brave friends who will protect you from any danger that lies before their eyes.
With an athletic body, the American Bully Dog is able to complete various tasks, whatever is ordered. They will understand very well what they have to do because they have the instinct to obey the group’s orders. Further, they will follow the rules and boundaries of what they can and cannot do.
The combination of strength and agility makes the American Bully Dog a suitable dog for guarding property and also as a playmate in the garden. They also transmit happiness and joy to their owners because of their easygoing, always cheerful, and a little noisy nature.
Health Problems
Just like many hybrid dogs, the American Bully Dog also has a few health problems that can arise at any time. Their lifespan can reach 8 to 13 years with a healthy diet, exercise, and regular visits to the vet.
Even though they’re considered strong and generally healthy, they remain susceptible to genetic predispositions that can lead to certain health problems. Of course, it is important for you to know what the serious health problems are that they could get. That way, you can understand what you should do to prevent and treat them if they arise.
According to some sources, the American Bully Dog is vulnerable to the following diseases:
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- Hypothyroidism: This is a condition where hormonal disorders occur, which can cause lethargy and malaise, hair loss, and even weight gain.
- Hip dysplasia: This genetic condition can cause the thigh and hip bones to misalign. This can put stress on the surrounding ligaments, which can lead to local arthritis, mobility issues, and discomfort over time.
- Elbow dysplasia: This condition is similar to hip dysplasia in that there is an abnormality in the development of the elbow joint, potentially causing pain and lameness.
- Congenital heart disease: This genetic condition causes American Bully dogs to be born with abnormalities in the heart wall. If this happens, veterinarians may be able to treat it surgically, but there has been little success.
- Skin issues: The American Bully Dog is particularly prone to skin conditions such as eczema and skin allergies, which can cause rashes, itching, and even skin infections. Some causes include food allergies, stress, and topical irritation.
- Eye problems: The American Bully Dog is quite susceptible to several eye problems, such as “cherry eye,” cataracts, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA).
- Bloat: This is a potentially life-threatening digestive problem. When the stomach fills with gas and twists, it can cut off the blood supply to vital organs.
Some health problems in American Bully dogs can be caused by internal and external factors.
In fact, some breeders give steroids to their dogs to increase the size of their dog’s muscles. Of course, when this is stopped, their muscle size will shrink. Along with these effects, this can also cause many problems in American Bully Dogs, including respiratory problems and problems with joints and organs.
Necessary Care
To ensure their life is longer and of better quality, there are several important things you should do when caring for an American Bully. There is no doubt that taking care of a new dog can be overwhelming. But if you involve these aspects, it will be quite easy to do.
If this is your first time taking care of an American Bully, keep the following things in mind:
1. Feeding
Diet is key to keeping your American Bully healthy and well-nourished. In order to maintain their muscle mass, they may need a higher protein intake along with other nutrients in each meal. In addition, you also have to determine the portion size that suits their body condition. Make sure to always consult your veterinarian for proper guidance.
If your American Bully weighs 40 to 70 pounds, it’s best for you to give him two to three cups of food per day.
2. Exercise
Although American Bully dogs do not need as much exercise as other dogs, they still need to do it to release their physical and mental energy. Of course, you can provide a safe and sufficient space for them to play around while also exercising their physical condition.
To train them, you can take them for a walk around the park. This simple activity, besides increasing their physical activity, can also help them socialize with people, other dogs, and the surrounding environment.
3. Grooming
Even though they have short fur and rarely shed, grooming is still needed to maintain the health of their fur and prevent skin problems. You can make a regular schedule to wash their fur with a gentle dog shampoo and brush their fur with a soft-bristled brush. This will help remove loose fur, prevent dry skin, and keep their fur healthy and shiny.
For American Bullies who tend to have stiffer, finer coats, they may require more frequent brushing to prevent tangling or snagging. No matter what type of coat your dog has, it’s still important to clean it regularly.
When it comes to bathing schedules, American Bullies actually don’t need to be bathed too often because it can disrupt the distribution of natural moisturizing oils in their fur. You only need to bathe them when their fur is dirty and smelly.
Don’t forget to always trim their nails, brush their teeth regularly, clean their ears, and take them to the vet regularly for vaccinations. Last but not least, always ensure their safety and protect them from extreme weather conditions. If you have difficulty caring for your American Bullies, you can consult your veterinarian or a professional groomer to get proper care guidance.
Training
To ensure your American Bullies grow into a well-adjusted dog, socialization and training are two important things to do. Actually, they can adapt to various environments, but they do best in apartments and small houses.
The good news is that you can easily train them. But make sure to train them as early as possible to practice social skills and basic leash etiquette. Once they are good with that, you can take them around the park.
When they succeed in doing something, always give them praise by giving them additional healthy snacks. To make training time more effective, you can train them with shorter training sessions than usual because they tend to get bored easily, so they might refuse your commands or be disobedient during training sessions that are too long.
Tips to Choose an American Bully
Some suggest adopting an American Bully from a rescue organization or shelter. But it would be better if you choose a reputable breeder if this is your first time getting a dog.
However, a reputable breeder will always ensure that the dogs to be adopted are of good quality, including physical, health, and personality traits. Make sure to do a survey first to take an active approach with breeders before you start taking care of them at home. That way, you already understand how to take care of them properly.
