American Bully

American Bully, breed of muscular companion dog (in contrast to a working dog) created in the United States in the 1980s and ’90s. With proper training and care, it can often be an excellent family dog. However, because of its strength and potential for aggression, this powerful breed has been banned or restricted in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

The breed’s main foundation is the American Pit Bull Terrier, which was then crossed with various bulldog breeds, notably the English Bulldog, the American Bulldog, and the Olde English Bulldogge. The goal was to create a tougher-looking but milder breed, one featuring a wide chest, marked muscle development, and a powerful jaw but with a diminished instinct for aggression. Although Bullies may serve as loving and gentle pets, a degree of aggression is characteristic of the breed.

The breed is not, however, recognized by the world’s three largest kennel organizations, due to a lack of consistency in the breed, overlapping traits with other breeds, and its lack of tradition and history (breeds without long histories are seldom recognized). As a result, a new registry, the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC), was created in 2004 specifically for the breed. The club registers an assortment of powerful Molossian (Mastiff-like) breeds, including Bullies, bulldogs, and pit bulls.

The United Kennel Club (UKC), the second largest registry of purebred dogs in the United States, does recognize the American Bully, delineating three main varieties of Bullies based on height at the withers: pocket, standard/classic, and XL. Bullies shorter than the pocket are called micros; the classic differs from the standard in having a lighter body frame and less muscle mass; and those taller than the XL are called XXL (XXLs are generally 2–3 inches taller and 20–30 pounds heavier than XLs).

No matter the size, the American Bully is muscular, active, and agile, with tremendous power and stamina. The head is large and broad, the lips are tight, and the neck is muscular. Ears may be natural or cropped. The body is short and compact with a deep, wide chest, and the coat is short, glossy, and smooth. American Bully dogs of any color or combination of colors except for those with merle coats or albinism are acceptable, according to both UKC and ABKC breed standards. Off-color dogs can be registered but not shown in conformation contests.

Due to their strength and potential aggression, American Bullies are increasingly facing bans and restrictions. In the United Kingdom, dog attacks have risen from some 16,000 in 2018 to nearly 22,000 in 2022. Twenty-three people died in attacks from 2021 to 2023, according to the government, “with the XL bully being disproportionately involved”; in several cases, the victims were the pet’s owner. As a result, on December 31, 2023, the Bully XL was added to the U.K. Dangerous Dogs Act, meaning it became illegal to breed, sell, exchange, or abandon the dog; the dog could be owned only if registered, insured, microchipped, spayed or neutered, and leashed and muzzled in public. Other breeds listed by the Dangerous Dogs Act include the American Pit Bull Terrier, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino, and the Fila Brazileiro.

In 2023 a BBC Panorama investigation exposed the involvement of organized crime and drug dealers in the “designer dog” market, in which dogs such as Bullies are bred for extreme traits and aggressive temperaments and sold online for high profits. Not surprisingly, some of these dogs, raised in “puppy mills” and forced bred by unlicensed breeders, are mistreated. There are also bodybuilding websites specifically for Bullies, from which owners can purchase supplements for maximizing muscle mass in their pets. Like those designed for human bodybuilders, such supplements can be dangerous and must be scrutinized.

Care and upkeep

The American Bully is typically not a pet for dog parks because of its power and potentially aggressive nature. It needs a securely fenced yard in which to exercise. This should be supplemented with leash walks and activities that engage both its body and mind, such as backyard games, obedience, and scent work. Given its great muscularity and strength, the dog, if agitated, can be difficult to control. As an owner of two Bully XLs explained to The Guardian in 2023, “You get snappy Jack Russells or you get snappy Chihuahuas, but if one of them bites or nips you, you are not actually going to be in trouble. If one of these [Bullies] gets hold of you, you’re going to be in trouble.” In fact, he went on to say that, because of his dogs’ strength, he would never allow anyone else to walk his dogs.

Bullies enjoy playing with balls but are not driven to retrieve. They particularly like games of tug and playing with flirt poles; given their strength, they can excel at the dog sport of weight pulling. Most are not enthusiastic swimmers and are not very good at it.

Coat care is minimal, consisting of occasional bathing and brushing. Bullies do not like extreme cold nor heat. Adults need no special dietary consideration beyond a well-balanced and nutritious diet.

According to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, 43 percent of tested American Bullies have hip dysplasia and 38 percent have elbow dysplasia. These are very high percentages compared with most breeds. As a result, puppies of larger varieties should be raised on a large breed puppy food, which slows the rate of growth and lessens the risk of developing dysplasia.

Because pigment-related deafness is also reported in the breed, brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) testing is recommended for puppies, especially for those that have a majority of white in their coat. American Bullies may also experience breathing problems associated with brachycephalic airway syndrome, which is common with short-nosed dogs.

Temperament

American Bullies are exuberant, active, adventurous dogs, and they can, with diligent training and responsible oversight, serve as loving pets. However, the breed is based on the American Pit Bull Terrier and crossed with various bulldog breeds, which were originally bred for blood sports such as baiting and dog fighting. Members of the pit bull family have been documented to be responsible for more human and canine fatalities than all other breeds or breed mixes combined. Despite efforts to breed away from these traits and to raise these dogs as gentle companions, a percentage of pit bulls may display unexpected aggression, even toward family members.

The same is true for American Bullies. Although the goal of legitimate breeders is to select against these aggressive tendencies, the breed is involved in a disturbing number of attacks on humans and other animals. Of course, the behavior of any individual dog may differ from those discussed here.