Jump to content

American Bully

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the dog breed. For the film, see Anytown (film).

American Bully
American Bully
Common nicknamesAm. Bully
Bully
OriginUnited States
Traits
Height 13–20 in (33–50 cm)
Weight 44–132 lb (20–60 kg)
Coat Short, smooth and glossy
Color All colors
Litter size 4–8
Kennel club standards
UKC standard
Dog (domestic dog)

The American Bully is a modern breed of dog that was developed as a companion dog, and originally standardized and recognized as a breed in 2004 by the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC).[1][2] Their published breed standard describes the dog as giving the "impression of great strength for its size". [3]

The majority of major international kennel clubs do not recognize the American Bully as a separate breed, including the UK Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club, and the International Canine Federation (an international federation of national kennel clubs and purebred registries) .[4][5][6][7][8] In 2008, the American Bully was recognized by the European Bully Kennel Club (EBKC), and on July 15, 2013, by the United Kennel Club (UKC).[9]

Temperament in adult dogs is highly dependent on training, and the breed can be very demanding and needs to be properly trained. Due to the size, strength, and aggression level of the American Bully, legal controls on the ownership of the breed exist in several countries.

Appearance

The United Kennel Club (UKC) and American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC) breed standards are similar, except the ABKC recognises four varieties of size, based on height (the Standard, Pocket, XL, and Classic), whereas the UKC recognises only one standard size.[1][3][9]

All dogs are classified and shown as Standard until they reach a year of age, at which point they are separated into the varieties and shown against their own type.

Standard

Standard type in side view

The standard American Bully type is a medium-sized dog with a compact bulky muscular body, heavy bone structure and blocky head. Male dogs must be 17 to 20 in (43 to 51 cm), while females must be 16 to 19 in (41 to 48 cm) at the withers.

Pocket

A pocket American Bully

The "pocket" type is a smaller variant, with full-grown males 14 to 17 inches (36 to 43 cm), and females 13 to 16 inches (33 to 41 cm), at the withers.

XL

Champion XL American Bully

An XL type is determined by its adult height, with males 21 to 23 inches (53 to 58 cm), and females 19 to 22 inches (48 to 56 cm), at the withers.

Classic

The classic is a lighter-framed dog than the standard, but falls within the same height range. These dogs do not display the exaggerated features often found in the other varieties, and arguably display clearer American Pit Bull Terrier/American Staffordshire Terrier lineage.[10][better source needed]

Non-standard sizes

Outside of the breed standard, dogs shorter or taller than the named variations have been bred. Smaller dogs are sometimes called "Micro", and larger ones are called "XXL", but neither are recognized by the kennel clubs as legitimate varieties.

Temperament

The American Bully is a highly adaptable and trainable breed.[11] Many dogs, despite acting as lapdogs in the home, do well in sports such as weight pull and flirt pole. Human aggression is discouraged in breed standards.[12] Breeders have acknowledged that American Bully dogs can be very dangerous if improperly raised or bred.[11]

Health

Health problems vary within the breed and span the entire spectrum, with some varieties being plagued by problems, and others being well-documented for health and quality.[13] Testing is not as commonplace in the breed as in older breeds, though hip and elbow scoring are the most frequently conducted. Cherry eye, ectropion, and entropion are often seen affecting the eyes, while brachycephalic respiratory syndrome can be seen in the shorter muzzled dogs.[2][7][8][14]

There are genetic defects associated with merle coloring of coats which include increased rates of deafness and blindness.[14][15][16] The United Kennel Club breed standard for the American Bully lists merle coat coloring and blue eyes as disqualifying characteristics.[9] The American Bully Kennel Club previously listed merle coat colour as a disqualifying characteristic[1] but recent breed standards have removed this disqualification.[3]

The average life span is 8–13 years.[2][7][8][14][17]

History

The American Bully, as it is now known, began development in the 1980s with the majority of the final behavioral and aesthetic product being completed in the 1990s.[18] The breed was first recognized by its breed club, the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC), in 2004.[1] This registry first acted as a means to document pedigrees and show the breed against its written standard. According to the ABKC, the initial desire for this breed was to produce a dog with a lower prey drive and more of the "bully" traits and characteristics than the American Staffordshire Terrier. Mass and heavy bone was prioritized to ensure such a look, and due to this many of the dogs shown today display the wide front for which they were originally bred.[1]

There is consensus that at least five other breeds were used to attain the physical traits[clarification needed] desired as well as the more diminutive size of some lines.[19] The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) was the foundation (parent breed) used to create the American Bully.[12] The APBT has maintained a characteristic appearance and temperament for over a century,[12] with different strains of APBT emerging within the breed, each with different physical attributes.[12] One particular APBT strain was crossbred to create a stockier physique that breeders originally misrepresented as purebred APBTs. Eventually, enough breeders agreed that these dogs were disparate enough from APBTs that they should be called a different breed altogether.[12] The bloodline of these mixed breeds was further influenced with openly-acknowledged breeding with the American Bulldog, English Bulldog, and Olde English Bulldogge in order to fine-tune desired physical characteristics and personality traits.[12]

The American Bully is bred to be a companion dog and should not be confused with the several other bulldog-type breeds.[12][1]The breed's development and popularity are commonly tied to the growth of hip-hop culture.[20][21]

Breed-specific legislation

Germany

Germany has passed a law on dangerous dogs (the Dog Transfer and Import Restrictions Act [de]) in 2001. It prohibits the import or transfer of certain dogs and includes the following breeds: American Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, as well as crossbreeds and mixed-breeds of these dogs.[22]

On February 9, 2023, the Rhineland-Palatinate Higher Administrative Court ruled that the classification of a dog whose father was an American Bully as a dangerous dog is permissible under the state law on dangerous dogs.[23]

Within the span of a year, 2 people were killed by American Bullies, both family pets. Statistically, Germany has about 3 fatal dog attacks per year.[24][25]

Ireland

In Ireland, the American Bully is restricted as a 'Bandog'. It must be muzzled and on a lead no longer than 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) when in public, amongst other requirements.[26]

On July 12, 2024, Minister for Community Development, Heather Humphreys announced plans to introduce a two stage ban beginning on October 1, 2024. [27] Phase 1 will be a ban on the breeding, rehoming, reselling and importing. Phase 2 will limit ownership to dogs that have been licensed, microchipped and neutered.

Turkey

In Turkey, it is illegal to own or breed an American Bully.[28]

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates "prohibits the possession and circulation of the American Bully for individuals and commercial establishments."[29]

United Kingdom

XL Bully dogs were responsible for more than 50% (10 of the 19) dog-related human deaths caused by dogs in the UK in the period between 2021 and 2023.[30] In December 2023, the UK Government added XL Bully dogs to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991,[31] making it illegal to sell, breed, abandon or have a Bully XL in public without a lead and muzzle .[32][33][34][35] It became illegal to possess a XL Bully dog without a valid certificate of exemption, public liability insurance, microchipping the dog, neutering the dog, notification of permanent changes in home address, and secure conditions to prevent escape of the dog. A conformation standard was developed to aid enforcement officers in identifying XL Bully dogs by appearance and size.[36]

American bullies first arrived in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2014 or 2015, and increased in popularity during the COVID lockdown of 2020–2021.[37] Because the breed is not a registered breed with the UK Kennel Club, it is unknown how many dogs or breeders there are in the UK.[38] Prior to the ban of XL Bully Dogs the government estimated there were 10,000 XL Bully dogs in the UK,[39] but by December 2024 there were 59,500 XL Bully dogs registered with the government (57,000 in England and Wales and 2,500 in Scotland), around 4,500 suspected banned dogs seized, and 800 dogs destroyed.[17][40][41][42] Areas of Liverpool, Birmingham, Cheshire, Doncaster, and Sheffield had the highest rates of XL Bully dog exemption registration per capita.[43]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "The American Bully Registry". American Bully Kennel Club. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Pocket Bully Breed: Your Complete Guide". Dog Academy. October 10, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "American Bully – THE AMERICAN BULLY KENNEL CLUB". American Bully Kennel Club. Archived from the original on May 16, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  4. ^ "What is an American XL bully and why are they being banned?". BBC News. September 11, 2023.
  5. ^ Pomeroy, Ross (October 2, 2023). "The American Bully XL and the problems with banning dog breeds". Big Think. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  6. ^ "American Bully: Character & Ownership - Dog Breed Pictures". dogbible.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "Dog Breed 101: American Pocket Bully". World Dog Finder. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c "American Bully - Shredded American Breed". World Dog Finder. Archived from the original on May 16, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c "Breed Standards : American Bully | United Kennel Club (UKC)". United Kennel Club. Archived from the original on May 16, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  10. ^ "Everything You Need To Know About The Fastest Growing Dog Breed: The American Bully". Bully King Magazine. Medium. March 3, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "American bully dogs bred as lovers, not fighters". San Francisco Gate. August 24, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "United Kennel Club: American Bully" (PDF). Official UKC Breed Standard. July 2013.
  13. ^ "The New Breed: Is there trouble with designer dog breeding?". Sinclair Broadcast Group. November 5, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  14. ^ a b c "American Bully | zooplus Magazine". zooplus Magazine. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  15. ^ "Merle Bully - Everything You Need To Know About Merle Bully - The American Bully". the-american-bully.com. April 3, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  16. ^ "Health Issues In Merle - Why To Avoid It in The American Bully Breed". Venomline Pocket Bullies. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  17. ^ a b "Deadline for Scottish XL Bully exemption certificate passes". BBC News. August 1, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  18. ^ "🐾American Bully – Race description: Character &Co". dogbible. Vollevue GmbH. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  19. ^ "Breed Standards: American Bully - United Kennel Club (UKC)". www.ukcdogs.com. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  20. ^ "Pit Bulls and the Hip-Hop Culture". www.madison.com. July 30, 2007. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  21. ^ Cassidy, Rory (May 23, 2023). "Gangland torturer who carved his name into victim's chest had 'devil dog' empire". Daily Record. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  22. ^ "Customs online - Dangerous dogs". www.zoll.de. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  23. ^ Landesrecht Rheinland-Pfalz. "Einstufung als gefährlicher Hund; Kreuzung von einem American Bully und einem Old English Bulldog" [Classification as a dangerous dog; Crossing an American Bully and an Old English Bulldog]. www.landesrecht.rlp.de (in German). Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  24. ^ Althaus, Peter (January 28, 2024). "Von eigenem Hund zerfleischt: Mann stirbt nach American-Bully-Angriff" [Man mauled by his own dog: man dies after American Bully attack]. Berliner Kurier (in German). Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  25. ^ "Familien-Hund beißt Frau (87) in der Pfalz tot. American Bully wird eingeschläfert" [Family dog bites woman (87) dead in Palatinate. American Bully is euthanized]. www.ludwigshafen24.de (in German). February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  26. ^ "No dogs are banned in Ireland but 11 are on restricted list". Independent.ie. December 7, 2022.
  27. ^ "XL bully dogs to be banned in State following savage attacks". IrishTimes.ie. July 12, 2024.
  28. ^ "Tehlike Arz Eden Hayvanlara İlişkin Genelge" [Directive on Dangerous Animals] (in Turkish). Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. December 9, 2021. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  29. ^ "UAE updates list of dog breeds banned in the country". gulfnews.com. November 23, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  30. ^ Murray, Jessica (August 16, 2023). "Perfect pets or dangerous dogs? The sudden, surprising rise of American bully XLs". The Guardian. Retrieved September 11, 2023. In 2021, there were four fatal dog attacks, two of which involved a bully XL. In 2022, there were 10 fatal attacks and six of them involved a bully XL. These huge animals... were also involved in at least two of the five deaths recorded this year.
  31. ^ "Dangerous Dogs Act 1991". www.legislation.gov.uk. Expert Participation. Archived from the original on May 16, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  32. ^ "Prepare for the ban on XL Bully dogs". GOV.UK. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  33. ^ "Dangerous Dog Offences | The Crown Prosecution Service". www.cps.gov.uk. Archived from the original on May 15, 2025. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  34. ^ "Ban on XL Bully dogs". GOV.UK. April 17, 2025. Archived from the original on May 15, 2025. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  35. ^ "What is an American XL bully and why are they being banned?". BBC News. September 11, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  36. ^ "Guidance for enforcers: Applying the XL Bully breed type conformation standard" (PDF). Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 15, 2025. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  37. ^ Matt, Murphy. "What is an American bully XL and should they be banned?". BBC. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  38. ^ Tennant, Colin (May 22, 2023). "How killer American bully XL dogs became dangerous 'weapons'". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  39. ^ "XL Bully ban evidence and analysis: EIR release". www.gov.scot. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  40. ^ "XL bully victim calls ban 'useless' as 100 dogs a month destroyed". BBC News. December 19, 2024. Archived from the original on May 16, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  41. ^ "Police seize more than 4500 XL Bully dogs since ban". National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC). Archived from the original on May 16, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  42. ^ Walker, David (August 1, 2024). "'Chaotic' SNP blamed as thousands of killer dogs remain in Scotland despite ban". Scottish Daily Express. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  43. ^ Connolly, John (June 14, 2024). "Exclusive: How many XL Bullies live in your area?". The Spectator. Archived from the original on May 16, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to American Bully.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=American_Bully&oldid=1291103449"