American Bully breed standard

The American Bully should give the impression of great strength for its size. It is a compact and medium/large size dog with a muscular body and large head. The American Bully should have the appearance of heavy bone structure with a bulky build and look.

The American Bully is a companion breed exhibiting confidence, a zest for life, willing to obey, thus making the American Bully an excellent family companion. Despite the American Bully’s fierce and powerful appearance their demeanor is gentle. They are great with kids, and extremely friendly with strangers, other dogs, and other animals. Dog aggression, extreme shyness, or viciousness is very uncharacteristic of the American Bully and is highly undesirable.

standard
pocket
classic
xl
xxl

Head

  • The distinct heavy, large and broad head of the American Bully exemplifies breed type.
  • Medium in length, deep throughout, broad skull, well chiseled with very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct and deep stop.

Ears

  • Set high and can be either natural or cropped.

Eyes

  • All colors are equally accepted except albinism (pinkish to red) which is a disqualification. Blue eyes, lack of pigment around the eyes are undesirable.
  • Eye shape is oval to almond shape, low down in skull and set far apart. Round eyes are undesirable, and bulging or protruding eyes are a fault.
  • Visibility of the haw should be minimal.
  • FAULTS: Overly visible haw. Bulging or protruding eyes.
  • DISQUALIFYING FAULTS: Albinism eyes.

Muzzle

  • Short-Medium in length and broad in width. Length to be shorter than the length of the skull with distance from the tip of the nose to the stop approximately one- third of the distance from the tip of the nose to the occiput; but not so short as to interfere with normal breathing. The muzzle is blocky or slightly squared to fall away abruptly below eyes. The topline of the muzzle is to be straight with nose neither pointed nor turned up in profile.
  • Jaws – well defined.
  • Under jaw – parallel to muzzle, never turning upward.
  • Lips – semi close and even, minimal looseness accepted but not preferred.
  • FAULTS: Muzzle too long or snipey; muzzle so short as to interfere with normal breathing; lack of pronounced cheek and deep stop; weak under jaw; under jaw turning up; nose turning up or pushed back; excessive flews.
  • Upper Teeth – to meet tightly outside lower teeth in form or scissor bite.
  • FAULTS: Level bite, overshot bite, undershot bite and wry bite.
  • SERIOUS FAULTS: Severely overshot or undershot bites, measuring 1/4 inch (0,6 cm) or more.
  • Nose – Large with wide open nostrils. All colors/pigment acceptable

Neck

  • Heavy, muscular, slightly arched, tapering from shoulder to back of skull. Compact to medium size should have minimal or no loose skin.
  • FAULTS: Neck too thin or weak; neck too short or too long.

Forequarters

  • Shoulders to be and muscular with wide blades set wide; and well laid back. The upper arm is approximately equal to the length of the shoulder blade and joined at an angle of approximately 35 to 45 degrees.
  • Forelegs – straight and sturdy with large or round bones, pasterns are short and nearly erect. Feet- straight forward.
  • Distance from the withers to the elbow is equal to the distance from the elbows to the bottom of the feet. Dogs that are slightly shorter in distance from the elbows to the bottom of the feet are acceptable but not desirable.
  • FAULTS: Upright shoulders; steep and forward scapula (shoulder blade). Upper arm too short. Feet toeing either in or out; front legs bowed; down at the pasterns; splayed or flat feet; long toes.

Body

  • Heavily muscled, massive bulky body type of compact/medium length giving the impression of great power for its size and exemplifying the breed type of the American Bully.
  • Ribs well-rounded creating a barrel chest with all ribs close together; rib cage to extend to the elbow or slightly below.
  • Forelegs set rather wide apart to permit chest development.
  • Chest – should be broad, deep, and well filled in; but should not be exaggerated as to interfere with normal movement.

Back

  • Fairly short to medium back, slight sloping from withers to rump or straight accepted with gentle short slope at rump to base of tail. The American Bully should give the appearance of a square body, equal in length when measured from point of shoulder to point of buttocks and from the withers to the ground.
  • FAULTS: Back too long; rear higher than withers; weak or swayed topline; roached or wheel back.

Hindquarters

  • Well muscled, let down at hocks, turning neither in nor out.
  • Muscular development, angulation and width of the hindquarters should be in balance with that of the forequarters.
  • When viewed from the rear legs are to be straight and parallel.
  • Croup should have a slight downward angle.
  • FAULTS: Hocks turning in or out; cow hocks; sickle hocks; narrow hindquarters; straight or over-angulated stifle joints; bowed legs.

Tail

  • Medium in comparison to size, low set, tapering to a fine point and extending approximately to the hock.
  • When relaxed tail is to be carried low. When moving tail is carried level with the topline or in a raised position when excited (challenge tail), but should never be carried curled over, breaking the plane of the back (gay tail).
  • Tail to be clear of any kinks, knots or any curvature.
  • FAULTS: Tail to long or too short approximately up to an inch above or below point of the hock. Gay tail (carried over the plane of the back).
  • SERIOUS FAULTS: Kinked, knotted, or fused tail. Extremely short tail.
  • DISQUALIFYING FAULTS: Screwed, bobbed, or docked tail.

Feet

  • Should be rounded and of moderate size in proportion to the dog, compact, well arched and tight.
  • FAULTS: Splayed or flat feet, long toes.

Coat

  • Short, glossy, close, stiff to smooth to the touch.
  • Coat no longer than ½ inch (1,27 cm) in length.
  • FAULTS: Curly or wavy coat.
  • SERIOUS FAULTS: Long coat.

Color and pattern

  • All colors and patterns are permissible.

Size

  • Dogs should be healthy and should NOT reach the point where it is considered obese.
  • Weight – There is no particular weight for the breed.
  • Height and weight should be in proportion of the body frame.
  • Height – Please see Variety Amendments.
  • All varieties to exhibit “Bully” characteristics and breed type traits as described in the American Bully Standard, which are key elements of breed type for the American Bully breed.

Gait

  • The American Bully moves with a confident and proud attitude, while keenly alive and alert to its surroundings.
  • Gait should be effortless and powerful. The action must, be unrestrained, free and vigorous with powerful drive off the rear. Front reach should be moderate and in balance with the rear.
  • Legs turn neither in nor out, nor ever cross or interfere with each other.
  • Dog moving on the same plane – Each leg moving in the same plane shared with the other leg on the same side with minimal convergence.
  • Backline should remain level, with flexing to be very slight.
  • FAULTS: Rolling; pacing; sidewinding; hackney action; paddling or pounding. Not moving on the same plane; legs over reaching; legs crossing over in front or rear; rear legs moving too close or touching.

Evaluation overview

Height categories American Bully

American Bully
Standard

  • Males 17 inches – 20 inches (43 cm – 51 cm) at the withers. Females 16 inches – 19 inches (40 cm – 48 cm) at the withers.
  • The above breed characteristics apply.
  • Important to note that the Standard American Bully dogs are not to be penalized for exhibiting heavily muscled, massive, bulky body type.

American Bully
Pocket

  • Males under 17 inches (43 cm) and no less than 14 inches (36 cm) at the withers. Females under 16 inches (40cm) and no less than 13 inches (33 cm) at the withers.
  • This is an amendment to the basic standard which a Pocket Bully is determined by its adult height.
  • Important to note that Pocket Bully variety is simply shorter than the Standard American Bully. Pocket Bully dogs share the same build, body type, and breed type as the Standard American Bully, and are not to be penalized for exhibiting heavily muscled, massive, bulky body type.

American Bully
Classic

  • Males 17 inches – 20 inches (43 cm – 51 cm) at the withers. Females 16 inches – 19 inches (40 cm – 48 cm) at the withers.
  • This is an amendment to the basic standard which a Classic Bully is determined by its body structure and build. Both sex dogs with lighter body frames and less overall body mass, but still exhibiting “bully” traits.
  • Example of Bully Traits – Blocky/heavy heads; short/square muzzles; heavier bone, muscle, and compact body. Overall more bone and substance than the modern and more “terrier type” American Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier.
  • Classic Bully to give the appearance of bullier, old style American Pit Bull Terriers and/or American Staffordshire Terrier, which made up the origin of the American Bully.
  • Classic Bully variety is simply an American Bully dog having lighter body frames (lighter bone) and less overall body mass (less substance) than the Standard American Bully. Aside from this difference, the Classic Bully variety follows the same standard as the Standard American Bully.

American Bully
XL

  • Males over 20 inches (51 cm) – 23 inches (57 cm) at the withers. Females over 19 inches (48 cm) – 22 inches (54 cm) at the withers.
  • This is an amendment to the basic standard which a XL Bully is determined by its adult height.
  • Important to note that the XL Bully variety is simply taller than the Standard American Bully. XL Bully dogs share the same build, body type, and breed type as the Standard American Bully, and are expected to carry a heavily muscled, massive, bulky body type.

American Bully
XXL

  • Males over 57 cm at the withers. Females over 54 cm at the withers.
  • This is an addition to the basic standard, which for the XXL Bully is determined by its adult height.
  • It is important to note that the XXL Bully category is simply higher than the XL American Bully. XXL Bully dogs have the same build and body type as the XL American Bully and are expected to have a heavily muscled, massive and bulky body. The upper height limit is not limited.

Exotic Bully breed standards

The Exotic Bully will be shorter in Height, stout for its size and has and has an abstruce yet distinguishing physique with a blocky head. Should display effortless movement and should be active and alert to its surroundings.

micro-exotic
pocket-exotic

Head

  • Medium in length, with a broad skull, very pronounced cheeck muscles, distinct stop, and high set ears. Excess of wrinkles is not desirable but is not a fault nor disqualification.

Ears

  • Natural drop, rose or cropped.

Eyes

  • Eye shape is oval to slightly roundish, and set far apart. Any color is acceptable except albinism. However, odd eyes (one dark, one blue or light) should be considered not preffered. Lacking pigment around the eyes is undesirable.

Mozzle

  • Short blocky upper side or squared to fall abruptly below the eyes and measuring roughly 1 to 2 inches away from the head is mostly desireable.
  • Jaws – well defined.
  • Under jaw – is required to be strong.
  • Lips – semi close and even, minimal looseness accepted but not preferred.
  • Nose – All colors accepted.

Neck

  • Heavy, slightly arched, tapering from shoulder to back of skull. Compact size should have minimal or no loose skin.

Shoulders

  • Strong and muscular with blade being set wide and far apart.

Body

  • The Body should have well-sprung ribs, deep in rear and all ribs close, the chest should be deep and broad.

Back

  • Fairly short back length, a slightly sloping from withers to rump or straight is accepted with gentle short slope at butt to base of tail.

Tail

  • Preferred long to medium in comparison to size, low set, tapering to a fine point. Long tails over hocks, kinks and knots are serious faults, but not disqualifications.

Legs

  • Heavy boned. The front legs are able to slightly bowed. Upright pasterns are preffered. Feet should be of moderate size, well arched and compact. The hindquarters are to be well defined, let down at hocks, turning neither in nor out.

Gait

  • The gait should be effortless and powerful. The action must be unrestrained, free and vigorous with powerful drive off the rear. Should maintain a straight topline while in movement. Dogs should be able to maintain a good convergence while moving with no restraints.

Coar

  • Short, close to the body and soft touch, should have a glossy look.

Color and pattern

  • All colors and patterns are accepted.

Size

  • Height and weight should be in proportion of the body.

Weight

  • There is no particular weight for this class but should be in proportion build of the dog.

Height categories Exotic Bully

Exotic Bully
Micro

  • Males up to 34 cm
  • Females up to 32 cm

Exotic Bully
Pocket

  • Males over 35 cm in size
  • Females over 33 cm in size

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