American Bully - History & Breed Standard

Breed History

The American Bully breed began development in the 1980s, with most of its defining behavioral and aesthetic characteristics being refined throughout the 1990s. The original goal for the breed was to create a dog with a low prey drive and more classic “bully” features, compared to the American Staffordshire Terrier. To help achieve this distinct look and personality, massive bone and a bulkier build were prioritized. As a result, many dogs seen in the ring today reflect the broad, heavy-set appearance of the original foundation stock.

Despite their intense and powerful appearance, American Bullies are known for their gentle, friendly, and stable temperament. They are confident, eager to please, and form strong bonds with their families, making them exceptional companions. While the breed possesses natural drive and presence, it is not bred for working tasks, but rather for its loyal, calm, and affectionate disposition.

American Bullies should be excellent with children, friendly with strangers, and typically get along well with other dogs and animals. Aggression toward humans or other dogs, excessive shyness, or any form of viciousness is considered highly uncharacteristic of the breed and is strongly discouraged.

Breed Standard

General Description

The American Bully is a medium to large-sized companion breed with an imposing look that highlights its impressive strength for its size. Compact and heavily muscled, this breed features a dense, solid frame, broad chest, and a noticeably bulky head — all reflecting its powerful structure and heavy bone composition.

Head

The head should present a bold, broad, and powerful appearance — a hallmark of breed type. It is moderately short in length, deep throughout, and features a broad, well-chiseled skull with highly developed cheek muscles and a clearly defined, deep stop.

Ears

Positioned high on the head and may be left natural or cropped.

Eyes

All eye colors are accepted except albinism (pink to red), which is disqualifying. Blue eyes and unpigmented eye rims are considered undesirable except in merle-patterned dogs. Eyes should be set low on the skull, wide apart, and shaped from oval to almond. Round, bulging, or protruding eyes are faults. The haw (third eyelid) should have minimal visibility. Faults : Noticeable haw, eyes not matching in color, bulging or protruding eyes. Disqualifying Faults : Albinism in the eyes.

Muzzle

Broad and moderately short, shorter than the skull. The length from the nose to the stop should be about one-third the total length from nose tip to occiput. It should not be so short that it obstructs normal breathing. The muzzle appears squared or blocky and drops off abruptly below the eyes. The top line of the muzzle should be straight with a nose that is not turned up or pointed.

Jaws

Strong and well defined.

Underjaw

Pronounced and parallel to the muzzle, never curving upward.

Lips

Fairly tight and even. Slight looseness is acceptable but not desired. Faults : Muzzle too long or weak (snipey), extremely short muzzle affecting breathing, lack of cheek and stop definition, weak or upturned underjaw, nose pushed back or turned up, excessive flews.

Teeth/Bite

Upper teeth should close just outside the lower in a tight scissors bite. Faults : Level, overshot, undershot, or wry bite. Serious Faults : Bite deviations greater than ¼ inch (0.6 cm).

Nose

Large, with well-opened nostrils. All colors are acceptable, excluding light pink (albinism).

Neck

The neck should be muscular, thick, and slightly arched, blending smoothly from the shoulders into the base of the skull. Loose skin should be minimal to none. Faults: Neck too long, short, thin, or weak.

Forequarters –

Shoulders

Strong and well-muscled, with shoulder blades set wide apart and laid back at an ideal angle of 35 to 45 degrees.

Forelegs

Straight, strong-boned, and sturdy with substantial size and structure. Pasterns should be short, firm, and nearly vertical.

Feet

Should point forward naturally. The distance from the withers to the elbow should equal the distance from the elbow to the ground. A slightly shorter lower limb is acceptable but not preferred. Faults : Upright or overly steep shoulders, short upper arms, bowed front legs, weak pasterns, splayed or flat feet, toeing in or out.

Body

The body reflects a powerful, muscular physique of medium to compact length, representing breed type and strength.

Ribcage

Well-sprung ribs forming a broad, barrel-like chest, extending to or slightly below the elbows.

Chest

Deep, wide, and well-filled, but should not be so exaggerated as to restrict movement.

Front Legs

Positioned wide to allow for proper chest development.

Back

The back should be medium to short in length, either level or gently sloping from the withers to the rump. The body should appear square — the length from shoulder point to buttocks roughly equal to the height at the withers. Faults : Roached or swayed topline, back too long, rear end higher than the withers.

Hindquarters

Strong, muscular, and balanced with the forequarters.

Hocks

Set low and aligned, turning neither inward nor outward.

Rear Legs

Straight and parallel when viewed from the back.

Croup

Slight downward angle. Faults : Cow hocks, sickle hocks, straight or overly angulated stifles, narrow or bowed hindquarters.

Tail

Medium in length, set low, tapering to a point, and reaching roughly to the hock.

Carriage

Relaxed when standing, level or slightly raised when moving. Never curled over the back.

Structure

Free of kinks, knots, or severe curvature. Faults : Tail too long or short (within 1 inch above/below hock), curled (gay tail). Serious Faults : Kinked, twisted, fused, or overly short tail. Disqualifying Faults : Docked, bobbed, or screwed tail.

Feet

Feet should be compact, moderately sized, and well-arched with tight toes. Faults : Splayed or flat feet, long toes.

Coat

Short, dense, glossy, and smooth to the touch. No longer than ½ inch (1.27 cm). Faults : Curly or wavy coat. Serious Fault : Long coat.

Color and Pattern

All coat colors and patterns are permitted without preference.

Size

There is no ideal weight for the breed; dogs should be proportionate to their frame without appearing obese. Height and structure should reflect balance, health, and the correct breed type.

Height

Males : 17–20 inches (43–51 cm) at the withers

Females

16–19 inches (40–48 cm) at the withers

**** Although height and weight above or below the standard is to be discouraged, there is no penalty as long as the dog is well proportioned, otherwise correct and balanced. **

Gait & Movement

Movement should be confident, effortless, and powerful, with good drive from the rear and a level topline. Front and rear legs should move cleanly on the same plane.

Front Reach

Moderate and in balance with rear drive.

Rear Movement

Powerful, with legs remaining parallel and not too close or crossing. Faults : Rolling, pacing, sidewinding, paddling, pounding, crisscrossing or interference, overreaching, or excessive flex in the backline.

Faults

• To be penalized but not disqualifying:
• Eyes unmatched in color
• Visible haw
• Bulging eyes
• Weak or narrow muzzle
• Insufficient cheek or stop
• Weak or upturned jaw
• Light pink nose
• Excessively long or short tail (within 1 inch)
• Curled/gay tail
• Bite faults (level, over/undershot, wry)
• Poor neck proportions
• Steep shoulders
• Weak pasterns
• Poor front or rear angulation
• Long toes, splayed feet
• Curly or wavy coat
• Poor movement (rolling, pacing, interference, etc.)

Serious Faults

• To be heavily penalized:
• Severe bite faults (more than ¼ inch off)
• Twisted, kinked, fused, or extremely short tail
• Long coat

Disqualifications

• Human aggression or excessively shy temperament
• Albinism (eyes or nose)
• Deafness (unilateral or bilateral)
• Cryptorchidism (missing one or both testicles)
• Screwed, bobbed, or docked tail

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