American Bully

Temperament

According to the UKC standard, the American Bully is meant to be first and foremost a companion dog: confident, full of energy, gentle, friendly and loyal, with aggression toward people considered highly undesirable. In practice, a well-raised Bully is very attached to its family, loves physical contact and often gets along well with sensible children. However, its ancestors include dogs selected for persistence in fights with other dogs, so its tolerance of unfamiliar dogs can be limited, and small animals may trigger its chase instinct. It is strong, so a poorly raised puppy quickly becomes an adult that's hard to control on a leash. It needs early socialization and consistent, reward-based training. Temperament depends heavily on the breeding line: the breed is young and not yet uniform.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Barking

quietvocal

With other dogs

difficultgreat

Protectiveness

lowhigh

Drooling

hardly anya lot

Cold tolerance

feels the coldexcellent

Heat tolerance

strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the American Bully for?

The American Bully suits an experienced, active family that wants a strong, devoted house dog and is ready to put time into socialization and training. In Poland, it is not on the list of breeds considered aggressive, but it descends from the American Pit Bull Terrier, which is on that list: if you have doubts about a dog's pedigree, check with your local municipality. Skip this breed if you want a dog to run with other dogs at the dog park or you live with small animals.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The American Bully needs moderate daily activity: two or three walks, tug games, scent work and obedience practice, about an hour in total. Don't overdo running and jumping with young dogs, since the heavy body strains the joints. The short coat only needs a once-a-week going-over with a grooming mitt, but check the skin regularly for redness and allergies. Dogs from heavier lines and those with shorter muzzles handle heat worse, so walk in the cooler hours in summer. Watch its weight: Bullies gain easily, and excess weight harms the joints and heart. Because of the dog's strength, start teaching loose-leash walking, recall and calmly passing other dogs from the very first weeks. Avoid breeders advertising “exotic” and extremely exaggerated dogs.

Health and breed-related conditions

The breed is young and has no large population studies, so the lifespans given in sources range from 8 to 15 years; realistically, most dogs live about 10–13 years, with the smaller classes usually living longer. The most commonly described problems are hip and elbow dysplasia, skin allergies, heart disease, hypothyroidism, bloat and eye diseases, including cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy. Exaggeratedly massive, short-legged “exotic” dogs often have breathing, spinal and whelping problems. Sources also warn about breeders who give dogs steroids to boost muscle. Choose a breeder who screens the parents' joints and hearts.

• hip dysplasiaA heavy, massive build strains the joints, especially in overweight dogs.
• elbow dysplasiaIt can cause front-leg lameness even in young dogs.
• skin allergiesItching, redness and recurring skin infections are common in the breed.
• heart diseaseBoth congenital and acquired heart diseases are described in the breed.
• hypothyroidismCauses lethargy, weight gain and skin problems.
• breathing problems and overheatingThese mainly affect dogs with extremely short muzzles and exaggerated bulk.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The American Bully was developed in the United States in the 1980s and 1990s. Breeders started from the American Pit Bull Terrier and added bulldog blood, including, according to the UKC, the American Bulldog, the English Bulldog and the Olde English Bulldogge. The goal was a dog with a more massive, compact build and a gentler temperament, meant for family life. In 2004 the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC) began registering the breed, dividing it into Pocket, Standard, Classic and XL classes. The United Kennel Club recognized the American Bully on July 15, 2013. In England and Wales, owning an XL Bully-type dog without a certificate of exemption has been a criminal offense since February 1, 2024.

Fun facts

• The UKC divides the breed by height at the withers: Pocket males measure 14–17 inches, and XL males over 20 and up to 23 inches (about 36–58 cm).
• The UKC standard disqualifies merle and albinism but accepts all other colors.
• From November 1, 2026, children under 12 in England and Wales may not be left without adult supervision in close contact with an XL Bully.
• The American Bully Kennel Club has registered the breed since 2004.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Medium dog breeds
• Dogs that don’t shed (much)

Sources

1. 1United Kennel Club – American Bully breed standardukcdogs.com
2. 2Dog Academy – American Bully: Your Complete Guidedogacademy.org
3. 3GOV.UK – Ban on XL Bully dogsgov.uk
4. 4Rozporządzenie MSWiA z 28 kwietnia 2003 r. w sprawie wykazu ras psów uznawanych za agresywne (Dz.U. 2003 nr 77 poz. 687)api.sejm.gov.pl

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.