The Breed
History of the breed
The modern American Bully, as a specific breed separated from its ancestors, began development in the 1980’s in the USA and continued establishing desired appearance and character until 1990’s. Several breeds participated at its development except of American Pit Bull Terrier (APT) and American Staffordshire Terrier (AST) were the major foundation in creating American Bully, although APT was the parent breed, a “cornerstone” in all process. American Bulldog, English Bulldog and Olde English Bulldogge were most probably not the only bull breeds, who brought specific appearance and lovely companion character into Bully breeding.
Later on, American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC) was established and as the first kennel club recognized the breed in 2004. ABKC also introduced official breed standard according to which dogs with more compact “bully” look, muscle mass, heavy bones, wider front and back and lower prey drive comparing to APT and AST amongst the other characteristics were bred.
In 2013, American Bully was recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) and American Dog Breeders Association (ABDA).
Recently, some members and contract partners of Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI), the largest canine organisation of the world, also accepted American Bully as a breed with an option to be registered in their stud book registries and compete at FCI conformation shows together with other breeds.
General appearance and characteristics
American Bully is companion breed exhibiting confidence and well balanced character, a zest for life, together with great willingness to please and bond with its family. This breed is great with kids, very friendly with people, other dogs and animals in general. Human or dog aggression or extreme shyness is very uncharacteristic and undesirable.
American Bully is a compact, medium/large size dog with heavy bone structure, bulky, thick and muscular body carrying blocky head which gives an impression of great strength for its size.
According to the ABKC breed standard, they come in four size varieties, which are specified by height, without weight specification:
Pocket – males 36 – 43 cm (14 – 17 inch), females 33 – 40 cm (13 – 16 inch)
Standard – males 43 – 51 cm (17 – 20 inch), females 41 – 48 cm (16 – 19 inch)
Classic – same height range as standard variety, displaying lighter frame without exaggerated features often found at other varieties and thus reminding more of American Pit Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier lineage
XL – males 51 – 57 cm (21 – 23 inch), females 48 – 54 cm (19 – 21 inch)
Non-standard sizes – shorter or taller dogs than above mentioned varieties are not recognized by the kennel clubs as legitimate varieties, although such dogs are being bred as well and sometimes being called “Micro” (smaller ones) and “XXL” (larger ones). These sizes are undesirable for all kennel clubs.
UKC and FCI don’t divide the breed into size varieties an dogs of all sizes are judged together at UKC and FCI conformation shows. Height between 43 – 51 cm (17 – 20 inch) for males and 41 – 48 cm (16 – 19 inch) for females is preferred by UKC, although dogs slightly over or under these height ranges are not to be penalized – overall balance and correct proportion of weight to height is far more important than dogs actual weight and/or height.
ABKC Breed Standard
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 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. Both eyes not matched in color. 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 – to be h3 and 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 (0.6cm) or more.
Nose – Large with wide open nostrils. All colors/pigment acceptable except albinism (light pink in color).
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 h3 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, h3, and sturdy with large or round bones, pasterns are h3, 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 except the pattern Merle/blotched per competition.
Disqualifying Faults: Merle pattern/Blotched per competition.
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.
STANDARD AMERICAN BULLY
Males 17 inches – 20 inches (43 cm – 51 cm) at the withers.
Females 16 inches – 19 inches (40 cm – 48 cm) at the withers.
Important to note that the Standard American Bully dogs are not to be penalized for exhibiting heavily muscled, massive, bulky body type.
*This is an amendment to the basic standard which a XL Bully is determined by its adult height.
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.
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.
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.
FAULTS
Faults to be penalized but not disqualifications for showing are:
Both eyes not matched in color
Overly visible haw
Bulging or protruding eyes
Muzzle too long or snipey
Lack of pronounced/deep stop
Weak underjaw
Underjaw turning up
Albinism nose (light pink)
Nose turning up or pushed back
Tail too long or too short (approx. 1 inch (2.5 cm) from point of hock)
Curled tail (gay tail)
Level or flush bite
Overshot or Undershot bite
Wry or cross bite
Neck too thin or weak
Neck too short or too long
Upright shoulders; steep and forward scapula (shoulder blade)
Upper arm too short
Severe turned fronts (in or out)
Bowed front legs
Down at the pasterns (weak pasterns)
Splayed or flat feet
Long toes
Hocks turning in or out; cow hocked
Curly or wavy coat
Movement: Rolling, pacing, sidewinding, hackney action, and paddling or pounding
Not moving on the same plane – legs over reaching, crossing over in front or rear, or rear legs moving too close or touching
SERIOUS FAULTS
Faults to be heavily penalized but not disqualifications for showing are:
Severely overshot or undershot (1/4 inch (0.6cm)or more)
Kinked tail
Twisted tail
Knotted tail
Fused tail
Overly Short tail
Long coat
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Displaying or possessing aggressive behavior towards humans
Pink or Albino eyes
Merle pattern/Blotched per competition
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism (missing one or both testicles)
Unilateral or bilateral deafness (deafness in one or both ears)
Screwed tail
Bobbed tail
Docked tail
Source https://abkcdogs.net
