Description:

The American Bully is best known for its great strength and size. The compact medium/large size breed dog has a muscular body and block-like head. The American Bully displays effortless power in its movement, they are keenly alive and alert to their surroundings. The American Bully has a heavy bone structure appearance with a bully build and look. CHARACTERISTICS The American Bully is a companion breed exhibiting confidence, a zest for life, along with an exuberant will to please, and companionship with their family- making the American Bully an excellent family companion. Despite the American Bully’s fierce and powerful appearance their demeanor is soft and gentle. They are great with kids and extremely friendly with strangers, other dogs, and other animals. Human or dog aggression, extreme shyness, or viciousness is very uncharacteristic of the American Bully and is highly undesirable. HEAD • Typical head of the American Bully should be distinct, in that it’s heavy, large, and broad. The American Bully skull is broad, well chiseled with very pronounced cheek muscles, with a distinct high set ears (either natural or cropped). All shades of eye colors are recognized, with the exception of blue and pinkish, red, these eye colors are a sign of albinism. MUZZLE • The American Bully muzzle is short/medium in length and broad in width. Length to be shorter than the length of the skull measuring 25% to 35% (1/4 to 1/3) of the overall length of the head. 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. The jaw is well defined and the under jaw is strong and parallel to the muzzle. Lips are semi-closed and even, some looseness accepted (more so with the XL and Extreme varieties) but not preferred. NECK • The neck of an American Bully is muscular, slightly arched, heavy, and tapering from shoulder to back of skull. The neck is typically compact to medium size and has minimal or no loose skin (some looseness of skin is accepted with the XL and Extreme varieties). FOREQUARTERS • Shoulders of the American Bully are strong and muscular with 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. The front legs are straight and the bones are large and round. The feet are slight turning outwards. BODY • Heavily muscled, massive “Bully” 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- deep in rear and all ribs close together; rib cage to extend to the elbow. Forelegs- set rather wide apart to permit chest development. Chest- should be deep, broad and well filled in. 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. (slightly higher rears accepted for XL and Extreme varieties) but not desired in the compact medium size. 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. HINDQUARTERS • Well-muscled, let down at hocks, turning neither in nor out (slight turns accepted in the XL and Extreme varieties). 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. 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. Tail should not be kinked or knotted, extremely short, screwed or bobbed. FEET • Should be of moderate size, compact, well arched and tight. Splayed or flat feet and long toes should not occur within the breed. COAT • Short, close, stiff to the touch and glossy. No long, curly, or wavy coats. COLOR • All colors and patterns are permissible except the color merle. SIZE • Dogs should be healthy and should NOT reach the point where it is considered obese. There is no particular weight for the breed, height and weight should be in proportion of the body frame. STANDARD AMERICAN BULLY o Males under 17″ – 20″ at the withers. Females under 16″ – 19″ at the withers. GAIT • Should be effortless and powerful. The action must, however, be unrestrained, free and vigorous with powerful drive off the rear. (Some paddling and lumbering accepted in XL and Extreme varieties), but not preferred in compact to medium. Front and rear reach should be moderate and in balance with one another. Legs turn neither in nor out, nor every 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. Backline should remain level, with flexing to be very slight. Faults: Rolling; pacing; sidewinding; hackney action; paddling or pounding (exception in the XL and Extreme varieties where some is accepted). Not moving o the same plane; legs over reaching; legs crossing over in front or rear; rear legs moving too close or touching.