Breed: American Bully

 The establishment of today's American Bully and the breed's early fundamental development began in the late 1980's via the efforts of
several dedicated breeders and their vision and goals of creating the ultimate family companion. 

 The American Bully breed evolved only through careful and selective breeding of various bull breeds in a program designed to place an emphasis on maintaining a loyal, devoted and steadfast temperament, while enhancing desired physical characteristics.

 As a breed, the American Bully is celebrated for its exceptional loyalty and devotion to its family members.  The ideal temperament of an American Bully is very stable, dedicated, confident and is that of an exceptional family companion.  The ideal American Bully thrives on pleasing its owners, is highly intelligent, very trainable and capable of performing many tasks and posses diverse abilities. The modern American Bully can be seen today excelling in many areas in society.

 Physically, the perfect American Bully is athletic, yet powerfully built.
The American Bully has a solid, well defined muscular frame that gives the impression of massive strength as well as athletic ability.
Males are characteristically stockier and heavier boned than females. 


 Their lifespan is between 10 and 14 years.

 

Breed Standard: American Bully

General Impression
The American Bully should give the impression of massive strength as well as athletic ability.  A medium size dog with a exceptionally muscular and powerful body.


Head
The head is large and of medium length, broad skull, very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop, short foreface and high set ears.

The head appears to have been chiseled, combining strength, elegance and character.  Should give the impression of enormous power, but should not be disproportionate to the overall size of the body.

Fault :  Head too small or disproportionate to the body.


Muzzle
Broad and of medium to medium short in length, tapers slightly from the head to the nose.


Jaws
The jaws are well defined, square and should have a razor sharp or chiseled appearance. Lips are close and even, some looseness in the jowls accepted, but not to be favored.
 

Bite
The American Bully has a complete set of large, evenly spaced, white teeth. The preferred bite is a scissor or even bite.  A reverse scissor or slight undershot should be considered non preferred. 
 
Fault :  The badly undershot or overshot bite is a serious fault.  Wry jaw is a disqualifying fault.


Nose
Nose all colors acceptable. The nose should be a solid color. Lacking pigment should be considered non preferred.

Fault : A nose lacking all pigment is a disqualifying fault.

Ears
Set high, natural or cropped.  If natural, semi-prick or rose are preferred. Prick or flat, wide ears are non preferred.

Eyes
Round, wide apart, deeply set and of moderate size.  Any color is acceptable.  However, odd eyes (one dark, one blue or light) should be considered non preferred.  Lacking pigment around the eyes is undesirable. 

Neck
The neck should appear strong and muscular, clean in outline and gradually widening toward the shoulders.  No looseness of skin. Medium to short in length.


Shoulders
Strong and muscular with blades wide and sloping.



Body
Moderately short in length. Slight rise from shoulders to rump, level back is just as acceptable.
Ribs should be well sprung (rounded) and the chest wide, broad and deep.  

Fault : Too narrow in the chest.

Tail
The tail is undocked, of medium length, low set, tapering to a point and carried rather low. It should not curl much and may be likened to an old-fashioned pump handle.

Fault: A tail that is too long, badly curled or screwed.  


Color
Any color or combination of colors is acceptable except merle. 



Coat
The coat should be smooth, short, glossy and close to the skin.


Height
Males - 17 to 20 inches at the shoulder.  Females - 17 to 19 inches at the shoulder.   


Forequarters
Legs should straight, well boned and muscular.  Set rather far apart, without looseness at the shoulders and showing no weakness at the pasterns.  Bowing, turned out or turned in resulting in poor movement is to be discouraged and considered non-preferred.

Hindquarters
The hindquarters should be well muscled, hocks let down with stifles well bent with good angulation. 
Legs should be parallel when viewed from behind, turning neither in nor out.


Feet
Round and the pasterns should be strong and tight.  

Fault : Down in the pasterns or splayed feet. 

Gait
Free, powerful and agile with little effort. Legs moving parallel when viewed from front or rear. The breed displays evident power and drive from the hind legs.