The American Bully: History, Myths, Facts & Why This Modern Breed Was Created

The American Bully is one of the newest dog breeds, developed in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s. Unlike ancient working breeds, it was intentionally created as a companion dog — a powerful-looking but gentle family pet rather than a fighter, hunter or guard dog.

Why the Breed Was Created

Breeders wanted a stockier, more muscular version of the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) with a broader head and calmer temperament. The goal was to move away from the high-drive, animal-aggressive traits sometimes seen in traditional pit-bull lines and produce a loyal, affectionate dog that thrives in family life. The result: a confident, people-oriented companion that looks imposing but is typically gentle and eager to please.

Breeds Used to Create the American Bully

The foundation is the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT), with significant influence from the American Staffordshire Terrier. To achieve the desired bulky build, breeders subtly introduced:

American Bulldog

English Bulldog

Olde English Bulldogge

These crosses were selective and multi-generational. The American Bully is now its own distinct breed — it should not look exactly like any of its parent breeds. It was formally recognised by the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC) in 2004 and the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 2013.

Size Varieties

The breed comes in four official varieties (plus one unofficial)

:Pocket — compact and stocky (males under 17")

Standard — the balanced, most common medium size (males 17–20")

Classic — same height as Standard but lighter and more athletic

XL — tallest and most massive (males over 20–23")

Micro — unofficial extreme small version (often under 14")

All varieties share the same muscular “bully” look and temperament

Temperament: Gentle Giants

Well-bred American Bullies are known for being loyal, affectionate “velcro dogs” that love human company. They are typically outgoing, confident and tolerant with children when properly socialised and supervised. Human or dog aggression is considered a serious fault in the breed standard.

Common Myths vs. Facts

Myth: American Bullies (and bully breeds in general) are naturally aggressive or dangerous.

Fact: Temperament is shaped far more by breeding, training and environment than by breed alone. Many American Bullies score highly on temperament tests for stability and friendliness.

Myth: They have “locking jaws.”

Fact: No dog has a special jaw-locking mechanism — this is a complete myth.

Myth: They are “nanny dogs” that can be left unsupervised with children.

Fact: No breed is a true nanny dog. Like any powerful dog, they require supervision and training.

Myth: They are the same as Pit Bulls.

Fact: While related, the American Bully was bred for a different look and purpose.

Interesting & Fun Facts

Despite their muscular build, American Bullies are relatively low-energy and happy with daily walks plus playtime and cuddles.

Their short, glossy coat comes in every colour and pattern (merle is sometimes discouraged for health reasons).

Lifespan is typically 10–13 years with good care.

They were never bred for work or sport — they exist purely as companions.

The breed has a huge social-media following thanks to their photogenic looks and loving personalities.

In the UK, the XL variety has been banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act since early 2024 due to a rise in incidents; other varieties remain legal if they do not meet the prohibited physical criteria.

Popularity Around the World

The United States is by far the most popular country for American Bullies — it is the breed’s birthplace and still home to the largest population and most active breeding/show scene.

Significant numbers also exist in Canada and the United Kingdom (especially pre-ban for XLs), with growing interest in Australia and parts of Europe.

Exact global registration numbers are not centrally tracked, but the US market alone was valued at over $1 billion in recent reports.

Care and Considerations

American Bullies need moderate exercise, early socialisation, positive training and a high-quality diet to support their heavy muscle. Common health concerns include hip/elbow dysplasia and skin allergies — responsible breeders health-test their dogs. They are low-maintenance groomers but thrive on companionship and do best as indoor family dogs.The American Bully proves that looks can be deceiving: a blocky, muscular dog with a heart of gold. When bred and raised responsibly, these dogs make devoted, fun-loving companions that bring joy to families worldwide.

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Many people mistakenly believe the French Bulldog is part of the American Bully's ancestry because of the strong visual similarities in certain lines—especially the Pocket, Micro, and Exotic varieties. These smaller American Bullies often have a very short, broad muzzle, compact muscular body, wrinkled face, and pushed-in look that closely resembles a "bulldoggy" Frenchie on steroids.

Why the Confusion Happens

Shared "bulldog" traits: Both breeds descend (indirectly) from old English Bulldog-type dogs. The American Bully's foundation is primarily the American Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier, with influences from the American Bulldog, English Bulldog, and Olde English Bulldogge. The English Bulldog itself contributed to the development of the French Bulldog in the 1800s (along with terriers and pugs for the smaller size and bat ears). So there is a distant, very old common ancestor—but no direct French Bulldog blood in the official American Bully breed standard.

Extreme breeding trends: In the quest for the ultimate "exotic" or "pocket" look, some breeders have pushed for heavier, shorter-faced, more wrinkled, and lower-to-the-ground builds. These exaggerated features can make certain American Bullies look strikingly like oversized or muscular French Bulldogs. Social media amplifies this—photos of extreme Pocket or Micro Bullies often spark comments like “That’s just a Frenchie on steroids!”

Crossbreeding rumors: There are occasional (unofficial) crosses between Pocket American Bullies and French Bulldogs, creating “Frenchton-Bully” or “Exotic Frenchie-Bully” mixes that are marketed for their cute-yet-muscular appearance. These designer mixes fuel the perception that Frenchies are “already in the bloodlines.”

Visual misidentification: To the average person, any short-faced, stocky, muscular dog with a broad head gets lumped into the “bully” or “Frenchie-like” category. DNA tests sometimes add to the confusion if they return vague “bully breed” or mixed results

The Official Truth

Responsible American Bully registries (ABKC, UKC) do not include the French Bulldog in the breed’s recognized ancestry. The goal when creating the American Bully was a bigger, more substantial companion version of the APBT/AmStaff with added bulldog mass for that powerful, blocky look—not the small, lap-dog Frenchie traits.In short: The resemblance is mostly superficial and comes from selective breeding for extreme “bulldog” features within bully lines, not from actual French Bulldog DNA in the foundation. The myth persists because modern extreme American Bullies can look like a French Bulldog that hit the gym hard.If you're seeing a very Frenchie-like American Bully, it's usually the result of heavy English Bulldog influence or intentional exaggeration in pocket/exotic lines rather than a true Frenchie cross. Always check breeder transparency and pedigree for the most accurate info.