Breed Standard Updates for 2026
Important changes to ABKC breed standards effective this year across all four American Bully varieties.
2026 Breed Standard Revisions
The American Bully Kennel Club has released its 2026 breed standard updates, reflecting ongoing refinement of the evaluation criteria used by ABKC judges worldwide. These updates, effective January 1, 2026, apply to all four recognized American Bully varieties: Standard, Classic, Pocket, and XL.
The revisions were developed by the ABKC Standards Committee in consultation with senior judges, experienced breeders, and veterinary professionals. The goal is to continue promoting healthy, structurally sound dogs that exemplify the best qualities of each variety.
Key Changes by Variety
Standard (17–20" males / 16–19" females)
The Standard variety remains the foundation of the American Bully breed. The 2026 updates place increased emphasis on:
- Movement: Greater weight given to efficient, ground-covering gait. Dogs should move freely with good reach and drive, without excessive rolling or paddling.
- Topline: Clarified language requiring a level topline from withers to croup, with slight rise acceptable over the loin. Roached or swayed backs are now more heavily penalized.
- Head proportions: The standard now specifies that the head should be proportionate to the body, discouraging excessively oversized heads that compromise balance.
Classic
The Classic variety, distinguished by its lighter build and more athletic frame, sees important clarifications in 2026:
- Body type: Reinforced language that Classic dogs should exhibit a lighter, more athletic frame than Standard — not simply a smaller or thinner Standard.
- Substance: Clarification that while Classic dogs should be less bulky than Standard, they must still exhibit adequate bone and muscle for their size.
- Note: Classic remains not height-based. There are no height requirements — variety is determined by overall build type and proportions.
Pocket (under 17" males / under 14" females)
The Pocket variety standards have been refined to address common structural concerns:
- Proportions: New language emphasizes that Pocket dogs should maintain correct proportions despite their smaller stature. The body should not appear compressed or disproportionate.
- Front assembly: Increased scrutiny on front leg structure, with judges directed to penalize bowed legs, east-west feet, and excessive chest width that compromises movement.
- Temperament: Added emphasis on confident, stable temperament appropriate for the show ring environment.
XL (20–23" males / 19–22" females)
The XL variety updates focus on maintaining structural soundness at larger sizes:
- Structural soundness: Stronger language requiring XL dogs to demonstrate sound movement commensurate with their size. Size alone should never compensate for structural faults.
- Conditioning: New guideline that XL dogs should be presented in athletic condition, not overweight. Excess weight that masks structural faults is now specifically penalized.
- Height verification: Standardized measurement protocol for shows requiring wicket measurement at the withers.
General Updates (All Varieties)
Several changes apply across all four varieties:
- Health clearances: While not mandatory for show entry, the ABKC now strongly recommends that breeding dogs have documented health testing (hip evaluation, cardiac exam, and BOAS assessment).
- Disqualifying faults: The list of disqualifying faults has been updated to include blue or wall eyes (previously a serious fault, now a disqualification).
- Coat and color: Merle remains an accepted color pattern. Albinism remains a disqualification.
- Ear policy: Both cropped and natural ears are accepted with no preference given to either in judging.
"These updates reflect our commitment to the health, structure, and longevity of the American Bully. Every revision is made with the breed's best interest at heart." — ABKC Standards Committee
Resources for Exhibitors
The complete 2026 breed standards are available for download in the Breed Standards section of the ABKC website. Exhibitors and breeders are encouraged to review the full documents before the Spring show season. ABKC-sanctioned judges will be briefed on the updates at the annual Judges Education Seminar in March 2026.
