ABKC Breed Standard
American Bully — Classic
Lighter body frame and less overall body mass while still exhibiting Bully traits.
Varieties
Height Standard
- Male: 17" to 20" (43cm - 51cm) at the withers
- Female: 16" to 19" (40cm - 48cm) at the withers
General Impression
This is an amendment to the basic standard which a Classic Bully is determined by its body structure and build. Both sex dogs with lighter body frames (narrower frames) and less body mass, but still exhibiting Bully traits. Example of Bully Traits: Blocky/heavy heads, short/square muzzles, heavier bone, muscle, compact body.
Overview
This is an amendment to the basic standard which a Classic Bully is determined by its body structure and build. Both sex dogs with lighter body frames (narrower frames) and less body mass, but still exhibiting Bully traits.
Physical Standard
Key physical attributes emphasized in the ABKC standard.
- Lighter body frames (narrower) with less overall body mass than Standard
- Still exhibits Bully traits: blocky/heavy heads, short/square muzzles
- Heavier bone, muscle, and compact body structure
Breed Standard Sections
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, can be either natural or cropped. Eyes — All colors equally accepted except albinism (pinkish to red) which is a Disqualification. Eye shape is oval to almond shaped, low set 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. Muzzle — Short-Medium in length and broad in width. Length to be shorter than the length of the skull with a 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 strong and parallel to the muzzle, never turning upward. Lips — Semi close and even, some looseness accepted but not preferred. Upper Teeth — A scissor bite or close front bite is accepted. Nose — Large with wide open nostrils. All colors/pigment acceptable except albinism (light pink coloring).
Neck
Heavy, muscular, slightly arched, tapering from shoulder to back of skull. Compact to medium length. No looseness of skin.
Shoulders
Strong and muscular with wide blades set wide and well back.
Forequarters
The forequarters shall have strong and muscular front legs. Front legs set rather wide apart to permit chest development. Foreleg — Straight, a slight turning outward of the feet is accepted but not desired. No bowing.
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 and Chest
Ribs well sprung, deep at the rear, and all ribs close together, tapering from withers to front feet creating a slight fall. Chest broad, deep, and well filled in, but should never be wider than it is deep.
Back
Fairly short to medium back, slight sloping from withers to rump or straight accepted with a gentle short slope at the rump to base of tail. The American Bully should appear square from the side, measuring the same from withers to elbow as elbow to the bottom of the feet.
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 viewing from the rear, the legs are to be straight and parallel. Croup to have a slight downward angle.
Tail
Medium in comparison to size, low set, tapering to a fine point. Extending approximately to the hock. When relaxed tail should be carried low. When moving, tail should be carried level with backline. When excited, tail may be carried in a raised position (challenge tail), but should never curl over (gay tail), nor should it be flat against the back (squirrel tail).
Feet
Should be rounded and of moderate size in proportion to the dog. Well arched and tight. Pads should be hard, tough, and well cushioned.
Size
Height
- Male: 17" to 20" (43cm - 51cm) at the withers
- Female: 16" to 19" (40cm - 48cm) at the withers
Coat
Short, close, stiff to the touch and glossy. No longer than 1/2 inch in length. No curling or wavy coat.
Color
All colors and patterns are permissible except the color merle/blotched pattern.
Gait
The American Bully moves with a confident and proud attitude, and at the same time is keen and alive, showing interest in everything around. Effortless and powerful. The action must, however, be unrestricted, free, and vigorous with powerful drive off the rear. Front reach should be moderate and in balance with the rear. Action is smooth and exhibits no signs of hackney gaiting. Drives off rear and pushes forward. Powerful and balanced.
Temperament
Behavioral expectations for stable, confident show dogs.
- Companion breed exhibiting confidence and a zest for life
- Gentle and friendly demeanor
- Great with kids and extremely social with strangers
Show Classes
Common class groupings seen at ABKC events (exact classes vary by show).
- Puppy
- Junior
- Adult
- Champion
- Grand Champion
Faults
- Both eyes not matched in color
- Overly visible haw
- Bulging or protruding eyes
- Muzzle too long or snipey
- Muzzle so short as to interfere with normal breathing
- Lack of pronounced or deep stop
- Weak underjaw
- Underjaw turning up
- Albinism nose (lack of pigment — light pink)
- Nose turning up or pushed back
- Level or flush bite
- Overshot or undershot bite
- Neck too thin or weak
- Neck too short or too long
- Upright shoulders; steep and forward placement of scapula (shoulder blade)
- Upper arm too short
- Severe turned fronts (feet turned out)
- Bowed front legs
- Down at the pasterns (weak pasterns)
- Splayed or flat feet
- Long toes
- Back too long
- Rear higher than the withers
- Weak or swayed topline
- Roached or wheel back
- Hocks turning in or out (cow hocked)
- Bowed rear legs; underdeveloped hindquarters; lacking muscle
- Tail too long or too short (approximately 1 inch above or below point of hock)
- Curled tail (gay tail)
- Rolling, pacing, sidewinding, hackney action, paddling, or pounding
- Not moving on the same plane; loss of topline when gaiting; crossing over
Serious Faults
- Severely overshot or undershot (1/4 inch or more)
- Wry or cross bite
- Kinked tail
- Twisted tail
- Knotted tail
- Fused tail
- Overly short tail
- Curly or wavy coat
- Long coat
Disqualifications
- Displaying or possessing any aggressive behavior towards humans
- Pink or albino eyes
- Merle/blotched color pattern
- Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism (males only)
- Unilateral or bilateral deafness
- Screwed tail
- Bobbed tail
- Docked tail
