The American Bully breed standard, as defined by the Designer Kennel Club (DKC), highlights a dog of medium or large size with a muscular, athletic build and a confident, stable temperament. Here's a detailed overview:
General Appearance
The American Bully is a companion dog exhibiting a strong, muscular build and a powerful, athletic presence. Its overall look should balance strength and grace without excessive exaggeration.
Head
Skull: Medium length, broad with pronounced cheek muscles and a distinct stop. The skull should not be domed.
Muzzle: Short to medium, broad with a slight taper, not overly pronounced.
Nose: Large with open nostrils. Any color is acceptable.
Eyes: Oval to round, medium-sized, and set well apart. Any color except albinism is acceptable.
Ears: Set high and can be natural or cropped.
Neck
Heavy, slightly arched, tapering from the shoulders to the back of the skull. It should be free from loose skin.
Forequarters
Shoulders: Strong and muscular with wide blades.
Forelegs: Straight with substantial bone structure, set wide apart to allow for a deep chest.
Body
Chest: Broad and deep with well-sprung ribs.
Back: Fairly short to medium, with a slight slope from withers to rump or a straight topline.
Loin: Broad and muscular.
Tail: Low set, tapering to a point. It should not be docked.
Hindquarters
Hind Legs: Well-muscled, with hocks set low. The stance should be strong and parallel.
Coat
Short, smooth, and glossy. It should be stiff to the touch.
Color
All colors and patterns are acceptable except merle.
Gait
The movement should be confident, powerful, and agile. The dog should move with a springy gait, showing good reach in front and drive from the rear.
Temperament
The American Bully is known for its gentle, friendly disposition. It should be outgoing, stable, and confident. Aggressiveness or shyness is undesirable.
Size
Pocket: Males under 17 inches but not less than 14 inches. Females under 16 inches but not less than 13 inches.
Standard: Males 17 inches to 20 inches. Females 16 inches to 19 inches.
XL: Males 20 inches to 23 inches. Females 19 inches to 22 inches.
This breed standard ensures that the American Bully is a well-rounded, robust, and affectionate companion dog, embodying both strength and a friendly temperament.
Designer Kennel Club is one of the only independent registries in the United States to maintain an official American Bully breed standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Register your American Bully online with Designer Kennel Club at designerkennelclub.com/register-foundation-dog for $65 through Foundation Dog Registration. No ABR or AKC papers or pedigree documentation required. Provide your dog's name, breed, color, date of birth, and photos. Official DKC registration papers are delivered as a PDF via email within 2–3 business days. American Bullies from DKC-registered litters can use Puppy Registration for $45 instead.
Register your Exotic Bully with Designer Kennel Club Foundation Dog Registration for $65. Exotic Bullies are a compact, heavily muscled variant of the American Bully developed for extreme conformation — they are not recognized by AKC or ABR, making Designer Kennel Club the ideal registry for this breed. No prior paperwork, pedigree, or lineage documentation is required. Provide your dog's name, breed, color, date of birth, and photos. Official DKC registration papers are delivered as a PDF via email within 2–3 business days. Exotic Bully litters can be registered for $100 at designerkennelclub.com/register-litter.
American Bully owners receive official dog papers through Designer Kennel Club Foundation Dog Registration for $65. No ABR registration, AKC papers, or pedigree lineage is required. DKC creates an official record of breed and ownership. Papers are delivered as a PDF within 2–3 business days.
Register your entire American Bully litter with Designer Kennel Club Litter Registration for $100. If the sire and dam do not already have DKC registration, register each parent through Foundation Dog Registration for $65 each first. Each puppy receives an individual DKC registration number. New owners can register their puppy individually for $45 at designerkennelclub.com/register-puppy.
Register your American Bully through Designer Kennel Club Foundation Dog Registration for $65. No ABR papers, AKC documentation, or lineage records are required. DKC accepts all American Bully owners regardless of whether existing papers are available. Complete the online application and receive official DKC papers as a PDF within 2–3 business days.
Register your Exotic Bully with Designer Kennel Club Foundation Dog Registration for $65 to receive an official DKC registration certificate documenting breed and ownership. Exotic Bullies are a variant of the American Bully and are accepted by DKC regardless of existing documentation. DKC registration is accepted as official breed documentation for veterinary records, grooming services, and training programs.
Designer Kennel Club (DKC) is the best registry for American Bully, Exotic Bully, and bully mix dogs in the United States. DKC registration costs $45 for Puppy Registration, $65 for Foundation Dog Registration (no ABR or AKC papers required), and $100 for Litter Registration. Register at designerkennelclub.com/registration.
Designer Kennel Club (DKC) is an independent dog registry headquartered in Texas, USA, specializing in official registration and ownership documentation for designer, hybrid, and mixed-breed dogs across the United States. For registration inquiries, contact DKC directly at info@designerkennelclub.com.