General characteristics of the animal, the predecessors of the American bull and their use, the development, recognition and popularization of the breed, the situation in the modern world. The American Bully or American Bully is a newly developed breed that has been bred as a companion animal and show version of the American Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier. First introduced in the 1990s, the species is rapidly growing in popularity both in the United States and abroad. Even more so than almost any other rare dog.
The American bully is known for its tough and intimidating appearance and its friendly but protective personality. Such pets are not currently recognized by any major canine organization. But, a couple of small registries still appreciated them. There are also several parent breed clubs organized. American bulls are usually of the pit bull type. This is a general, collectively known group of dogs called "bully breeds" and not a specific breed.
Representatives of the species are similar in nature to their ancestors, but as a rule they have significantly bulky and square parameters. They have a shorter snout and well-developed muscles. Also, dogs show a greater variation in parameters. American bulls vary widely in size, and some registries recognize four varieties: standard, classic, pocket, and extra large.
In general, this breed is unusually heavy, and many well-maintained individuals weigh more than twice as much as an average dog of the same height. And these dogs are built like professional bodybuilders. Most of the specimens have relatively short legs and are often significantly longer than above. The tail is long, thin and carried upward with a slight curve.
The head is of medium length but enormous width, usually very square and flattened. The muzzle is usually much shorter than the skull and ends rather abruptly, although it can be square or rounded depending on the individual. The eyes are small. The coat is tight-fitting, stiff to the touch and with a noticeable sheen. The breed is found in every different color and pattern found in domestic dogs, and this is highly variable.
Origins and precursors of the American bully
Until the 1990s, American bully did not exist at all. However, his progenitors have been very well known in the United States of America for nearly two hundred years. For centuries, bloody sports have been very popular in Britain. Two of the most popular were: bull-baiting, (where the Old English bulldog fought in a fight with a tied bull) and killing rats (when a terrier-type dog was placed in a pit with dozens of rats, which he had to kill in a certain period of time). By 1835, social attitudes had changed and bull-baiting had become illegal.
However, dog fighting was not banned, and this type of competition became extremely popular. The preferred canines used in such competitions were the descendants of the Old English Bulldogs and Rat Killing Terriers, a cross between known as the Bull Terrier. In the end, in the process of selection, these mestizos gave birth to two new breeds: the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the Bull Terrier. The Staffordshire bull terrier was imported into the United States in the early 1800s and has become incredibly popular throughout the country. In America, after fierce battles in battle pits, the dogs were recognized as American Pit Bull Terriers.
American pit bull terriers, in the United States, were assigned not only to compete with their brethren, but also to hunt, destroy rodent pests. But perhaps most importantly, after a day of fighting or other activity, these dogs returned home to be loved as pets. As a result, the species has acquired a unique set of physical and temperamental characteristics.
On the one hand, the breed is very capable of work, eager to please, incredibly pain-tolerant, absurdly determined, purposeful, very aggressive and ready to fight to the death. On the other hand, the American Pit Bull Terrier, the ancestor of the American Bully, was very loyal, devoted, playful, energetic, extremely affectionate, extremely tolerant and loving of children - one of the species that has a suppressed desire for human bites.
In addition to the many thousands of registered herds, countless more have not gone through this procedure. This breed was undoubtedly the most popular in the country by the late 1800s. In the 1930s, the American Kennel Club (AKC) began registering American Pit Bull Terriers as American Staffordshire Terriers.
Different breeding policies led most (but not all) hobbyists to view the American Staffordshire Terrier and American Pit Bull Terrier as separate lines. Unfortunately, many thousands of pit bulls continued to be bred for dog fighting in addition to hunting and other jobs. In the 1980s, the American Pit Bull Terrier came to be regarded as the "tough guy" dog.
As a result, many irresponsible owners and breeders trained or developed aggressive individuals while the species' popularity peaked. Serious attacks by dogs were widely reported, and the species received the most negative reputation of any canine. Since that time, there has been an ongoing debate between Pit Bull lovers and detractors, who discussed legal regulations related to restrictions on the ownership of such animals. These breeds are the most influential in the history of the American Bully.
Development of the American Bully breed
In the 1990s, a number of breeders across the country sought to develop dogs derived from the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier, which would become a purely companion dog and show pet. This was done for several main reasons. The work drive of the American Pit Bull Terrier is so high that the breed often exhibits highly energetic and curious behaviors that cause problems for keeping them as pets.
In addition, dogs are so extremely aggressive towards their brethren that they cannot be trusted in this matter. Although the vast majority of pit bulls exhibit very low levels of negative behavior towards humans, multiple lines and irresponsible possession have raised concerns about this issue. It is unclear what was and what was the original purpose - to develop a completely new species or just to change the character of existing dogs? But, in any case, the result of the activity was a new breed - the American Bully.
The animals were unusual for the new breed as they were not bred by just one individual or a single breeding program, but rather by dozens and possibly hundreds of breeders across the United States. Many of them worked alone, with little or no contact with other breeders.
Early breeding efforts focused primarily (but not exclusively) in Virginia and Southern California, but quickly spread throughout the country. It is unclear when the American Bully began to be considered a separate breed, or when their name first appeared. These dogs were well known to lovers of this type of dog by the beginning of the 21st century, and in the last five to six years it has become more and more popular and recognized.
American Bully breeders mainly used American Pit Bull Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers for breeding. While this does not appear to have been openly recognized, it is almost universally believed that other types of dogs were used in breeding. To develop the smaller sizes of the American Bully, almost unmistakably referring to the blood of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier - the English equivalent of the American bully varieties.
It is safe to assume that an English Bulldog was almost certainly used as well. Some experts claim that it was used very often. These animals provided a calmer and less aggressive temperament, as well as a tough, bulky body and massive head. The American Bulldog is also known to play an important role in the genetics of the American Bully, and other breeds that have been listed include the Bullmastiff, Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, and various mestizo breeds. Since there were too many breeders working to develop the American Bully, most of them did not have a clear standard or purpose, so many individuals became quite variable in appearance. This manifests itself in a significant variation in parameters - from smaller to much larger sizes. The dog also comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns.
Body shape, type, and proportions are also more variable than most modern purebreds, although this breed is generally quite thick, stocky, and absurdly muscular. Head shape and type appear to be much more uniform, but still somewhat variable.
The American bully is in many ways similar to the breeds from which it is descended, and a casual observer would probably mistake one of these dogs for the American Pit Bull Terrier. However, seasoned pit bull enthusiasts would never make such a mistake, as the varieties definitely have their own distinctive appearance.
Recognition and popularization of the American Bully
Similar to the pit bulls from which they originated, American bulls have a number of registries designed specifically for them in addition to being recognized by several small registries of multiple breeds. The variety is currently recognized by the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC), the United Bully Kennel Club (UBKC), the Bully Breed Kennel Club (BBKC) and the United the United Canine Association (UCA).
Due to the popularity of American culture outside the country's borders, especially music such as hip-hop and the urban culture in which pit bulls play a major role, American Pit Bull Terriers are rapidly spreading around the world, although they are banned in many countries. The American Bully supports this demand and can now be found in a number of European countries. The European bully kennel club (EBKC) was established to promote and protect the breed internationally and currently has sister offices in Malta, France, Switzerland, Holland, Germany, Belgium and Italy.
In recent years, the American Pit Bull Terrier and several other breeds have come under increasing legal pressure. Many municipalities and counties in the United States of America have imposed significant restrictions on the possession of such pets, and most others have completely banned their maintenance. Several states are currently considering banning pit bulls, a process already completed in several countries around the world, especially in Europe, Asia and Oceania. Adopted special laws for the breeds known by the acronym (BSL) are extremely controversial and generally ineffective in reducing the number of human bites. There is also a lot of confusion as to which species of canines are prohibited under the term "pit bull".
In the United States, this usually includes: American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and any dog that meets their standards. American pit bull terriers are generally banned in Europe, but not American staffordshire terriers or staffordshire bull terriers. This created enormous confusion as the three species are so similar that they are easily confused with each other, and many of the same canines are even registered under a different breed name.
It is completely unclear whether the American bully will be subject to such restrictions. Most members of the species have pedigrees showing that they are not a specifically prohibited breed. In addition, many individuals do not meet the standards of related canines. However, depending on the wording of the individual ban, the American bully could be subject to the same claims and would require legal advice to defend them.
The position of American bully in the modern world
The development of the American bully was met with mixed reactions from members of the bully breed community. Most breeders of American Pit Bull Terriers believe that the variety is inferior to their dogs in external parameters and lack of performance. This view is shared by many in the American Staffordshire community, albeit usually less violently.
However, it seems that a significant mass of fans of these dogs have nothing against the American Bully as a separate line, which themselves are classified as pit bulls. The species do not meet the standards of other bully species, and have nothing to do with labor or their ability. Lovers of other canines of this type feel that combining the American Bully with their breeds is unfair to both animals.
American pit bull breeders are most concerned about some reckless and inexperienced breeders crossing American bulls with their species. The transfer of other genetics, in their opinion, would seriously undermine the integrity of the older breed. Had this practice been discontinued, the American bully would probably have been received as warmly as other recently developed similar lines in the past.
However, many fans of other bully breeds are now dismissive of any bully-type dog that does not meet their standards or is considered a "mix" of bloods like the American Bully. A significant number of canines, which may have little real bearing on the variety, are now considered American bully. This situation continues to cause confusion.
American bulls are still a very new line and have not yet gained widespread acceptance. However, they can be found in surprisingly large numbers throughout the United States of America. Breed representatives not only include a significant recorded population, but also the unregistered population, which is likely to be much higher in number. While there does not appear to be any research on the size of the breed, it is very likely that there are far more American Bullys in the United States than many breeds that are fully recognized by the United and American Kennel Clubs.
The number of the species is also growing rapidly abroad, primarily in Europe. The American Bully has been bred primarily as a companion pet and show dog. It is on these areas that the near future of such animals is based. However, the breed retains the ability to perform a number of specific tasks. American bullys are used for personal property protection, law enforcement, therapy, obedience, agility and obedience sports.
