Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
What Dogs Make an American Bully?
Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Bully boy
Quick Facts
Britannica AI Icon
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Bully boy
Bully boy The large head, broad chest, and well-defined muscles of an American Bully can make it seem like an imposing and intimidating dog. The temperament of a Bulldog may offset the aggressiveness often associated with pit bulls.

What Dogs Make an American Bully?

Written by
Tracy Grant
Tracy Grant is a senior editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. She previously served as editor in chief, the first woman to hold that title. 
Tracy Grant
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
History

An American Bully is a type of dog created to incorporate the physical traits of the American Pit Bull Terrier with the temperament of the more gentle-natured Bulldog breeds. To achieve this, breeders often mate pit bulls with English, American, or Old English Bulldogs.

American Bullies were first bred in the United States in the 1980s and ’90s, but they are not recognized as an official breed by groups such as the American Kennel Club.

In a bid to create a companion dog—as opposed to a working dog—breeders crossed the pitties with the Bulldogs, creating a dog notable for its large, broad head, tight lips, wide chest, marked musculature, and powerful jaws. Despite the Bully’s imposing physical presence, the Bulldog’s more laid-back and gentle nature helped to temper the aggression often associated with the pit bull, resulting in a breed meant to be well suited as a family companion.

Bullies are known for being active and agile, with tremendous power and stamina. The success in limiting the pit bull’s tendency for aggression in the American Bully has been mixed. Whereas most Bullies serve as loving pets, it is undeniable that they have also been involved in a number of attacks on humans and other animals.

Tracy Grant