Fittingly called the Bullypit, this puppy is not a pureed dog. Instead, it is a cross between American Bulldog and American Pit Bull Terrier. Fun fact: neither of the parents are recognized by The American Kennel Club, despite being purebred dogs.
We have to remember that the term American Pitbull is an umbrella term that includes American Staffordshire terrier, American Bulldog, American Bully, and American Pitbull terrier.
In the US, the AKC recognizes only the American Staffordshire terrier. Because of that reason only, many people think of all similar dogs like Pitbull.
Going back to the Bullypit puppy, it is recognized by The American Canine Hybrid Club, Designer Dogs Kennel Club, and Dog Registry of America.
Its parents have been around long enough, dating back to the 19th century. Let’s meet the breed, and its parents, and talk about personality traits, training needs, health issues, and more things that make this canine a good family pet.
Meet The Breed
As we said before, the Bullypit puppy is a combination of the American Bulldog and the American Pit Bull terrier.
As a result, you get a large dog with a short, glossy coat that can appear in different colors. Some of them include brown, chocolate, black, blue, white, gray, and more.
They tend to get more appearance features from the Bully parent, including their muscular and stocky build.
For the most part, these puppies are friendly and make amazing family companions. They can also be decent guard dogs. But more on this when we will talk about temperament and personality traits. Generally speaking, you have a confident and self-assured dog breed that responds to someone with the same mannerisms.
Meet The Parents
As we said before, there is no official breed standard for the American Bully Pit mix. Usually, when there is no set standard by The American Kennel Club, we look at the two parent breeds and we get a sense. But here, things go deeper. The parents are not recognized by the AKC. Luckily, other kennel clubs recognize them and they have set a standard.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the personality traits of both parents.
American Bully
Famous for its unique personality and build, the American Bully is quite a fun dog to be around. You cannot help but fall in love with their smile. Their goofy personality makes them among the funniest and most entertaining dogs to be around. A small dog(small in terms of height) with a big smile, this puppy is certainly unique.
Fun fact: there are five different sizes of American Bully. Depending on the parent, the American Bully Pitbull mix will be a different size as well. More on that later, but the sizes of the Bully breed include Standard American Bully, Pocket American Bully, Classic American Bully, Extreme American Bully, and XL American Bully. Those are set by the Bully Kennel Club of America.
The smallest one is the Pocket American Bully, while the XL American Bully is the largest one. Now let’s go over some personality traits.
- Confident dogs that display a sense of fearlessness
- Affectionate and loving with their family, these puppies form a strong bond with their human companion
- Friendly with other animals, they love to play, socialize, and be around other animals generally
- Their playful nature results in lots of zoomies, and they enjoy interactive playtime with their owner
- Can be protective around the family
- Their strong and confident appearance goes hand-in-hand with their calm demeanor
- Famous for their adaptability, they can thrive in different environments
- Loyal and devoted to the family
American Pitbull Terrier
We have to say, the American Pit Bull terrier suffers from a bad reputation. That is the big reason why it hasn’t been recognized by the AKC. Due to its history in dog fighting, the AKC doesn’t recognize the Pit Bull dog.
And sadly, it is the same reason why many of these dogs end up in shelters and remain there for a long time. People are a bit harsh to the Pitbull breed. They think the history of dog fighting makes him an aggressive dog. But that is not the case. The reality is completely the opposite. Pitbulls are some of the most loving and affectionate dogs.
Let’s take a look at its personality traits:
- Playful and friendly, they enjoy the company of other dogs, other animals like cats, and people
- Can be a bit too attached to their owners, and can develop separation anxiety if left alone
- Loving and affectionate, they thrive on human interaction
- Even in training, they are more motivated and driven by affection than treats and toys
- Highly energetic, they have zoomies all day long
- Sociable, can get along with other animals in the environment
- They make terrible watchdogs and guard dogs because they have no such instinct, instead, they are friendly with strangers
Appearance
As we said before, the size of your American Bully Pitbull mix will depend greatly on the size of the American Bully breed. There are different sizes, and depending on which size is the Bully parent, the offspring will be bigger or smaller.
Generally speaking though, the Bullypit is a medium-sized dog with a robust and heavy body structure. In most cases, it inherits the build of the Bully and not the leaner body of the Pitbull.
As for the face, the puppy mostly has a flat and broad head with a short muzzle. In some cases, the muzzle can be longer thanks to the Pit Bull genes. Its ears are pointed and floppy, with a large mouth. And that big mouth results in an even bigger smile.
Most of the time, this puppy is smiling because of its energetic and playful disposition. The coat is short and comes in colors like black, white, cream, blue, tan, golden, red, grey, yellow, and more.
We said the puppy is a medium-sized dog, generally growing between 20 and 24 inches, and weighing between 40 and 80 pounds. While the size might intimidate you at first glance, this dog is a true cuddler.
Temperament
Again, when it comes to the temperament of your Bully Pit mixed breed, some people stay away because of the reputation of the Pitbull breed. You have to understand the stigma of many dog breeds. While some people will view this hybrid puppy as an aggressive dog, the reality is the opposite.
But if you decide to own one, you will have to understand the stigma. It will serve as a barrier whenever you walk your puppy or take him to the dog park.
The reality is that Bullypits are family-friendly pets that love their close circle. They are also suitable for children. The only downside might be the size. But generally speaking, larger dogs do better with children. This puppy will be gentle, calm, and very patient with your children.
They are not the best guard dogs or watchdogs, because their primary personality trait is friendliness.
If you live in a household with multiple animals, do not worry. Bullypits do well with other animals. They are quite social and friendly and can live even with cats. They do not have a prey drive, so they will not chase small animals.
And despite their larger size, they are quite gentle with smaller animals while playing. They are tolerant of other dogs and animals.
Such a loyal Bullypit puppy deserves to be liked by more people, if you are raising a Bullypit puppy or have friends around you who are raising it. To express your love and support for them, you can customize some Bullypit metal pins as gifts for your friends or yourself.
You can choose some of the dog’s iconic paws, their images, or special symbols to customize metal pins. Not only can they be used as decorations, but their personalization and uniqueness give them even more commemorative meaning.
Training
When it comes to training your puppy, one thing is important to understand. After all, you have a terrier. They are playful, but you have to approach the training session with a firm and positive approach.
The parents of this offspring are sensitive to harsh reprimands, so do not punish them. Instead, use positive reinforcement dog training techniques. How does it work? Reward and praise good behavior, and ignore bad behavior.
But here is the dirty little secret. These dogs are motivated and driven by affection, not by dog food, treats, and toys. Yes, they love playing with toys, especially tug toys. But the biggest reward for doing something good is your affection and praise.
Exercise Needs
As we said in the beginning, you have an energetic puppy that has plenty of energy to burn. These puppies make excellent outdoor companions for activities like hiking, swimming, running, and everything in between.
Generally speaking, they need between 60 and 90 minutes of exercise per day. Mental stimulation is not as important as with other dogs, but they still need some brain activity.
We suggest walking your dog on a leash because of the stigma around the breed. And find some quiet and secluded areas to burn their energy and play.
Interactive and engaging games where both you and your puppy participate are the best.
Health
Pitbulls and Bullys suffer from a range of health issues. But the good news is that crossing two dogs often results in a healthier mixed breed. Many of the health risks are centered around the skeletal and respiratory systems of your canine. You should do some pre-health screening for the hips and elbows.
Some of the health issues that might appear are cataracts, dermatitis, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation, and cardiac issues.
Generally speaking, their lifespan is between 10 and 12 years.
Grooming
The good news is you do not have to brush your designer dog often because of its short hair. All you need is a quick brushing with a soft bristle brush once per week. That will keep shedding to a minimum. Yes, these dogs shed. They are not hypoallergenic like other mixed breeds, mostly those with a Poodle.
We do not recommend frequent baths because of their skin sensitivity.
Why Shouldn’t You Get One?
- You will have to face the stigma of owning a Pitbull daily
- These dogs have high energy needs, and you have to provide an area for playing
- Can be prone to several health issues and risks
Why Should You Get One?
- One of the friendliest and most sociable dogs around
- Can live in a household with multiple animals
- Loyal to the bone to their dog owner
