The term American Bully XL has been quite popular in the media lately. What sets an American XL Bully apart from other bullies is the size. Obviously, these puppies are extremely big. They are the largest American Bully breed, weighing between 70 and 120 pounds, and growing between 20 and 24 inches. So, if you want to get an American Bully XL puppy, you have to be ready for a large dog.
The distinct look of the dog breed came from many years of experimenting and crossbreeding different bully breeds.
But size is not the only distinction. They also have a very short and dense coat. Let’s talk more about the dog breed.
Origin of the XL Bully
While many consider the XL American Bully puppy to be intimidating and dangerous, it is actually an adorable and loving dog. Many celebrities in the US, including Alicia Silverstone, Whitney Cummings, and Kaley Cuoco, advocate for awareness about Pitbulls and bullies.
The breed was first developed in the United States in the 1990s. The dog breed is actually a cross between several bully breeds, including the American Pit Bull terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and more.
The American Bully Kennel Club considers the XL bully a mixed breed rather than a purebred dog.
What is an XL American Bully?
American XL Bully is not a breed of dog. XL Bully is a variation of the American Bully and Pit Bull, which was first seen in the 1990s. Breeders wanted to create a stronger and bigger version of the loving dog.
However because they have no specific DNA markers, it was difficult to ban the breed outright. Because it is not recognized as a breed, you cannot simply write the words XL Bully at the end of the current dangerous dogs list.
They are similar to Pitbulls, another dog that is not recognized by the American Kennel Club and defined as a separate breed.
There are many features that breeders look at. The dog is measured, and proportioned, how much bigger is its head than its chest, what does its tail look like? And subjective things like springy gait.
One of the biggest misconceptions about the breed is that they are aggressive. That is far from the truth. The reality is that these canines are amiable and loving dogs and make great family pets.
Bullies are excellent with children. Many dog lovers and enthusiasts even consider them a nanny dog breed.
Are They Illegal?
American XL Bullies are not illegal in the United States. While the American Kennel Club doesn’t recognize them as a separate breed, they are not illegal. In the UK, however, they are subject to a new ban following a biting incident.
The British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, declared them a “danger to communities” following a man’s death in a suspected attack by two dogs in Stonnall, Staffordshire.
XL Bullies are the fifth group of dogs banned in the UK, joining the likes of the Pit Bull terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro.
The British Prime minister promised to “keep people safe” after the ban.
The recent UK update will apply from December 31st, 2023. From that date, the breed is illegal to breed, sell, or rehome. It must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public, and ownership is allowed only if registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs starting from February 1, 2024.
Understanding Bully Sizes
Here is an interesting fact. While the XL American Bully is considered dangerous, the other sizes of the breed are not. There are actually four recognized sizes. Here are those.
- Standard American Bully, a medium-sized dog with a compact bulky muscular body. The Standard Bully grows between 18 and 21 inches and weighs between 60 and 80 pounds
- Classic Bully, growing between 17 and 20 inches and weighing between 30 and 60 pounds
- Pocket American Bully is the smaller variant. The Pocket Bully grows between 14 and 17 inches and weighs between 25 and 50 pounds
- American XL Bully is the largest version, growing between 20 and 24 inches and weighing between 70 and 100 pounds
American Bully Temperament
Let’s talk about the American Bully XL puppy’s temperament. While many consider these dogs to be dangerous, they are actually highly loving and affectionate puppies. XL puppies are highly adaptable and trainable, and might even act as lapdogs in the home. Pet parents praise their friendly and affectionate nature. With that in mind, here are some personality traits:
- Friendly and good with children
- Sociable with other pets when properly introduced and socialized from a young age
- Affectionate and enjoy being close to their family
- Form strong bonds with their owners
- Intelligent and can be trained with consistency and positive reinforcement
- Adapt well to different living environments
- Playful and enjoy interactive games
- They have a good amount of energy
- Extremely loyal to their family
- Can act goofy and clownish to entertain you
- Do not have an aggressive gene in them
What Are Some Health Concerns?
Whenever you own a large dog, there might be more health concerns than usual. This companion dog is among the largest breeds.
Generally speaking, an American Bully puppy will live between 12 and 14 years. But that applies mostly to the Standard Bully.
An XL Bully is prone to health issues like elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, heart disease, ear infection, and dental diseases.
Since the United Kennel Club recognized them in 2013, these dogs have become more and more popular. We can expect the recent ban to affect that, but Bullies are quite loving pets.
