American Bully

Name: National Kennel Club
Address: 134 Rutledge Pike, Blaine, TN, 37709
Telephone: --

American Bully Standard

Recognized by the NKC June 2017

HEAD

Head – Medium in length, deep throughout, broad skull, well chiseled with very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct and deep stop.
Ears- Set high and can be either natural or cropped.
Eyes- All colors accepted except albinism (pinkish to red) which is a disqualification. Eye shape is oval to almond shape, low down in skull and set far apart. Round eyes are undesirable, and
bulging or protruding eyes are a fault. Visibility of the haw should be minimal.
Muzzle- Short-Medium in length and broad in width. Length to be shorter than the length of the skull with distance from the tip of the nose to the stop approximately one- third of the distance from the tip of the nose to the occiput; but not so short as to interfere with normal breathing. The muzzle is blocky or slightly squared to fall away abruptly below eyes. The topline of the muzzle is to be straight with nose neither pointed nor turned up in profile.
Jaws- well defined.
Under jaw- to be strong and parallel to muzzle, never turning upward.
Lips- semi close and even, minimal looseness accepted but not preferred.
Upper Teeth- to meet tightly outside lower teeth in form or scissor bite.
Nose- Large with wide open nostrils. All colors/pigment acceptable except albinism (light pink in color)

HEAD FAULTS

Both eyes not matched in color
Overly visible haw
Bulging or protruding eyes
Muzzle too long or snipey
Lack of pronounced/deep stop
Level bite, overshot bite, undershot bite and wry bite. Serious Faults: Severely overshot or undershot bites, measuring 1/4 inch (0.6cm) or more.
Weak underjaw
Underjaw turning up
Albinism nose
Nose turning up or pushed back

NECK

Heavy, muscular, slightly arched, tapering from shoulder to back of skull. Compact to medium size should have minimal or no loose skin.
NECK FAULTS
Neck too thin or weak; neck too short or too long.
SHOULDERS
Shoulders to be strong and muscular with wide blades set wide; and well laid back.
SHOULDERS FAULT
Upright shoulders; steep and forward scapula (shoulder blade).

BODY

Heavily muscled, massive bulky body type of compact/medium length.
Ribs well-rounded creating a barrel chest with all ribs close together; rib cage to extend to the elbow or slightly below.
Forelegs set rather wide apart to permit chest development.
Chest- should be broad, deep, and well filled in; but should not be exaggerated as to interfere with normal movement.

BACK

Fairly short to medium back, slight sloping from withers to rump or straight accepted with gentle short slope at rump to base of tail. The American Bully should give the appearance of a square body, equal in length when measured from point of shoulder to point of buttocks and from the withers to the ground.

BACK FAULTS

Faults: Back too long; rear higher than withers; weak or swayed topline; roached or wheel back.

HINDQUARTERS

Well muscled, let down at hocks, turning neither in nor out.
Muscular development, angulation and width of the hindquarters should be in balance with that of the forequarters.
When viewed from the rear legs are to be straight and parallel.
Croup should have a slight downward angle.

HINDQUARTER FAULTS

Hocks turning in or out; cow hocks; sickle hocks; narrow hindquarters; straight or over-angulated stifle joints; bowed legs.

TAIL

Medium in comparison to size, low set, tapering to a fine point and extending approximately to the hock.
When relaxed tail is to be carried low. When moving tail is carried level with the topline or in a raised position when excited (challenge tail), but should never be carried curled over, breaking the plane of the back (gay tail).
Tail to be clear of any kinks, knots or any curvature.

TAIL FAULTS

Tail to long or too short approximately up to an inch above or below point of the hock. Gay tail (carried over the plane of the back). Kinked, knotted, or fused tail. Extremely short tail. Disqualifying Faults: Screwed, bobbed, or docked tail.

FEET

Should be rounded and of moderate size in proportion to the dog, compact, well arched and tight.

Faults: Splayed or flat feet, long toes.

COAT

COAT FAULTS

COLOR AND PATTERN

COLOR DISQUALIFYING FAULT

GAIT

Gait should be effortless and powerful. The action must, be unrestrained, free and vigorous with powerful drive off the rear. Front reach should be moderate and in balance with the rear.
Legs turn neither in nor out, nor ever cross or interfere with each other.
Dog moving on the same plane – Each leg moving in the same plane shared with the other leg on the same side with minimal convergence.
Backline should remain level, with flexing to be very slight.

GAIT FAULTS

Rolling; pacing; sidewinding; hackney action; paddling or pounding. Not moving on the same plane; legs over reaching; legs crossing over in front or rear; rear legs moving too close or touching.

SIZE

Dogs should be healthy and should NOT reach the point where it is considered obese.
Height and weight should be in proportion of the body frame for Variety. See Sizes below.

POCKET BULLY

Males under 17 inches (43 cm) and no less than 14 inches (36 cm) at the withers. Females under 16 inches (40cm) and no less than 13 inches (33 cm) at the withers. Important to note that Pocket Bully variety is simply shorter than the Standard American Bully. Pocket Bully dogs share the same build, body type, and breed type as the Standard American Bully, and are not to be penalized for exhibiting heavily muscled, massive, bulky body type.

STANDARD AMERICAN BULLY

Males 17 inches – 20 inches (43 cm – 51 cm) at the withers. Females 16 inches – 19 inches (40 cm – 48 cm) at the withers. Important to note that the Standard American Bully dogs are not to be penalized for exhibiting heavily muscled, massive, bulky body type.

XL BULLY

This is an amendment to the basic standard which a XL Bully is determined by its adult height. Males over 20 inches (51 cm) – 23 inches (57 cm) at the withers. Females over 19 inches (48 cm) – 22 inches (54 cm) at the withers. Important to note that the XL Bully variety is simply taller than the Standard American Bully. XL Bully dogs share the same build, body type, and breed type as the Standard American Bully, and are expected to carry a heavily muscled, massive, bulky body type.

DISQUALIFICATIONS