How to Pick a Show Quality American Bully Puppy

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The American Bully has fast become a popular breed because of its friendly and loving nature. However, along with it being an excellent family pet, the American Bully also makes a great show dog.

Picking a quality American Bully puppy for the purposes of showing isn’t as easy as you might think. There are quite a few things to look out for when choosing the best puppy, so here is a handy guide to picking a show quality American Bully puppy.

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 1.First decide which type is right for you

One of the best things about the American Bully breed is the fact that it’s divided into several types. For many the main difference is size, but there are types that include crosses with other breeds. If you’re looking for an American Bully puppy, you can choose from:

 

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STANDARD

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XL

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POCKET

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MICRO

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EXOTIC

 

The breed standards of the American Bully don’t vary massively between types, apart from size of course. All types include references to heavy, muscular builds, with wide shoulders and a thick body. All American Bullys should have a short, stiff coat around a quarter inch long. Competition judges accept all colors for the American Bully, except merle/blotched.

Size is probably going to be the biggest deciding factor when it comes to choosing the best American Bully for you. You can show American Bullys of any size, but they’ll obviously be divided into different categories during shows. The permissible sizes of the American Bully are:

 

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Standard: Males – 17-20” Females – 16-19”

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XL: Males – 20-23” Females – 19-22”

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Pocket: Males – under 17” but no less than 14” / Females under 16”  but no less than 13”

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Micro Exotic: Males under 14” / Females under 13”

 

It’s also worth remembering that the American Bully is known to be a very strong dog, and so choose a size that you could handle confidently. Size won’t necessarily have any bearing on whether you can compete or not, so choose the one that’s right for you.

Obviously you won’t be able to tell an American Bully puppy’s full-grown height when you’re choosing it. Be clever about which puppy you select, as it might not always be worth going for the biggest – it might end up too big to show. Similarly, steer clear of the runt of the litter, unless you’re choosing a Pocket or smaller.

 

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2. Trust the blood

If you’re new to the world of showing dogs, but were drawn in by the idea of showing an American Bully, then you need to know one thing: trust the blood. This means studying a dog’s genealogy, as there’s usually a good chance that winning dogs will produce winning puppies.

At the very minimum you need to look at the immediate pedigree of the parents. Make sure they both conform to breed standards and are free of any illnesses or hereditary conditions. Responsible breeders will test for these, meaning you should have clear information about the chances of a puppy developing a condition.

Some breeders say it’s more important to look at the mother’s side, but obviously check both. If you have access to the information, check the mother’s parents to see what their pedigree is like. It’s worth going back a few generations if you can, as some conditions can skip a generation.

It almost goes without saying, but you should always see the mother and father before choosing a puppy. Visit on several occasions if you can and watch the puppies interact with their mother. It’s possible the father won’t be there, but meet him if the breeders still have him.

Aside from anything else, you need to check that the puppies are acting naturally, and that the dogs don’t seem farmed in any way. A responsible breeder will raise their dogs with care, and this makes a massive difference when it comes to developing a show quality dog.

 

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3. Check for flaws

When you’re visiting the breeder and deciding on which puppy to adopt, you need to look out for flaws. Make sure you check the parents and all the puppies, including the one you’re thinking of adopting. While your puppy might seem fine, it’s entirely possible that flaws could develop later if there were breeding issues.

Flaws aren’t necessarily health conditions, but they’re things that’ll lose you marks – or disqualify you completely – when you go to show your American Bully. Flaws are generally physical “defects” that mean the dog doesn’t conform to the breed standards. However, some flaws can relate to temperament too.

When inspecting the dog(s) for flaws, look out for the following:

Bulging or protruding eyes

Kink tail or a tail with curvature

Underjaw turning up / underbite

Albino nose (pink nose)

Curly or wavy coat (it should be completely straight)

Limp or difficulty walking

 

There are plenty more faults to look out for in an American Bully, but many of them won’t be fully visible until the dog is fully-grown. During competitions, judges look out for things like a weak neck and bowed front legs, or splayed feet and a short tail. Many of these will show signs in the puppy, but won’t really manifest properly.

As a result, you’ll need to be very aware and cautious when choosing a show quality American Bully puppy. Considering you’ll be adopting at a minimum of 8 weeks, this gives you time to see the puppy walk and interact with other dogs. However, it won’t have fully developed muscles yet, so just ensure it looks healthy and active.

Not all faults will lead to disqualification from competitions, but serious ones will. If you’re serious about showing your American Bully, then be confident when selecting your puppy. Only choose one that you’re certain is going to grow into a healthy dog, and this starts with identifying faults.

 

Finally, if you want to get some more information on our new Capcity Bully puppies, adults for sale, latest blogs, and breedings – scroll down to the bottom of the page and fill out the email alerts box!

4 Ways to Take Care of Your American Bully Puppy

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Realistically, there’s only one way to take care of your new American Bully puppy, and that’s the right way. This means a good diet, plenty of exercise, and time spent playing and bonding. Doing so will help you quickly become friends with your new dog, and will ensure they grow up happy and healthy.

However, the right way to look after a dog means different things to different people. The following aren’t necessarily ways to look after your American Bully Puppy, but they are tips that’ll enhance the way your dog grows up, and will make it much stronger and healthier than the average dog. If you do all of these, you’ll have a great specimen of an American Bully on your hands.

 

1. Make sure you give it a good diet

American Bullys are incredibly muscly dogs, and this means they need a very high protein diet. It’s crucial to start this kind of diet when they’re young because this is when they begin forming their adult muscle structure.

Their main food should also be high in fat, and the best option is a dry kibble made especially for American Bullys, which you can supplement with wet food. When looking for a kibble, make sure the first three ingredients on the list are meat. It should also have a protein content of 30% and a fat content of 20% at the absolute minimum.

While they’re puppies, it’s best to get as much food into them as possible. You should feed your American Bully Puppy three times a day, or leave food down for them all day. This will change as they get older though, and after about 12 months they should be on an adult diet.

2. Keep up with their healthcare

Overall, the American Bully is a healthy breed, but this doesn’t mean you should neglect caring for your American Bully Puppy. At the absolute minimum they should be treated for fleas and worms, and you should ensure they have all the relevant vaccinations while they’re still a puppy.

You can start worming your American Bully puppy at about 4 months, which is when they should be treated for heartworm and tapeworm. This treatment should be repeated as often as the manufacturer recommends, which will probably be once every month or so. You can also ask your vet to check your dog for worms if you’re unsure.

Flea treatment can be started about the same time, and should be done monthly in spring and summer, and then once every three months in fall and winter. While fleas aren’t a major health concern, they can lead to blood conditions and are incredibly irritating if they infest your house.

It’s also recommended to give American Bully puppies calcium supplements so they can develop strong bones. Vitamin supplements are a good idea while they’re young too, particularly around the time they get their vaccinations.

Vaccinations are usually started around 5 weeks of age, and some need to be done before the dog can go outside. In total, your American Bully puppy will have five, done at three-week intervals. They’re given a 7-way shot that covers them for all common conditions.

However, you should also ensure they get a rabies vaccine at 6 months, and this will last for 3 years. Rabies is a dangerous and deadly condition, and it’s the last thing you want if you’re hoping for a happy and healthy dog.

3. Exercise is key to proper development

Exercise is important for any dog, but it’s particularly necessary when they’re puppies. American Bully puppies should get daily exercise, once they’ve had their vaccinations of course.

About 30 minutes of exercise a day is the minimum you can really get away with, simply because the American Bully is an energetic breed. If you can get out for two or three walks a day that would be even better. Just make sure you watch out for sings of overheating, as American Bullys are quite susceptible to this.

Your dog will probably want to play fetch, and starting this while they’re a puppy is a great way to build up trust and obedience. Make sure you buy toys that are large enough to not be swallowed, and think ahead for when they’re adults too. You should also look for very hardy toys because American Bullys love to chew.

Swimming is a great exercise for American Bullys, as it stops them from getting hot but means they can burn off plenty of energy. If you want a strong and muscly adult, teach them to swim while they’re a puppy. You might need to get an inflatable harness or buoyancy aid, but once they know what they’re doing they’ll love it.

4. Obedience training makes all the difference

One of the best ways to care for your American Bully puppy is to teach it obedience training. This should be started as early as possible, which will probably be around 8 weeks. Starting this early will teach them how to behave around other dogs, and is an ideal way of preventing antisocial behaviors from developing.

The American Bully is quite an intelligent breed, and can learn a wide range of commands. Because of the breed’s loyalty, you shouldn’t need to use treats while training, as praise should be enough. Take your puppy to a training class so it can interact with other dogs and people. This will get it ready for later life, and it ensure it grows up to be a friendly and sociable adult.

 

Conclusion

The best way to take care of your American Bully puppy is to feed it a good diet and give it plenty of exercise. The more effort you put into raising it as a puppy, the more you’ll get out of it when it’s an adult. The American Bully is known for its loyalty, and this is a bond you need to develop while they’re still a puppy.

 

Finally, if you want to get some more information on our new Capcity Bully puppies, adults for sale, latest blogs, and breedings – scroll down to the bottom of the page and fill out the email alerts box!

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