American Bully

  The IOEBA's official American Bully breed standard is a detailed written description of the perfect "type" or "flawless" American Bully. 

A well written, detailed breed standard is a very effective tool that can be used to assists American Bully breeders in the selection process and evaluation of American Bully that are being considered for a structured breeding program or as a possible conformation show participant. 

The IOEBA's American Bully breed standard should always be used as a written guide and reference to current and future American Bully breeders. 

It is important that American Bully breeders understand and use the IOEBA's American Bully breed standard, as the offspring they produce will have an impact on the American Bully breed in the future for many generations. 

 The goal of all reputable American Bully breeders is to achieve perfection as far as correct breed type, health and temperament.

All IOEBA conformation judges use the IOEBA's official American Bully breed standard as a guide to give themselves a mental picture of  breed perfection by which they select future IOEBA conformation champions.

 Breed Standard  

  General Impression:  The American Bully should give the impression of massive strength as well as athletic ability.  A medium size dog with a exceptionally muscular and powerful body.


  Head:  The head of the American Bully is large and of medium length, broad skull, very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop, short foreface and high set ears.

The American Bully's head appears to have been chiseled, combining strength, elegance and character.  Should give the impression of enormous power, but should not be disproportionate to the overall size of the body.

Fault:  Head too small or disproportionate to the body.


  Muzzle:  Broad and of medium to medium short in length, tapers slightly from the head to the nose.

  Jaws:  The American Bully's jaws are well defined, square and should have a razor sharp or chiseled appearance.  Lips are close and even, some looseness in the jowls accepted, but not to be favored.
 

  Bite:  The American Bully has a complete set of large, evenly spaced, white teeth.

The preferred bite is a scissor or even bite.  A reverse scissor or slight undershot should be considered non preferred. 
 
Fault:  The badly undershot or overshot bite is a serious fault.  Wry jaw is a disqualifying fault.


  Nose:  Nose all colors acceptable.  The nose of the American Bully should be a solid color.  Lacking pigment should be considered non preferred.

Fault: A nose lacking all pigment is a disqualifying fault.

  Ears:  Set high, natural or cropped.  If natural, semi-prick or rose are preferred.  Pricked or flat, wide ears are non preferred.

  Eyes:  Round, wide apart, deeply set and of moderate size.  Any eye color is acceptable for the American Bully, however, odd eyes (one dark, one blue or light) should be considered non preferred. Lacking pigment around the eyes is undesirable. 

  Neck:  The neck should appear strong and muscular, clean in outline and gradually widening toward the shoulders.  No looseness of skin.  Medium to short in length.


  Shoulders:  American Bullies have strong and muscular with blades wide and sloping.


  Body:  Moderately short in length. Slight rise from shoulders to rump, level back is just as acceptable.  Ribs should be well sprung (rounded) and the chest wide, broad and deep.  Fault: Too narrow in the chest.

  Tail:  The tail is undocked, of medium length, low set, tapering to a point and carried rather low. It should not curl much and may be likened to an old-fashioned pump handle.
Fault: A tail that is too long, badly curled or screwed.  


  Color:  Any color or combination of colors is acceptable except merle. 



  Coat:  The coat should be smooth, short, glossy and close to the skin.


  Height:  Males - 15 to 17 inches at the shoulder.  Females - 16 to 18 inches at the shoulder.   


  Forequarters:  Legs should straight, well boned and muscular.  Set rather far apart, without looseness at the shoulders and showing no weakness at the pasterns. 

Bowing, turned out or turned in resulting in poor movement is to be discouraged and considered non-preferred.

  Hindquarters:  The hindquarters should be well muscled, hocks let down with stifles well bent with good angulation.  Legs should be parallel when viewed from behind, turning neither in nor out.
                                           
                                                                   
  Feet:  Round and the pasterns should be strong and tight.   Fault: Down in the pasterns or splayed feet. 

  Gait:  Free, powerful and agile with little effort. Legs moving parallel when viewed from front or rear. The breed displays evident power and drive from the hind legs.