Difference between american bully and pitbull puppies

By looking at the name only, it is easy to confuse between American Bully and Pitbull. It is why we have to look at American Bully vs. Pitbull temperament and other characteristics to understand the differences between these two breeds.

By learning about the two breeds, it becomes easier to know which one would be good for you. Let us say you want to adopt one for your family, which one would make a great companion? That is one of the things we will answer in this guide.

Let us get into learning more about the two breeds already.

Breed Origins

• Breed Origins
• The Looks 
• The Lifespan
• Sexual Maturity
• American Bully vs Pitbull Temperament
• Relationship with Owners
• Feeding and Eating Habits
• Common Health Issues
• Final Thoughts

Just like any other breed, these two have some fascinating origins. Learning about the origins should help understand how the breed got its name and explain some of its characteristics.

• Pitbull

The Pitbull breed is quite old. We can trace its roots up to the 1800s when it majorly bred as a fighting dog. You would find these dogs in various fighting competitions. This made more people to fear the breed as it has a tenacious nature.

The Pitbull breed was generally trained to be an aggressive dog. It would easily attack the opponent in the ring for the sake of winning. As such, many knew this dog breed as the best to use for such applications since it could fight when necessary.

To end up with this breed, the breeders mixed the Old English Bulldog and Old English Terrier. The result is a dog that is robust and eager. These are two characteristics that the breed borrows from each parent.

• American Bully

The American Bully breed is new compared to the Pitbull breed. The origin can be traced to between 1980 to 1990. Unlike the Pitbull that was created for fighting, this one was bred to work as a companion dog for most families.

The dog gained popularity quickly because of its size and build. It is an interesting dog to look at all the time.

To end up with the American Bully, the breeders mixed the American Pitbull Terriers and the American Staffordshire Terriers.

The American Bully dog is known to be a good family dog. It will make most people feel it is safe to have it in their homes. It may have some aggressiveness, but all that can be reduced with proper training.

The Looks 

As much as the two breeds might sound similar, they have different looks. It will always be easier to identify which is which. They differ in terms of body size, height, and body structures.

For those that might have no idea how each one look, below is a detailed guide to get you going.

• Appearance

The American Bully features a more muscular build compared to the Pitbull’s build. Yes, the Pitbull can be muscular, but it is to the level of an American Bully.

The American Bully is also shorter with a wide structure. The Pitbull on the other hand is taller and sleek.

Each time you look at an American Bully, it sends the message of being a powerful dog with a well-built muscular body. It also does not have wrinkles on its forehead except when it seems to be concentrating on something.

The Pitbull breed gives off a look of quite a dominant dog with its well-round muscles found all over the body.

• Weight and Height

The weight and height are also the biggest difference between these two pets.

You will find the Pitbulls being bigger in height. They can weigh from 30 to 90 pounds and their height ranges from 18 to 21 inches, depending on the gender and age. You can easily classify them as having medium to large size.

The American Bully possesses a shorter structure than Pitbull. As much as the American Bully can be short, it weighs a lot more compared to the Pitbulls. Most will have a weight of 30 to 150 pounds. Then the height will range from 17 to 20 inches.

• Build

Looking at different pictures of the two breeds, we can notice that they both contain a muscular build. However, the American Bully will have a stockier build compared to what you get with Pitbulls.

The Pitbull has a beefy and burly look too, which makes it a nice choice for someone who wants a muscular dog breed.

As much as they are both muscular, we find the American Bully having a better look. Even when it is walking down the street, you would see it as a warrior coming towards you. It can be a nice dog to use for protection or just for companion.

• Coat

Looking at the coat, we find that both breeds have a relatively similar coat. This is because the coats are smooth with short hair. Another thing to note is that these coats have no undercoat.

With a soft and shiny texture, there is no doubt you would like to touch the breeds more often.

Since these breeds have a single coat, they are not the best to keep in cold areas. So, if you live in a cold area, reconsider having one.

Grooming should not be a problem considering their hair is not prone to hair ties and knots. A rubber mitt and a fine-tooth comb should get the grooming job done easily.

It is advisable to groom the breeds once a week to keep their coats looking shiny.

The Lifespan

If you are going to keep either the American Bully or the Pitbull, you would want to know more about their lifespan.

These two breeds have a similar lifespan where the healthy dogs would live from anywhere between 8 to 15 years. If you can take good care of your dog, it can easily go over 15 years.

These two breeds are known to have more muscle mass, so they can easily get overweight if they do not receive proper daily exercises. It is advisable then to walk such breeds more often to help them stay in shape.

Obesity can be tough on these dog breeds as it can lead to various health problems and sometimes death.

Sexual Maturity

Both the American Bully and Pitbull males can reach sexual maturity as from 6 months. However, it is not advisable to breed them at such a young age. It is advisable to wait until they are 12 to 15 months to start using them. These male Pitbulls and Bullies can easily mate when they hit their sexual maturity whether they are young or old.

The female dogs of the two breeds will hit sexual maturity as from 6 to 24 months. They can get their first menstrual cycle at an early age of six months. They also tend to get up to 4 heat cycles per year. This is the best time to breed them.

As much as the Pitbull females can be bigger than the American Bullies, they both have the same heat cycles. So, it should be easy to know when it is the right time to breed either of them.

American Bully vs Pitbull Temperament

This is probably something you have been waiting to read all along. Well, the Pitbulls for a long time had a bad image attached to them for being aggressive. What people tend to forget is that this was a long time when they were used as fighting dogs.

Things have changed over the years. It is now easy to train the Pitbull to be a great home dog. These dogs are generally friendly to a point you will find kids playing with it. Just make sure it receives the right training before letting your kids play around it.

Now, there is the American Bully. This one was introduced to deal with the stigma surrounding the Pitbull breed. It was bred as a companion dog meaning that it will be a friendly dog from the moment you start to interact with it. Many people find it being easy to train and can easily relate with the kids without too much supervision. Yes, as much as the breed is named as a bully, it stands out for being playful and energetic.

As suggest earlier, Pitbulls will need the right training before being let around kids. They still have the tenacity attribute in them. It is advisable to socialize with both breeds to ensure that the dogs do not intimidate strangers.

Relationship with Owners

We can say that both Pitbulls and American Bullies enjoy a great relationship with the owners together with their families. When you keep one of the breeds, you will notice that they are good in terms of affection, loyalty, and intelligence.

The American Bully is generally a devoted, intelligent, and sociable breed. It is why you would find them being great for a home setting. The breed is also good in terms of being alert, pleasing the owner, and responsive. Since they love their owners, such a breed would do anything to keep the owner happy.

Pitbulls on the other hand can be taken as minions of the owners. They are quite a loyal and protective bunch to the owner and families. Do not worry that it might hurt your kids, as the dog can easily get along with different family members.

Their protective instincts can kick in fast. It is why they can try to defend the owner in case it senses danger around it.

If you can train and socialize with these two breeds, you will find it being easier to handle the dogs around strangers. The last thing you want is to scare your neighbors each time they visit.

Feeding and Eating Habits

The health of your dog is important, so make sure you feed it with the right food that it needs to develop better. Different food types will vary in terms of quality and the nutrients that they offer to the pet. You might want to look at the reviews about the food to see if it would be ideal for your pet or not.

To ensure that these two breeds get the right diet, sometimes it is best to talk to a nutritionist or a vet. They can come up with a good diet plan for your pet to ensure it gets the right nutrients that it needs to grow and develop better.

As for how much food the breeds should eat, it does not vary much whether it is the American Bully or a Pitbull.

The calorie intake will largely vary depending on the dog weight. Keeping in mind how much these breeds weight, they are likely to consume from 900 to 1800 calories daily.

When the dogs now have more muscle mass, the calorie intake should be 35 to 40 calories per pound.

Common Health Issues

Just like other dog breeds in the world, both American Bully and Pitbulls are likely to face health issues too. Some of the health issues are generic while others can be caused by weight, age, negligence and malnutrition.

Here are some of the most common health issues you will get in both breeds.

• Hip dysplasia
• Thyroid disease
• Knee complications
• Heart disease
• Cataracts

The list can go on depending on other factors. What is important is that you always take good care of your pet. In case you notice any of the symptoms, you should take it as a sign to visit a vet for diagnosis and treatment.

Final Thoughts

Looking at the information from the guide above, we find that both Pitbulls and American Bullies are great dog breeds. It is the reason many people would pick them as companion dogs. As much as they can be different, they have many other similarities that make them a great choice for home use.

One thing that should appeal to most people is that the breed will relate quite well with your kids. The same applies to the owners. Being affectionate makes them to be a great choice for those in the market for such types of dogs.

As the owner, you need to give them attention too. Make sure that the pet gets the right exercises, diet, and social time. The last thing you want is for the dog to be overweight and full of health issues.