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Foreword to judges, exhibitors, breeders, and fanciers: 

The goals and purposes of this breed standard include: to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to maintain the quality of their breed and to improve it; and to act as a guide for judges. Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to the health, welfare, essence, and soundness of this breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated. Any departure from the following should be considered a fault. Quality is never to be sacrificed in favor of size and mass.

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Introduction: 

The American Bully breed is recognizable by its characteristic compact, strong, thick-set structure and build. Their appearance reflects neither that of a bulldog nor a terrier, it is a balanced dog with a look that is distinctly it’s own. Some individuals may reflect a strong American Pit Bull Terrier foundation, blended with stock from other bull breeds.The overall balance and correct proportions of an athlete are essential, and absolute soundness and proper muscle tone is a must. Head properties are in proportion to the body, reasonable, and free of exaggeration so as to not compromise breathing and/or obstruct normal vision. It is a smooth coated dog that possesses great strength for its size. Although quite muscular, it is active and agile. Its presence is a picture of tremendous power and stamina that belies its kind and loyal temperament.

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Characteristics:

The American Bully breed is, first and foremost, a companion, exhibiting confidence with a zest and exuberance for life. Despite its powerful appearance, their demeanor is gentle and friendly. This breed makes an excellent family dog. Aggressive behavior towards humans is uncharacteristic of the breed, and highly undesirable.
Disqualifications: Viciousness or extreme shyness.

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Head:

The head of the American Bully is unique and a key characteristic. It is large and broad, but never disproportionate to the overall dog. Medium in length, deep throughout, there is a well-defined, moderately deep stop. The flews are deep, but always clean. Cheek muscles are prominent and free of wrinkles. Ears set high and can be either natural or cropped. Without preference. Uneven or bat ears are undesirable.

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None Merle Eyes:

equally accepted except albinism (pinkish to red) which is a disqualification. Blue eyes, lack of pigment around the eyes, and mismatched/odd eyes (heterochromia) are undesirable. 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. Faults: Overly visible haw. Both eyes not matched in color. Bulging or protruding eyes.
Disqualification: Albinism eyes.

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Merle Eyes:

Blue eyes, lack of pigment around the eyes, and mismatched/odd eyes (heterochromia) are accepted. 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.
Faults: Overly visible haw. Bulging or protruding eyes.
Albinism eyes: are undesirable

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Muzzle: 

Muzzle should be short to 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 are to be well defined. They can be described as “softball cheeks” as the dog would give the appearance of carrying softballs in their jaws Under jaw is to be strong and parallel to muzzle, never turning upward. Lips are semi close and even, minimal looseness accepted but not preferred.
Faults: Muzzle too long or snipey; muzzle so short as to interfere with normal breathing;
lack of pronounced cheek and deep stop; weak underjaw; under jaw turning up; nose
turning up or pushed back; excessive flews.

Disqualification: Muzzle Under 1-3/4 inches long.

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Bite: 

Bite is scissor, upper teeth are to to meet tightly outside lower teeth in form or scissor bite.
Faults: Level bite, overshot bite, undershot bite. Missing Teeth. Serious

Faults: Severely overshot or undershot bites, measuring 1/4 inch (0.6cm) or
more. Wry Bite.

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Nose: 

Nose is large with wide open nostrils. All colors/pigment acceptable except albinism (light pink in color).

Neck:

The neck is of moderate length and muscular. There is a slight arch at the crest. The neck widens gradually from where it joins the skull to where it blends in to well laid-back shoulders. The skin on the neck is without excessive dewlap.
Faults: Neck too thin or weak; ewe neck; excessive dewlap. Disproportionate neck
length.

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Body: 

The body is close-coupled, with a broad, deep chest, and well-rounded ribs creating a barrel chest. The forechest does not extend forward much beyond the point of the shoulder. The back is wide, strong and firm. The topline is level and straight. The croup slopes slightly downward to the base of the tail. The loin is wide and short. Heavily muscled, massive bulky body type of compact/medium length giving the impression of great power for its size.The distance from the withers to the elbow is equal to the distance from the elbows to the bottom of the feet. Dogs that are slightly shorter in distance from the elbows to the bottom of the feet are acceptable but not desirable. It is undesirable for the chest to be so wide as to interfere with normal movement.

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Forequarters: 

Shoulders to be strong and muscular with wide blades set wide; and well laid back. The upper arm is approximately equal to the length of the shoulder blade and joined at an angle of approximately 35 to 45 degrees.
Forelegs are straight, strong, and sturdy with large or round bones, pasterns are strong, short and nearly erect.
Distance from the withers to the elbow is equal to the distance from the elbows to the bottom of the feet. Dogs that are slightly shorter in distance from the elbows to the bottom of the feet are acceptable but not desirable.

Faults: Upright shoulders; steep and forward scapula (shoulder blade). Upper arm too
short. Feet toeing either in or out; front legs bowed; down at the pasterns; splayed or flat
feet; long toes.

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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.

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

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Hindquarters: 

Hindquarters are strong, muscular, and broad. Rump is well filled in and deep. Well muscled, let down at hocks, turning neither in nor out. The thighs are well developed, with thick muscles. Viewed from the side, the hock joint is well bent, and rear pasterns are well let down and perpendicular to the ground. Viewed from the rear, the hocks are straight and parallel to one another. Muscular development, angulation and width of the hindquarters should be in balance with that of the forequarters. Croup should have a slight downward angle.

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

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Feet: 

The feet are tight, round, proportionate to the size of the dog and well-arched. Ideally resembling those of a cat. Removal of rear dewclaws is preferred, but not mandatory.

Tail:
The characteristic tail is often referred to as a crank or pump handle tail. Straight tails are also acceptable. The tail is set on as a natural extension of the topline, and tapers to a fine point extending approximately to the hock.. When the dog is moving, the tail is carried level with the topline. When the dog is excited, the tail may be carried slightly higher, but should ideally never be carried over the back.
Tail to be clear of any kinks, knots or any curvature.

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).
Serious Faults: Kinked, knotted, or fused tail. Extremely short tail.
Disqualification: Screwed, bobbed, or docked tail.

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Coat: 

Short, glossy, close, stiff to smooth to the touch. Coat no longer than ½ inch (1 cm) in length. All colors and patterns are permissible.

Disqualification: Long, curly, or wavy coat

Color and Pattern: 

All colors and patterns are equally permissible, excluding albinism.

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Gait: 

The American Bully breed moves with a proud, confident attitude, keenly alive and alert to his surroundings, conveying the impression that he expects any minute to see something new and exciting. Gait is effortless, powerful, and well-coordinated, showing good reach. 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. When moving, the backline remains level with only a slight flexing to indicate suppleness. Viewed from any position, legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each other. Minimal convergence.

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

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Height: 

The ideal height range for mature Standard males is from 17 to 20 inches at the withers; for mature Standard females it is from 16 to 19 inches at the withers.
There is no particular weight, but the dog should not be so heavy that it is considered obese, this is highly undesirable. Proportion is essential.

Faults:
Exposed Haw
Eyes Not Matched in Color - Unless Merle
Bulging or Protruding eyes
Muzzle too long or snipey
Muzzle so short as to interfere with normal breathing;
Lack of pronounced cheek and deep stop;
Weak underjaw
Under jaw turning up
Nose turning up or pushed back
Excessive flews
Level bite
Overshot bite
Undershot bite
Neck too thin or weak
Ewe neck
Excessive dewlap
Disproportionate neck length(Too long/short)
Upright shoulders
Steep and forward scapula (shoulder blade)
Upper arm too short.
Feet toeing either in or out
Front legs bowed
Down at the pasterns
Splayed or flat feet
Long toes.
Back too long
Rear higher than withers
Weak or swayed topline
Roached or wheel back.
Hocks turning in or out
Cow hocks
Sickle hocks
Narrow hindquarters
Straight or over-angulated stifle joints
Bowed legs
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)

Serious Faults:
Severely overshot or undershot bites measuring 1/4 inch (0.6cm) or more.
Wry Bite.
Kinked, knotted, or fused tail.
Extremely short tail.

Disqualifications:
Muzzle Under 1 3/4 inches long
Viciousness
Albinism
Docked tail/ No tail
Screw Tail
Bobbed Tail
Dwarfism
Long Coat
Unilateral or Bilateral Deafness

Note: Although some level of dog aggression is characteristic of this breed, handlers will be expected to comply with authenticcanineregistry policy regarding dog temperament at authenticcanineregistry events.