Among all dogs, the American Bully may be one of the most intimidating in appearance. It has a low, thick body, a huge head, and a mouth that seems to jut forward. Many people feel that it looks ugly or frightening at first glance. But appearance is never the whole truth. Only after actually living with such a dog can someone understand its real nature.
The history of the American Bully is not long at all. It was developed in the United States in the 1990s specifically as a family companion dog. Why the breed was shaped into such a tough-looking form is a question only its creators could truly answer. It is usually considered a medium-sized dog, standing around 40 to 58 centimeters tall and weighing 30 to 50 kilograms, though many people still feel that 50 kilograms is far from small. Its name was clearly chosen because of its appearance. The breed carries genes from the Pit Bull and the American Staffordshire Terrier, which is why people often confuse those breeds.
The American Bully is divided into several types, including pocket, standard, classic, and XXL. People who like this type of dog often have a different aesthetic sense from the average person, so their preferences among these types vary too. Some like the especially huge, extreme-looking versions. In the end, as with all dogs, personal taste plays a major role.
The American Bully gives many people the impression of being a dog that looks slow and heavy but is smarter than expected. In canine intelligence rankings it is often placed around 37th, which is much better than many people assume. Some people even compare its image to the rough but memorable character Li Kui from Chinese literature.
No matter what kind of dog you keep, training is necessary. Dogs must learn where to eat, where to sleep, and where to eliminate. They should also learn not to pick things up from the ground outdoors, not to bark wildly at strangers, and not to rush forward and sniff everyone they meet.
Even though the American Bully is not unintelligent, training still requires enough patience. The methods must be scientific. There are many training resources and owners' experiences available, and learning from them can help avoid random, ineffective, or confusing training. If the owner only gives chaotic instructions, the dog itself will also become frustrated.
Once you spend enough time with an American Bully, you discover that it is not truly "bullying" at all. It is gentle and strongly attached to people. It is not especially suited to serious guard-dog work and mostly relies on appearance to scare people. If the visitor is not frightened, the dog often has little else to offer in that role. But it does excel as a companion dog. It can act silly, cute, and affectionate to please its owner. Choosing such a dog as a family pet is certainly an unusual path, but for the right owner it can be a very rewarding one.