People often get confused between an American Bully and a Pitbull. As they have almost similar names and there are genetic similarities between the two, they are misconceived as the same. But actually, they are not. The American bully and Pitbull are completely different breeds that vary in various aspects like appearance, temperament, build, use, etc. In this blog, we have discussed their general characteristics, similarities between the two, and how they are different from each other. Hope it helps you to differentiate the two clearly.
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General Characteristics
Pitbull
The term Pitbull originally refers to a category of dogs that include four breeds (American Pitbull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bully, and American Staffordshire Terrier). But in general, people use the term Pitbull for American Pitbull Terrier only.
- Origin -United States.
- Life span – 8-15 years.
- Height- 45-53 cm.
- Weight -14-30 kg.
- Temperament- Stubborn, clownish, intelligent, loyal, affectionate.
- Bite force – 235 PSI
American bully
American bully is a hybrid dog breed of an American Pitbull Terrier and an American Staffordshire terrier.
- Origin- United States.
- Life span- 8-13 years.
- Height- 33-50 cm.
- Weight-20-60 kg.
- Temperament- Happy, outgoing, stable, and confident dog.
- Bite Force- 200-300 PSI range.
Similarities between American bully And Pitbull
American bully and Pitbull are often confused as same because of certain features like-
- American Bully and Pitbull both have the same origin i.e., United States.
- Both have almost similar coats i.e., short, smooth, and glossy
- They both have similar eating habits.
- Both of them have almost equal life expectancy.
- American bully and Pitbull both attain sexual maturity at the same age.
- Both of them are present in several colors.
- Moreover, both have genetic similarities.
Difference between An American bully and a Pitbull
Though American bully is a hybrid of American Pitbull Terrier, it is completely different from it in various aspects. Some of them are:
Origin
The Pitbull originated in the English Isles in the early 1800s. These were originally bred from the Old English Bulldogs and the English Terrier, with an aim to produce a perfect fighter dog having the power of a bulldog and the tenacity of a terrier.
On the other hand, American bully originated a decade later i.e., in the 1900s. These are the crossbreed between the American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pitbull Terrier. These are more of companions than fighters.
Build
Pitbull is a medium-sized dog with a broad chest. Their overall build is muscular and broad. Adult Pitbull can measure 20 inches and weighs up to 70 pounds.
American bully has a much bulkier muscular body, heavy bone structure, and blocky head. Adult American bullies can measure 17 to 20 inches and weigh up to 120 pounds.
Appearance
Pitbull has a short, smooth coat and well-defined muscle structure. Its eyes are round to almond-shaped and ears are medium to short in length. Its legs are proportionate to the upper body structure.
American bully has a short coat, stiff to touch. Eyes are medium in size and are oval, and rounded. Ears are medium in length. It has shorter legs compared to the upper body structure.
Temperament
American bullies and Pitbulls show a great difference in their temperament
Pitbulls are aggressive dogs. These were originally produced as fighter dogs thus, they have a tendency to display anger towards another dog. But they are equally affectionate towards the owner. These are very intelligent and learn commands and tricks with ease.
On the other hand, American bullies come under companion dogs. These are highly adaptable and trainable breeds. Bullies are great family dogs and are immensely patient with children and strangers.
Use
In early times Pitbulls were used for dogfighting, but it is now outlawed and banned. They were also used to herd and guard the livestock. They are extremely intelligent and very protective of their family. Pitbulls can make very good guard dogs.
American bullies are the family dogs. They are very compassionate and friendly towards their family. They are very loyal to the owner. The American bully puppies are too adorable, which makes them the best companion for the children of the family.
From the above mentioned data, it is evident that though American bullies and Pitbull come under the same category of dogs but they are completely different from each other.