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Find a healthy, well-bred American Bully from a responsible breeder, and learn what this companion breed really is before you fall for the "exotic" hype.
American Bully
American Bully
American Bully
American Bully
American Bully
American Bully
American Bully
American Bully
Looking at American Bully puppies for sale, you will run into a lot of noise: "exotic" builds, "micro" sizes, and rare colors at eye-watering prices. The truth is simpler. The American Bully is a companion breed, and the healthiest, happiest one is a moderately built dog from health-tested parents.
This guide covers the breed, the sizes, a fair price, the health, and how to avoid scams. The listings above refresh as sellers add new dogs, so read on before you send anyone a deposit.
Short answer
The American Bully is a companion breed, not a fighting dog. It was created in the 1980s and 90s by crossing the American Pit Bull Terrier with bulldog breeds, specifically to soften the drive and build up a gentle, people-loving temperament. A well-bred Bully is confident, affectionate, and good with its family. It is still a strong dog, so it needs training, socialization, and exercise.
The American Bully is a modern breed developed in the United States, recognized by the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC) in 2004 and the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 2013. It is not recognized by the AKC.
Breeders crossed the athletic Pit Bull build with the calmer bulldog temperament on purpose, to make a stable family companion with lower prey drive. The UKC standard is blunt that human or dog aggression is highly undesirable in the breed. The gentle nature is a design goal, not a marketing line.
Here is the honest part. It is still a powerful, muscular dog. A good Bully is gentle, but it needs early socialization, steady training, and daily exercise like any strong breed.
The American Bully descends from the leaner, more athletic American Pit Bull Terrier.
Short answer
The ABKC recognizes four American Bully sizes by height: Pocket, Standard, Classic, and XL. "Micro" and "Exotic" are not real varieties, just marketing for extreme, overdone builds. Those exaggerated dogs often cost the most and have the worst health. The smart buy is a moderately built dog from health-tested parents, whatever its size.
The four real varieties are set by the UKC standard and differ mostly in height. They are all the same breed, just built taller or shorter.
The "exotic" and "micro" labels are the trap. These are not ABKC sizes. They are extreme offshoots bred for huge heads, heavy wide fronts, short bowed legs, and shortened muzzles. The premium you pay is for the exaggeration, and that exaggeration is what causes the breathing and joint problems covered in the health section below.
One legal note. In 2024 the UK banned the XL Bully type, so breeding or selling one there is illegal, per the UK government. That is UK law, not US. In the US there is no federal ban, but the insurance and housing rules below still apply. For more on what really drives a puppy's price, read how to find a quality puppy within your budget.
Short answer
A well-bred American Bully puppy usually costs $1,500 to $3,000, with proven show lines higher. Skip the huge premiums for "exotic," "micro," or "merle" dogs, because you are paying for an extreme build that brings health problems, not a better dog. Before you buy, check one thing this breed makes tricky: your home insurance and your lease, since many exclude pit-bull-type dogs.
Here is the part to clarify. Pet health insurance does not exclude Bullies. The problem is homeowners and renters liability insurance, which often excludes or surcharges pit-bull-type dogs, and many landlords ban them too.
Some insurers, like State Farm and USAA, judge by the dog's bite history, not the breed, and a few states limit breed discrimination, per Forbes Advisor and the NAIC. Check your policy and your lease before you buy.
Plan for the running costs too. Good large-breed food runs about $50 to $100 a month. Routine vet care is $500 to $1,000 in the first year, and pet health insurance is about $30 to $50 a month. An overbred "exotic" dog adds years of hip, joint, and breathing bills, which is the real cost of buying an extreme-built dog, per this cost overview.
Short answer
The healthiest American Bully is a moderately built one. The breed is prone to hip and elbow problems, and the exaggerated "exotic" types add breathing trouble from their short muzzles. Among Bullies tested by the OFA, a large share fail their hip and elbow screening, so buy from parents with passing results. A standard, athletic Bully with a real muzzle and normal legs is the cheaper dog to own.
The big ones are hip and elbow dysplasia, where the joint forms poorly and wears painfully. Among American Bullies screened by the OFA (the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, a health-screening registry), a high share do not pass. Insist on parents with passing hip and elbow results, per Betterpet, citing OFA data.
Breathing is the next one. BOAS (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, where a short muzzle crowds the airway) is a real problem in the shortened-muzzle "exotic" types, and much less so in a normal-muzzled standard Bully.
The breed's Pit Bull lineage is also prone to skin allergies and demodectic mange, so ask about skin history. Obesity is the most preventable problem, because extra weight overloads a heavy frame's joints and heart, so keep a Bully lean.
The bottom line: a moderate, athletic, normal-muzzled Bully from OFA-tested parents is healthier and cheaper to own than an exaggerated "exotic" one. For the full breeding-side health detail, see our American Bully breeding guide.
The American Bully comes in many colors, and color tells you nothing about a dog's health or temperament. A few of the standard ones:
Source: the ABKC breed standard.
Short answer
Most puppy scams open with a price that looks too good and a push to pay by Zelle, wire, gift card, or crypto. Scammers favor whatever breed is trending, so verify any seller no matter the breed. The Better Business Bureau put the average puppy-scam loss at about $1,293 in 2024. Insist on a live video call with the puppy and its parents, and never send money you cannot get back.
The Better Business Bureau tracks thousands of pet scams. Reported puppy-scam complaints fell about 21% in 2024, even as the average loss climbed. The FTC gives the same advice: insist on a video call, and never wire money. For more, read our guide on how to avoid puppy scams.
A good breeder breeds for health and a moderate build, and welcomes your questions. Here is what to see and verify.
Petmeetly connects you directly with people listing American Bullies, with no broker in the middle. Use the checks above, and look for a healthy, moderately built dog. Open to an adult dog instead of a puppy? See how to adopt an American Bully.
Sources
Get answers to common questions about buying American Bullys responsibly
A well-bred American Bully usually costs $1,500 to $3,000 in the US, with proven show lines higher. Be very wary of huge premiums for "exotic," "micro," or "merle" dogs, because you are paying for an extreme build that brings health problems. The real long-term cost is the vet bills of an overbred dog, so a health-tested, moderately built Bully is the better buy.
The American Bully was bred specifically to be a gentle family companion, and the UKC standard treats human or dog aggression as a serious fault. A well-bred, well-raised Bully is affectionate and good with its family. It is still a strong dog, so like any powerful breed it needs early socialization, training, and exercise.
Pocket, Standard, Classic, and XL are the four real ABKC varieties, defined by height. "Micro" and "Exotic" are not official varieties, just marketing terms for extreme, exaggerated builds. Those exaggerated dogs cost the most and tend to have the worst breathing and joint health.
The main ones are hip and elbow dysplasia (poorly formed joints), and in the short-muzzled "exotic" types, breathing problems. The breed is also prone to skin allergies, and obesity is its biggest preventable risk. A moderately built Bully from OFA-tested parents is the healthiest, and most live about 10 to 13 years.
Insist on a live video call showing the specific puppy with its parents, and never pay by wire, Zelle, gift card, or crypto, because that money cannot be recovered. The Better Business Bureau put the average puppy-scam loss at about $1,293 in 2024. Ask for ABKC or UKC papers (not AKC, which does not recognize the breed) and verify the parents' health tests on ofa.org.
More vetted material for American Bully buyers
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Discover puppies and dogs for sale from various breeds and find your perfect companion
Browse American Bullies listed on Petmeetly, then use the temperament, size, price, health, and seller checks above before you pay.
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