American Bully (Standard)

Breeders in Georgia and Southern California began the project in the early 1990s, aiming to fix the classic bully look, a heavy bone structure and a broad head, onto a dog selected purely for companionship rather than any working history. The Standard size became the reference point against which the Pocket, Classic and XL varieties were later measured, sitting in the middle of the range for height and bulk.

Living with a Standard American Bully generally means living with a confident, affectionate dog that is good with its own family and, when properly socialised from puppyhood, reliable with children. The breed is strong for its size and was bred with a calm, biddable temperament in mind, so most individuals train readily with consistent, reward-based methods. Like other bully breeds, careful early socialisation with other dogs matters, since some individuals can be selective about canine company.

Today the Standard is the most widely recognised American Bully size and forms the basis of the breed's United Kennel Club standard. It is popular across the US, UK and Europe as a family companion suited to owners who want a muscular, loyal dog without the heavier extremes of the XL variety.

The class is recognised by the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC), the breed's founding registry since 2004, which publishes the official standard used here; it is not currently recognised by the KC, AKC or FCI.