Are you thinking of investing in an American Bully? Understanding the top American Bully bloodlines will help you to get an idea of what your options are.
After all, breeders are very purposeful about choosing dogs for specific reasons and have differing priorities. You’ll be hoping to find a dog that matches your expectations in terms of size, build, and temperament.
Before we begin looking at Bully bloodlines in greater detail, it’s important to understand the origins of the breed and what types of American Bully there are.
Choosing a type will help you to narrow down your options making it easier to choose a puppy that’s perfect for you.
American Bully Origins
The origins of breeds tells us a lot about what we can expect from the dogs belonging to them.
While the American Bully’s muscular build and broad head are impressive, these dogs are bred to be companion animals, and breeders deviating from this aim aren’t being true to the initial goals of those who created the breed.
Pitbulls, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Bulldogs all went into the creation of the American Bully, and aggressive dogs were excluded from the breeding program.
The result is a breed of playful, energetic, and affectionate dogs that are as much prized for their even temperament as their looks.
Cuddly though they may be, it’s worth remembering that these dogs require a lot of attention and good training to bring out the best in them.
Vices that would be little more than annoying in less powerful dogs can become dangerous in animals with this amount of strength.
Only choose an American Bully if you’re ready to be a dedicated dog owner and spend a lot of time with your pet.
Types Of American Bully
Standard American Bullies are compact, muscular dogs measuring 16 to 20 inches at the shoulder.
Classic American Bullies are very similar to Standards but have a slightly lighter build and greater agility.
Pocket American Bullies are 13 to 17 inches high at the shoulder. The main difference between them and other bully types is their smaller stature.
XL Bullies, by contrast, are taller than classics and standards but with the same heavy build. They’re 19 to 30 inches tall at the shoulder.
XXL American Bullies are the biggest and heaviest of them all with broad, heavy frames and extreme muscle development.
Exotic American Bullies are much closer to being Bulldogs than the other forms of American Bully. In fact, they’ve become a breed in their own right while still carrying the American Bully name.
Now that you know what type of American Bully you would like to get, let’s take a look at the top American Bully bloodlines!
Razor’s Edge Bullies
If you’re fortunate enough to get a real Razor’s edge bloodline, you’re basically opting on the American Bully breed at source.
Dave Wilson, a Pitbull enthusiast, is among the breeders who first began breeding American Pitbulls with other breeds in order to get a stockier version of the Pitbull.
He teamed up with Carlos Barksdale and several other breeders on the project, and the result is the Razor’s Edge bloodline.
Dave Wilson is also the founder of the American Bully Kennel Club, so if you’re looking to get a real champ, Razor’s Edge is the bloodline to look out for. Choose Razor’s Edge bloodlines for athleticism.
Grayline Bullies
Blue Star Kennels, owned by brothers Gary and Tony Moore are the originators of Gray Line American Bullies. They offer their dogs for breeding and stud services, but they’re very particular about the females that will be used.
As breeders, they want to ensure that pairings will support and strengthen the breed standard, so they won’t provide Grey Line genes to be used in combination with a dog that has faults.
Grayline bullies are distinguished by their large, square heads, and the breadth of their shoulders and chests. Gary supports very carefully considered pairings and as a result, Graylines are scarce and usually very costly.
Gottiline Bully Bloodline
Richard Barajas of West Side Kennels was able to secure a Grayline American Bully directly from Tony Moore.
The dog, named The Notorious Juan Gotty, became the Gottiline sire and as you’d expect from a dog with Blue Star breeding background, this line is known for its stocky appearance and physical strength.
In fact, they’re ideal for weight pulling sports, but they remain true to the American Bully goal of producing strong dogs that are nevertheless friendly and even-tempered.
Several new bloodlines have sprung from the Gottiline, and the best-known kennels producing pups from these lines are Kingpinline Kennels and Mikeland Kennels.
Now West Side is also working on a new bloodline, dubbed Aceline, and you can be sure that Gottiline and Aceline Bullies will be bred from some of the best genes American Bullies can offer.
Remyline American Bully Bloodline
When Fabian Chichester secured a stunning Razor’s Edge bully, using it as the basis for a new bloodline was the natural consequence. Like the Razor’s Edge lines, the Remyline contains a lot of American Pitbull.
The line is unusual in that it was created from a single sire, presumably under the reasonable assumption that one can’t improve on perfection.
That’s reflected in the fact that the best Remylines look just like that sire. This line is best known for its striking eyes and blue-fawn color.
Daxline American Bullies
No list of the top American Bully bloodlines would be complete without the Daxline. The sire, Gottiline Dax was an exceptional stud dog with a very laid back temperament and a distinguished show career.
All the same, he was owner Ed Shepherd’s much loved pet, and not just his pride and joy owing to his fantastic Extreme Bully looks. Ed was among the founders of the American Bully breed.
Kurupt Blood XL And Extreme Bully Bloodline
If you’re looking for XL American Bullies or Extreme Bullies, the Kurupt breeding program will be your top choice. Kurupt Blood Panic is its most famous stud, and with a head measuring in at 27 inches.
It’s no surprise that breeders eager to base their programs on his genes are willing to pay a pretty penny to get Kurupt Blood Panic into their bloodlines.
One word of warning about XL Bullies, however, they are more prone to hip dysplasia than their smaller cousins because of their sheer size and weight.
Venomline Bloodline
Venomline Pocket Bullies are a household name among Pocket American Bully fans. The trademarked bloodline results in pocket bullies with extreme characteristics.
Expect short, stocky, powerful dogs with massive heads and an extra wide, super-strong build to back it up.
These are extreme Pocket Bullies so they may have more health issues than regular American Bullies. Nevertheless, the line’s fans say it hasn’t sacrificed health to get the look, so if you love it, go for it!
The Bully Camp Or Miagi Bully Bloodline
Jorge Soto is the proud owner of Mr Miagi, an exotic or extreme pocket bully that has become famous around the world. The Miagi bloodline is chosen by people who want a truly exaggerated form of American Bully.
The sire looks very much like a sumo wrestler in his shape and posture.
There is some controversy surrounding exotic and extreme bullies since their exaggerated form is believed to make them more susceptible to health issues.
Goldenline Bloodline
The Goldenline bloodline is one of the most famous American Bully Bloodlines.
Apart from having all the stockiness you’d expect from Extreme American Bullies, their reputation for good manners has made them very popular indeed. Goldenlines range from XL Bullies to Pocket Bullies.
Mikeland Bullies American Bully Bloodline
Coming from Mike Wallender’s Mikeland Kennels, the Mikeland bloodline has been bred with clear direction towards producing dogs with very large, bulldog-like heads and maximum width.
Mike says that despite their bulldog-like looks, the Pitbull temperament is part of the package. And for those who didn’t know it, aggression is not a common trait in Pitbulls.
Watchdog American Bully Bloodline
The Carver and Mason Pitbull lines are believed to have contributed to the Watchdog American Bully line. When creating the Razor’s Edge bloodline, it is rumored that Dave Wilson used some Watchdog.
Although some people see Watchdog Bullies as leaning towards the Pitbull, classing this line as a Classic American Bully line is probably nearer to the truth.
Watchdogs tend to be taller and longer-legged than some of the other popular Bullies, but they do have the large head and a wider build than you’d expect from an American Pitbull.
Gaff American Bully Bloodline
The use of the name “Gaff” in bloodlines can get quite confusing, so check with the breeder if you see it!
While Pitbull breeders claim the line, and it’s been associated with AmStaffs, it’s also mentioned in American Bully bloodlines. However, since AmStaffs and Pitbulls are part of the American Bully’s heritage, the Gaff bloodline could well be part of the mix.
The Kingpin Line
Mr J. Lomeli is the owner of this bloodline which is known to produce dogs with a calm personality packed into a bundle of muscle.
As bullies go, it’s somewhat fond of the sedentary life, but will still need exercise to keep it entertained and in good shape.
It’s quite a sought-after bloodline that has a presence in a few bloodlines that came after it.
Bloodlines In Action: Line Breeding And Inbreeding
When you look at the lineage of top American Bullies, you may be surprised to find that the same dogs crop up further back in the family tree. However, breeders distinguish between line breeding and inbreeding.
Inbreeding occurs when dogs across two succeeding generations of the same family are crossed, and it’s very likely to cause recessive genes for traits that aren’t always desirable to come to the fore.
Outcrossing happens when unrelated dogs are paired. Line breeding is a mixture of the two.
The idea behind line breeding is to lock in specific traits instead of allowing them to be “diluted.”
Half-sibling crosses are an example of this and sometimes, there is backcrossing to the original sire of the line after several generations. The idea is to keep the desired traits strong without allowing any weaknesses or negative traits to be expressed.
However, line breeding can have its dangers. It’s definitely not for anyone who isn’t an expert in doggie genetics to try!
It’s generally accepted that line breeding is safe for American Bullies as long as the inbreeding coefficient is 5 percent or less and both the sire and the dam are healthy with no signs of genetically-determined faults.
The conclusion you need to take from this is that you should carefully study the line breeding tactics in any American Bully pup advertised as coming from top bloodlines. The same goes for any pedigreed dog.
There will usually be at least some evidence of parents being related, but that’s necessary for producing a predictable appearance.
The important thing is that they should not be too closely related. If all this makes you feel a little uncomfortable, it might be better to opt for a cross between two breeds instead.
Desirable Vs Undesirable Traits
It’s unfortunate that the term “desirable trait” is very subjective. If exaggerated looks are top of your list, you may have to trade off some health and longevity in your American Bully.
There’s currently quite a lot of controversy about extreme or exotic dogs in the American Bully community.
It’s widely felt that some American Bullies have departed from the aims the breed’s creators had in mind, and a look at the breed standard for American Bullies with reference to the exotics like Mr Miyagi confirms this.
On the other side of the argument, proponents of “clean exotics” say that their dogs are perfectly healthy.
However, if you’re looking for a family pet, it might be best to avoid some of the more extreme-looking Bullies and opt for the tried and tested types that more nearly fit the original aims of the breed: a stockier Pitbull with a calmer personality.
Even here, however, do look out for signs your dog might have inherited unhealthy genes. For example, a merle coat or albinism are bad signs.
Breeders should also screen dogs for conditions like hip dysplasia, so ask for those reports!
