Pocket bully : Full and detailed guide

Guys! Are you in the search of a small to medium sized dog along with a great muscular build and calm temperament? Then, your search is absolutely over!

The dog breed which will well fit to your choice is the Pocket bully. It is a crossbreed of patterdale terriers and American bully which was developed in the late 20th century. Pocket bully is a recently popularised breed known for its friendliness and unique look.

Before owning a dog of any breed, you should have a thorough knowledge about that particular breed. So, in this article, we will provide you with everything you need to know about pocket bullies including their history, Physique, temperament, health issues, grooming requirements and many more.

History and origin of Pocket bullies

Pocket american bully was first bred in the year 2000 i.e nearly about 22-23 years ago. American bully dogs and patterdale terriers are considered as the direct ancestors of these pocket sized bullies.

The American bully is a crossbreed breed of American pitbull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and different types of bulldogs.

Thus, many people hold misbelief that pocket bullies inherit the aggressive nature of the pitbull terriers, which were trained for sport activities such as bull baiting and rat killing earlier.

But, the fact is the American bully breed was developed in the 1980s by eliminating all the dangerous traits of the American pitbull terriers. Hence, American bullies came into existence in the form of even tempered and loving canines.

Other parents of these pocket bullies are patterdale terriers. They were well known as excellent guard dogs and hunters. Some breeders also used French Bulldogs to attain their smaller size. By mixing all the above traits of different breeds, pocket bully emerges as an amazing & unique dog breed.

Varities of American bully breed

Though the breeding standards of the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC) and the United Kennel Club (UKC) are much alike.

But, UKC accepts only single size standard while ABKC has divided the American bully breed in to four different categories. It includes :

• standard American bully
• classic american bully
• Pocket American bully
• xl american bully

The above classification was done on the basis of their size. Pocket bully is regarded as the smallest size and xl is considered as the largest size in the American Bully.

Yet, another fifth type is the xxl sized American Bully, which has not been recognised by kennel clubs due to its larger size.

What makes a pocket bully apart from other bully breeds:

Pocket sized American bully is a distinctive dog breed. Few things which make them really apart from other bully breeds include :

1) Firstly, pocket american bully canines’ average weight ranges between 25 and 40 Pounds. Thus, they are perfect pets for apartments and small houses.

2)Next, their distinctive head shape with a deep muzzle appears like a Bulldogs’ head.

3) Thirdly their muscular and compact build with short furs.

4) Apart from this, their calm and friendly temperament also contribute to their uniqueness.

Physical characteristics of the pocket American bully

Pocket american bully is an impressive dog breed with extraordinary physical appearance :

Head

Pocket bullies hold wide and big heads along with short and wide noses. But the heads are not too big i.e proportionate to their other body parts.

Body type

They have a compact and muscular body type. Pocket sized bullies inherited a unique combination of different physical traits from American bullies, American Staffordshire terriers, American pitbull terriers and bulldogs.

Chest

Pocket bullies have broad and deep chests, which provides them a menacing appearance. Their legs are slightly smaller i.e nearly about 4 inches which makes their front legs appear distant from one another.

Neck

These pocket sized american bully are short to medium sized neck canines along with muscular body which gives them a bulkier look. Due to their short neck, it appears like their head is directly attached to their body. They don’t have excessive Dewlap (extra chunk of skin) hanging from their neck.

Jaw

Firstly, I would like to clear the myth that all bully breeds have locking jaws. The fact is, there is no existence of such a special locking jaw mechanism.

They have broad & powerful jaws along with their lower jaws swinging downwards.

Ears

They can have flapping ears or can be cropped as per the desire of the owners of these pets. But it is strongly recommended to get their ear cropped only by experts or a vet.

Temperament & Behaviour of the pocket american bully :

Many people think Pocket Bully is a dangerous and aggressive dog breed. But, being an offspring of American bully and patterdale terriers, they inherited some calm and friendly behaviour of American bullies.

Pocket american bullies are playful and affectionate dog breed. They love to be around their owners and other family members.

Their behavior towards children is also gentle and exhibit keen desire to play with them. Thus, they become great family pets or ideal apartment companions.

Their protective instincts and loyal attitude proves them great guard dogs. They can even fight to death just to defend their owners from any kind of threat or danger.

It is important to note that individual dogs may have their distinct behaviour. Yet, with the help of proper socialisation and training, all dog breeds including pocket bully can be kind and gentle natured dogs.

Different colours in the Pocket American Bully

Pocket bullies are available in both single colour and three different colours called tricolour. Tricolour pattern mainly comprises one base colour and two tan colours. Base may be of any one colour like black, blue, red, white, fawn, Sable, brindle etc.

Moreover, base colour is covered by some distinct colour markings. Black colour is the most common base colour found in these canines.

Here is a list of different Tricolour patterns available in the pocket bullies :

• Chocolate tricolour
• Lilac tricolour
• Brindle tri colour
• Fawn tri colour
• Champagne tri colour
• Ghost tricolour
• Black tricolour
• Red tricolour
• Sable tri colour

How big pocket bullies become?

Now, you may be thinking, what would be the size of the pocket bully. Will it be about the size of your pocket?

Absolutely not ! They are known to be a pocket bully due to their smaller size than other varieties of the American bully dogs. It is a medium sized canine whose height ranges between 9 and 16 inches. Males are slightly bigger than females.

An adult pocket American bully can typically grow 11 to 24 pounds in weight. Though they are smaller in size, the heavy muscles of these canines contribute to their significant weight.

Misconceptions regarding American Pocket Bullies

Most people hold misconceptions regarding the nature of the pocket american bully. It has been characterised as one of the aggressive breed but this is totally a misbelief.

The major reason behind this myth is the ancient use of their ancestry, specifically American pitbull terriers, in attacking bulls and rat baiting. Later on such recreational activities were prohibited by the British government.

A selective breeding process was carried out by different breeders while producing American bullies. During this, all the harmful traits of the pitbull terriers were eliminated to the utmost level.

Thus, Pocket american bullies are a great combination of affectionate american bully and energetic patterdale terriers.

Apart from genetic inheritance, taking good care, providing healthy diet, training and socialisation do significantly contribute to the makeup of the behaviour of American bullies.

Pocket bully health issues

If you buy a pocket bully puppy from reputable or well recognised breeders, then there will be very less possibility of developing any genetic health issues. This is just because they pay greater attention towards all bloodlines they produce.

Though pocket bullies are a healthier dog breeds, they may suffer from some common health issues at times. It includes :

Breathing difficulty : pocket american Bullies are more likely prone to breathing problems due to the flat shape of their face. Thus, they should be provided with only a moderate level of exercises.

Hypothyroidism : It is related to the lack of the production of thyroid hormones, which in an extended term leads to weight gain and lethargic behaviour.

Ear infections : Being having floppy ears, pocket bullies are vulnerable to the problem of ear infection.Taking proper care of your pet can prevent this issue.

Skin problems: It is common in bully breeds to suffer from skin issues called dermatitis. It causes redness and itchiness on their skin.

Hip Dysplasia : Hip dysplasia is an issue which develops when the ball & socket joint of hip bones fails to develop properly due to their heavy muscular build. It causes excessive pain and makes them inflexible.

Elbow dysplasia : Elbow dysplasia is also one of the common joint issues which arises when different bones of elbows don’t fit well. It causes pressure over joint areas and eventually leads to pain.

Patella luxation : This orthopaedic issue arises when patella (knee cap) gets dislocated from its place leading to intense pain and problems in walking.

Heart issues : Some of the pocket sized bullies are excessively prone to severe health issues like DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy) and mitral valve disease.

Regular medical checkups are essential for early diagnosis of any of the above serious diseases and provide immediate treatment. Moreover, a proper exercise routine and balanced food diet plays a significant role in keeping them fit & healthy.

Pocket bullies’ Food & Diet

Pocket american bully is a muscular dog breed so they require atleast 400 to 500 calories in a day. A high nutritional food diet including at least 30% of protein and some amount of essential fats should be present in it.

However, It is also necessary to provide them with an appropriate quantity of food specifically to avoid obesity and bloating in them.

A proper diet plan should be designed as per the age of your pocket sized pet. They should consume milk of their mother’s breast by the age of 7- 10 weeks. After the completion of this age, they can have solid food. Kibble is the most common food which can be given to your puppy in the form dry food.

Meat, fish, boiled eggs and some amount of fruits & vegetables are to be fed to ensure their optimum growth and development.

Some food dangers for pocket american bullies

There are certain food items and drinks which may be fatal for your pocket bully. So, you are required to do a proper research as well as concern to a vet regarding the food allergies. It includes chocolate, macadamia nuts, corn, onions, milk products, candies, garlic, grapes, raisins, cooked bones etc.

Thus, Avoid feeding such items which may threaten your furry friend.

Pocket bully Exercise requirements

Your pocket american bully needs at least 20- 30 minutes exercises twice a day for maintaining its mental & physical health. Providing them with exercises such as fetching, brisk walking and tug of war enables it to burn excess calories and being energetic. Keep it engaged in few mental games like puzzles, hide & seek etc.

Hence, both physical and mental exercises will prevent boredom and formation of its destructive behaviour. Avoid over exercising them.

Training & Socialization of pocket bully

Socialisation plays a significant role in shaping the behaviour of the American pocket bully. Introducing your pet to new people and other animals will enable it to easily adjust in a new environment.

Being intelligent canines, It is relatively easy to train them. Use positive reinforcement methods and begin with simple commands: sit, stand,stop etc.

Grooming requirements of pocket bully

Pocket American Bullies are low maintenance dogs. They have short furs and don’t require regular grooming. Brushing should be done at least once in a week to maintain softness and smoothness of their coats. It will help in avoiding various skin problems.

Trim their nails in every 2 weeks and clean their ears regularly to prevent ear infections. They don’t need regular bathing but once in a week will be sufficient. It will remove the extra oil and dirt from their furs.

Price range of the pocket bullies

The average cost of pocket bully typically ranges between $2000 and $10,000 depending upon their bloodline. Other factors such as reputation of breeders, health standards, colour , rare patterns etc influences the price of these pocket bullies.

In addition to buying expenses, monthly expenses include their food, toys, treats, grooming cost, health care etc. It is essential to consider all these factors before bringing a pocket pet to your home.

Lifespan of the Pocket American Bully

On average, a healthy pocket bully can live for 10-14 years. Male pocket sized bullies have a little bit longer lifespan than females.

It may slightly vary depending upon the genetics they inherited from their parents. Other factors such as health, lifestyle, diet and exercise requirements greatly influence their life duration.

Thus, taking care of your bully will ensure you an extended company of your lovable pet.

Final thoughts

Hope this article would have really served as a guide or provided you with all information regarding pocket bullies. Their unique combination of impressive build and calm disposition have popularised them in the entire world .

The medium size of these american pocket bullies proves them one of the most preferred bully breeds for apartment owners.

However, financial and emotional responsibility come together along with bringing such a playful pet to your home. So, consider all such factors and search for reputable breeders.

All the best and happy dog parenting!

Frequently asked questions

Q1.What is a pocket bully?

Ans. Pocket american bullies are short to medium sized neck canines along with muscular body which gives them a bulkier look.

Q2.Is a pocket bully a good family dog?

Ans. Pocket bully is a gentle canine who loves to be around their owners and exhibits a keen desire to play with kids. Thus, they become great family pets.

Q3.Are pocket bullies the same as XL bully?

Ans. Both Xl bully and pocket bully are the types of American bully breed. Xl bully is a larger variant while pocket bully is a smaller variant of american bully.

Q4.How many kg is a pocket bully?

Ans. An adult pocket American bully can typically grow 11 to 24 pounds i.e 5 to 11 kg in weight.

Q5.How tall is a pocket bully?

Ans.It is a medium sized canine whose height ranges between 9 and 16 inches. Males are slightly bigger than females.