Micro Bully Vs Pocket Bully : Revealing the differences

As we all know, the American bully breed has been divided into several categories on the basis of their size, like Standard, Classic, Xl, XXl and Micro bully. Recently, the Micro-bully is getting more popular than other types. But what is micro bully and how it is different from pocket bullies, i.e. Micro Bully Vs Pocket Bully.

In this article we will explore some similarities and notable differences between them. Moreover, we will also cover a wide range of topics from their physical characteristics, temperament, health issues to their diet and grooming requirements.

What is Micro bully and Pocket bully

Micro bully and Pocket bully are just smaller versions of the Standard American Bully. Both breeds are becoming popular as being smaller gets easily adjusted in small houses or apartments. At the same time, they hold a friendly nature inherited from the American bully breed. Hence, they are somewhat similar creatures.

This doesn’t mean they are alike all the way. Besides, there are a few subtle differences between both breeds.

The pocket-sized American bully is a small, muscular and compact breed which is chiefly a product of the American bully and patterdale terriers.

On the other hand, the microbully is the smallest and more compact form of the American bully breed.

Micro bully vs Exotic bully : History & Origin

The history of micro and exotic bullies can be traced back to the Pitbulls, which were mainly produced by breeders for different sports activities like dog fighting, bull baiting, bull fighting etc. Later on, such acts were banned by the British government.

These dogs were replaced with the American bully breed, which was created between the 1980s and 1990s as great family pets and companions as well. In 2004, the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC) recognized its four sizes including standard, classic, pocket and xl bully.

Micro bullies emerged in the early 2000s yet are officially unrecognizable by any reputed kennel clubs. The International Bully Coalition (IBC) recognized it as a distinct dog breed.

So, pocket bullies originated by crossbreeding American bully dogs, patterdale terriers and some other bully dogs, while micro bullies emerged through the fusion of the pocket bully with patterdale terriers.

Micro bully vs Pocket bully : Physical features

The American bully is a muscular breed with a thick neck, broader chest and short legs. But micro and pocket bullies are shorter than them.

Apart from some similarities, there are a few notable physical differences between pocket and micro-bully, which are described below :

1) Head

Pocket bullies have large and broad heads compared to micro-bullies. Micro-bullies have small heads, and they usually have a width ratio of about 50% or less than their shoulders’ height.

2) Height

The average height of pocket bullies is about 13 to 17 inches, while micro bullies usually grow to an average height of 10 to 13 inches. Males can be 1–2 inches higher than their female counterparts.

3) Weight

Pocket bullies’ weight ranges between 30 and 50 pounds. On the other hand, micro-bullies can attain a weight of about 15 to 30 pounds.

4) Eyes and Ears

The eyes of pocket bullies are round and set apart from each other. Micro-bullies have almond-shaped eyes situated far from one another.

Pocket bullies usually have cropped ears, while micro bullies have naturally short ears.

5) Tails

Pocket-sized American bullies have medium to long-sized tails which are often docked. On the other hand, micro-sized bully have natural short tails.

6) Coat or furs

The pocket bully breed holds short, smooth and shiny furs or coats. The micro bully also has smooth and short to medium-sized fur depending upon the breeding bloodlines.

Micro bully vs Pocket bully : Temperament & Behaviour

If we look upon the temperament of the Micro and Pocket American bully, then both breeds are recognized for their friendliness and gentle behavior. They exhibit their calm disposition towards other pets and children.

With the help of proper training and socialization, these canines can come up with excellent behavior and decency. Pocket bullies and micro bullies are both playful and energetic dog breeds, which make them perfect for active or young owners.

But the major difference in their demeanor is that the pocket bullies are more outgoing and social, while micro bullies are little reserved around strangers.

The protective instincts and loyal attitude of pocket bullies also enables them to be great guard dogs, but micro-bullies are not big enough for guarding activities.

Moreover, due to their miniature size, both pockets and micro-bullies have become the best choice for small homes and apartment types.

Micro Bully vs Pocket bully : Health care

Though the American bully is a healthy dog breed. Yet, like all bully breeds, they are also vulnerable to some of the specific health problems which all buyers should be aware of.

The following are some common health issues that may influence the health of both American bully pocket and micro bully :

Dental Problems

Dental issues including tooth decay, building up of tartar, gingivitis, toothache etc. are prevalent in most of the American bully breeds, including the pocket bully and micro bully. As a part of their daily routine, you need to brush up your pet’s teeth in order to prevent any such dental issue.

Some symptoms that may give signals for further severe dental problems include yellowish teeth, brownish teeth, build up of tartar, bad odour from the mouth of your pet etc.

Hence, like humans, they require routine brushing and appointments of a professional vet for a clean-up of their entire tooth.

Dysplasia

Displasia is a genetic condition which takes place when joints don’t develop appropriately. It is most commonly visible in the American bully breed due to its quick growth and weight.

As a result, micro and pocket American bullies may inherit the joint issue. It chiefly occurs in hip and elbow i.e. hip dysplasia & elbow dysplasia.

1) Hip dysplasia

It is a condition which influences the hip joints. It means the joints of the hip don’t develop correctly.

2) Elbow dysplasia

Elbow dysplasia occurs when joints of elbows develop abnormally. It may result in arthritis and aches.

Symptoms that can be observed during the hip and elbow dysplasia are stiffness, lameness, difficulty in moving, pain etc.

It is not always hereditary, but obesity can also become a cause of it. In such cases, contact your vet immediately and follow its advice.

Obesity

Obesity is most common in all American bully dogs, whether it’s a pocket American bully or a micro-American bully. They have strong muscles which may put extra strain on their joints in case they get overweight.

Thus, it is crucial to provide them with a balanced diet and regular exercises to prevent obesity in them.

Symptoms are joint pains, breathing difficulties, difficulty with movement etc.

Skin issues

A skin disease caused by Demodex canis mites is called demodicosis. Masses of mites get produced on the skin of these canines due to lack of immunity power.

It is necessary to take your pet to a vet when you observe symptoms like redness, itchiness, hair-loss etc. otherwise it may worsen their condition even more.

Eye problems

American micro-bully and pocket-bully are also vulnerable to some eye problems like cherry eye, entropion, ectropion etc.

The cherry eye or the red eye occurs when the third eyelid situated in the inner corner of the eyes get dislocated from its normal position.

Entropion is the inward rolling of the eyelids which happens to rub the eyelashes and surrounding hairs on the sensitive area of the eye, while Ectropion is the outward movement of the eyelids.

In such cases, these canines require immediate treatment as it causes great discomfort and pain.

Heart diseases

American bullies are also prone to heart issues like heart murmur (abnormal sound from heart), pulmonic stenosis (narrowing of pulmonary valve) and aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve). several symptoms of heart diseases include abnormal sound heard through stethoscope, breathing difficulty, fatigue etc.

BOAS

It refers to Brachycephalic obstructive airways’ syndrome, which is common in bully breeds having broad heads and short muzzles. It causes difficulty with breathing.

Some common symptoms include panting, snoring, respiratory problems, reluctance to exercise etc.

Cancer

Cancer is the most hazardous disease which can become the leading cause of their death. The most common type of cancer is lymphoma in all bully breeds, including American bullies.

Weight loss, appetite loss, laziness, limping etc. are some of the symptoms of cancer. Early diagnosis of this disease can only help in reducing the risk of death. Hence, immediately contact the vet if you observe any such signs in your pet.

Micro bully vs Pocket bully : Grooming requirements

Pocket American bully and micro both have short, smooth and shiny coats. They don’t require much grooming and hence are known as low-maintenance dogs. Brushing needs to be done once a week.

You can bathe them once every couple of weeks. Maintain their teeth and ear hygiene to prevent further discomfort and infections. Their nails should also be trimmed every few weeks to prevent overgrowth.

Micro bully vs Pocket bully : Food & Diet

Both pocket bullies and micro-bullies need a high protein-rich balanced diet. It should include carbohydrates, essential fats and all essential vitamins & minerals to promote their immunity levels. But, owning to their constant growth, micro bully require relatively a little bit more protein than the pocket one.

Different types of diet which can be fed to pocket and micro American bullies are BARF diet and kibble food.

BARF diet

This type of diet includes raw meat, bones, raw fruits and vegetables. It contains all the nutrients and vitamins crucial for their muscle growth and development. But, some people believe this diet to be too heavy and may ruselt in several health issues.

But, as per the belief of large masses, the raw diet is the healthiest of all as it is their natural food. Their ancestors had the same food in their diet.

Kibble diet

Kibble food chiefly consists of different dry items of meat, veggies, fruits and grains. This is one of the most convenient ways to feed your micro or pocket bullies. It is easy to store too.

American pocket bully and micro american bully puppies are to be fed three to four times a day as they require more nutrition for their rapid growth. As they age, their food diet keeps on decreasing. Adult American bully canines require only two meals a day.

Hence, the food consumption of these bullies greatly relies upon their age and weight of the body.

You should take proper advice from a vet as to which type of diet will be ideal for your pet and might fulfill its individual needs.

Micro bully vs Pocket bully : Lifespan

There is no significant difference in the lifespan of the pocket and the micro bully. Both can live for an average period of 11 to 14 years if they are provided with a healthy diet, exercises and other necessary care.

The factors which may influence the life expectancy of these bullies include genetic inheritance, exercises, health concerns, grooming requirements etc. So ensure your pet gets all the proper care and attention.

Micro bully vs Pocket bully : Price

When we come to compare the cost of owning a pocket and micro american bullies, then micro bullies are little costlier than pocket bullies as they have a unique appearance and exaggerated features.

The price of the pocket bully generally ranges between $2000 and $10,000 while the average cost of micro-bullies goes from $8000 to $15,000.

The cost of these dogs can vary depending upon their genes, bloodline, health condition and color patterns.

Trainability of Micro and Pocket bullies

Both American pocket bullies and micro bullies are quite intelligent dog breeds, so it is not too difficult to train them. But you need to be calm & patient enough while training them.

Early training and socialisation through positive reinforcement methods are to be proved fruitful in this case. Don’t punish or thrash them, which can make them stubborn and destructive.

Firstly, you need to start your training from simple commands like sit, stand, come etc. and, meanwhile, it should not be longer than 15- 20 minutes at a time. Then it can be extended gradually as well as can be moved to other complex commands.

Apart from physical exercises, some mental stimulation activities should also be provided. So that they don’t get engaged in any violent deeds. You can get them puzzle games or some other mind-challenging games to solve.

Exercise requirements of Micro and Pocket bully

All American bully dogs, including micro and pocket bully, are muscular dogs which require at least 1 hour of physical exercises per day to burn off their calories.

Take them for short walks and provide exercises like fetching, running etc. Be conscious of not over-exercising them.

How to find a reputable breeder

When you are looking for a reputable breeder for micro or pocket bully, then ensure the following things:

• The breeder should have a proper website and updated information about the breeds they sell.

• They should provide you with the facility of visiting them personally and observe the selected puppy carefully.

• A reliable breeder is able to give answers to all the questions of their customers.

• Reference should be taken from experienced owners or professional vets.

• They need to have active social media accounts and good-looking websites.

• The breeder is able to provide a written contract with all necessary terms and conditions.

Tips to take care of micro bully and pocket bully

Following are some basic tips to take care your bully pet and ensure its well being throughout :

1)Create a safe and secure environment

Either they live in a large house or small apartment, it is needed to provide them with a safe and comfortable living space.

2)Provide a nutritional diet

Feed both micro and pocket bullies with a protein-rich diet so that they can maintain their muscle mass. But remember not to overfeed them, otherwise it may lead to obesity or other health-related issues.

3) Availability of plenty of water

Being active and playful dog breeds, they need large amounts of water. Hence, enough water should be made available near them.

4) Regular vet checkups

A routine visit to a vet for health tests and vaccinations should be scheduled. This helps in preventing any serious health issue as well as in the early detection of any disease.

5) Fulfil all grooming requirements

American micro bully and pocket bullies are mixed dog breeds which have some grooming needs to remain healthy. It includes bathing, brushing, nail trimming, ear cleaning etc.

6) Offer your full care and attention

Don’t ever neglect or ignore them, as they are highly socialized canines who demand the care and attention of all their family members.

Final thoughts

Hope this article has truly thrown light on the similarities and differences between micro and pocket bullies. Do proper research and consider the physical differences, grooming requirements, food & diet, health concerns etc. of both breeds, which will surely enable you to make an informed decision.

But above all, consider your lifestyle before choosing between the pocket bully and the micro bully. Remember to choose a reputable breeder. Hence, a little care and attention can let you enjoy a loving and everlasting relationship with your furry pet.

Thanks for reading!

FAQs :

Q1. Is a micro bully the same as a pocket bully?

Ans. Both breeds are smaller versions of the standard American bully and have a compact muscular physique. But, the average height of pocket bullies is about 13 to 17 inches, while micro bullies usually grow to an average height of 10 to 13 inches.

Q2. What 2 breeds make a micro american bully?

Ans. The micro bully emerged through the fusion of the pocket bully with the patterdale terriers.

Q3. Are micro-bullies aggressive?

Ans. No, micro bully are a balanced-tempered and gentle dog breed. They exhibit their friendly behavior towards people and other animals. They love to play with kids too.

Q4. Do micro-bullies have health issues?

Ans. Though the American bully is a healthy dog breed.

Yet, like all bully breeds, micro-bullies are vulnerable to some of the specific health problems like hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, BOAS (Brachycephalic obstructive airways’ syndrome), dental issues, heart problems, cancer etc.