American bully vs Rottweiler : Comparative study

Do you love to gather information about different breeds of dogs? Or are you searching for the best fit for you? So, Guys! Here , we have come up with an interesting subject i.e American bully vs Rottweiler.

In this article, we will discuss these two impressive breeds and do a comparative study of their temperament, behaviour, appearance, health concerns, cost, lifespan etc.

Let us discover some exciting facts and unique traits of the American bully and Rottweiler that make them different from one another. This detailed comparative study of these two popular dog breeds will surely enhance your understanding and help you find the best match for you.

American bully vs Rottweiler : Origin & History

American bully

The American bully is a recently highly popularised breed widely known for its muscular build and calm temperament. It was developed between the 1980s and 1990s in the United States through a selective breeding process.

The lineage of American bully has been detected from the American Pitbull Terriers as a foundation breed. American Staffordshire Terriers and various other bull dog breeds like the American Bulldog, old English Bulldog etc have also contributed to the overall personality of the American bully.

Some often get confused between Pitbull and American Bully due to their little bit similar appearance, but both are entirely different.

Breeders crossbreed these breeds with a major goal of developing a loyal and even tempered dog breed.

The American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC) recognised this powerful breed for the first time in 2004. Next, it was recognised by the European Bully Kennel Club (EBKC) in 2008 and United Kennel Club (UKC) in 2013.

Recently, American bullies are popular for their gentle and affectionate nature, which fulfils the criteria of being excellent family pets. In other words , they are the epitome of apartment companions.

Rottweiler

The Rottweiler is an ancient dog breed originating in Germany dating back around the 2nd century BC.

These canines got their name as the Rottweiler after the Romans left them in the region named “Rottweil”.

Rottweilers were mainly used for herding cattle, protection of humans and pulling meat-loaded carts to the market. So, they were also called “Rottweiler Metzgerhund” in German, which means Rottweil butchers.

Butchers mainly used to breed Rottweilers for their usefulness and working purpose. This continued till the 19th century until the railway line was installed. The First World War realised the great significance of this breed as military or guard dogs.

They were used in both the 1st and 2nd World wars by police officers for different purposes, such as guarding , military work and carrying out search and rescue operations .

Now, Rottweilers are known for their protective, affectionate and loving behaviour, which also makes them ideal family pets. They are used as both family dogs and working dogs too.

American bully vs Rottweiler : physical features

American bully

The American bully is a stocky & heavy, muscular-build dog breed which provide it a high-powered and athletic appearance.Their enlarged chest,wider necks,short muzzles along with a broad-deep grin exhibit them like bulky canines.

The average height of American bullies ranges between 13 -21 inches, while their weight can vary between 70 and 120 pounds.

They have broad and bulky heads which are in the appropriate proportion of the entire body. Owing to short, smooth and shiny furs on their bodies , their grooming cost is relatively less. Usually, brushing at regular intervals is required .

Apart from this, their ears may be cropped or left uncropped along with round different round coloured eyes. All these characteristics contribute to their unique physique and personality.

Rottweiler

Rottweilers are muscular dogs that may vary from large to medium sized. Male rottweilers may reach 24 to 27 inches and female rottweilers can rise 22 to 25 inches at their shoulders . They weigh between 80 and 135 pounds.

Their massive and broad heads, along with a well-defined black nose, make them appear impressive and powerful.

They have triangular-shaped ears folded towards the front and almond-shaped dark eyes that express their intelligence and vigilance .

The most remarkable physical feature of Rottweilers is that they possess short, dense and shiny double furs. Their coat colour is usually black with tan markings over cheeks, legs,chest etc.

American bully vs Rottweiler : Temperament

Rottweilers

Rottweilers are renowned for their high degree of confidence and loyalty. They are hypervigilant in the presence of strangers and possess protective instincts naturally towards their family members, which proves them perfect guard dogs.

The calm disposition and inner strength of Rottweilers enables them to deal with any hardships confidently and positively.

Some people hold an illusion in their minds about rottweilers being aggressive dogs . But it’s not true and just a misconception about their temperament and behaviour.

In fact, they are kind and loving towards children and others on the condition they get proper socialisation and training.

Moreover, they are popular as family pets and companions at present. Ethical principles of breeding should be ensured in order to produse an even-tempered and healthy pup.

American bully

Let’s have our way towards the temperament and behaviour of the American bully ! Along with its robust appearance, the American bully is an affectionate and gentle breed of dog.

They possess a balanced demeanour and calm behaviour, which makes them perfect pets for families. Besides, they enjoy the company of someone very close to them.

According to the American Bully Kennel Club, American bullies display a terrible eagerness to please their family. They too enjoy playtime with kids lovingly.

American bully dogs are calm and welcoming even towards strangers also, but always remain alert regarding possible threats. They don’t get aggressive unless they are provoked by something.

Making visits in parks and encouraging positive interaction with other animals also adds charms to their personality and behaviour.

Appropriate ways of training and early socialisation can surely result in a well-socialised and good-tempered canine.

American bully vs Rottweiler : Variations

While comparing the American bully and the Rottweiler, it is crucial to understand different varieties under both breeds and their underlying characteristics.

The American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC) recognise four variants of the American bully breed, including standard, classic, pocket and XL American bully. XXL is also one of the variants but it is not registered yet. Each displays distinct traits and sizes.

On the other hand, the Rottweiler is just a single variant with slight differences in its appearance.

American bully types

1) Standard American bully

The standard American bully has a heavy muscular build along with a broad chest and thick bones, which offers it an impressive and powerful appearance. They can rise 17 to 20 inches at the shoulders and weigh between 60 and 110 pounds.

2) Classic American bully

It is a less muscular and just a smaller version of the standard American bully. They typically stand between 13 and 17 inches and weigh around 40-60 pounds.

3)Pocket American bully

The pocket American bully is the smallest version of all the American bully dogs. The average height of these canines can be around 12 and 16 inches along with a weight of about 30 to 50 pounds . Though they are smaller than other variants, they hold equivalent power and strength.

4) XL American bully

The XL American bully is an extra large sized variant which is of massive size and appearance.They are recognised for their huge size and loving behaviour.The average height for the male XL American bully ranges from 20 to 23 inches and the female XL can stand between 19 – 23 inches. American bully XL can weigh between 70 & 120 pounds.

5)XXL American bully

XXL American bully is even larger than XL American bully and rare to be found. It has not been recognised as a standard breed by any kennel club yet . Generally, the XXL American bully is 2 – 3 inches taller than the XL American Bully.Their weight can reach up to 200 pounds and the heads of both are slightly different

Rottweiler variants

There is no specific variant of Rottweilers but they are categorised into several types on the basis of their region of origin.

German and American Rottweilers are two types registered as official dog breeds as per breed standards. The Roman Rottweilers are a non-official dog breed.

1)German Rottweiler

German rottweilers are highly energetic and muscular-large-sized canines which are popular as working dogs. They are believed to be produced from drover dogs of ancient Rome. Breeders follow high and strict standards while breeding German rottweilers. It can rise about 24 to 27 inches in height and weighs between 110 and 130 pounds.

2) American Rottweilers

American Rottweilers are descendants of the German rottweilers and possess overall the same size. There might be little difference in their weight. They are used as guard dogs and in search & rescue operations by police. It has been listed as an affectionate, loyal and protective dog by the American Kennel club (AKC).

3)Roman Rottweilers

It is a heavier and larger-sized dog than standard Rottweilers. Roman Rottweilers are highly prone to severe health issues like hip dysplasia , snoring etc. Actually, it is a mixed dog breed of rottweiler and bullmastiff, so they have a somewhat similar appearance and temperament to the bullmastiffs.

Their height ranges between 24 to 29 inches and the average weight is about 95-135 pounds.

American bully vs Rottweiler : Bite force

Bite force can be defined as the strength in the dog’s jaw to put pressure upon anything. So, if we talk about the bite force of the American bully and the Rottweiler, then both breeds possess a strong and impressive bite force.

The American bully holds a bite force of about 200 to 300 PSI ( pounds per square inch), while Rottweilers can apply considerable bite pressure around 328 – 350 PSI.

The magnitude of bite force may vary, as the Rottweiler has a stronger bite force than the American Bully’s .

Several other factors, such as size and structure of the jaw, training , temperament and the thing on which force is to be applied etc contribute to the strength of the bite force.

American bully vs Rottweiler : pricing

Before comparing the costs of the American bully and the Rottweiler, firstly, it is important to note that the prices of both types may vary relying upon factors such as reputation of breeders, location, ancestry, colour, size and other specific traits of canines.

The average price of an American bully can range between $1000 -$5000. On the other hand, the general price of Rottweilers may range between $1500 and $2500. These prices may exceed due to the above influential factors.

It is strongly recommended to get a new puppy from recognised and reliable breeders after conducting thorough research. Never ever neglect to ensure the health and breeding standards of dogs.

American bully vs Rottweiler : Training and learning ability

Both American bullies and Rottweilers are intelligent. i.e they possess high learning ability. As both of the breeds are well known for their eagerness to please their owners or family members, so they are easy to train.

The key factor that differs American bullies from Rottweilers is their individual needs and preferences.

American bullies prefer reinforcement techniques, including rewards and praise for learning positive behaviour. On the other hand, Rottweilers require consistent training along with clear cut boundaries or principles.

Comprehensive understanding of temperament, behaviour, needs and preferences play a significant role in bringing the best outcome of training. Appropriate training methods keep a check on their aggression and result in obedient behaviour.

American bully vs Rottweiler : Exercise requirements

Both massive-sized canines require regular exercise in order to burn off their calories. Both breeds should be provided with exercise for at least 30 minutes.

The American bully is an active breed which requires moderate amount of exercise. For example, short distance walks.

On the contrary, Rottweilers, being herd dogs or working dogs, need relatively heavy physical exercise such as running, playing games etc.

Mental stimulation activities such as puzzle games, interactive toys , training etc help in bringing mental stability and well-being.

Consistent training and routine exercises keeps them engaged and prevents boredom. Thus, it doesn’t allow them to turn their attention towards any destructive acts.

American bully vs Rottweiler : Food and diet

American bullies and rottweilers are powerful and energetic dogs.Both breeds have high requirements for nutritional food due to their massive size.

They should be provided with a top notch quality food diet including all the nutrients and minerals.

Protein is essential for muscle growth & maintenance, so it should be a major element in their diet. Moreover, fats and carbohydrates are to be included as high energy releasers.

High protein-rich foods such as cooked meat, raw meat, fishes , bones etc provide nourishment to their overall physique. A proper and balanced diet directly influences the life expectancy of these canines.

The amount of these nutrients and number of servings per day varies based upon the size ,age and sort of breed.

So it would be perfect to consult a veterinarian regarding the feeding schedule of your furry pet. Otherwise, overfeeding may cause obesity or various other health problems.

American bully vs Rottweiler : Health concerns

Health is one of the most serious and significant matters to be concerned about. Both breeds are vulnerable to some common health issues which owners need to be informed of :

• Orthopaedic problem : Joint issues such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia are common genetic issues in both of the breeds. Improper development of the elbow and hip joints leads to pain and mobility problems.

• Obesity : Both are huge and muscular dogs, due to which they are highly prone to gain weight. Obesity may lead to some other severe health issues. So, an appropriate amount of balanced diet and exercise is to be provided.

• Heart conditions : Heart problems are common in American bullies. But Rottweilers are believed to be more susceptible to heart issues that may also result in heart failure.

• Allergies : Both may also suffer from allergies such as skin irritations , mite diseases etc. They should be kept clean and away from other dog breeds.

• Eye problems: Both breeds may have eye issues including cataracts, retinal detachment and enthropia. Owners should remain alert and observe the signs of these diseases initially for treatment.

Regular exercise, proper nutritional diet, care and more importantly, routine vet checkups are required for maintaining sound health and fitness of these breeds.

American bully vs Rottweiler : Grooming Cost

Proper Grooming is also one of the ways to keep your furry friend physically fit and healthy. Both are low maintenance dogs which don’t require regular grooming. Only brushing at regular intervals is required to maintain the smoothness of their fur.

Both breeds may shed their fur in specific season. So there is no need to brush during the shedding period.

The cost of the grooming for an American bully may range between $30 and $60, while for Rottweilers it can range from $40 to $80.

Final thoughts

If you want to select a perfect dog out of these two for you ! So, first and foremost, you need to understand thoroughly about the temperament , behaviour and other specific traits of both breeds and we have tried our best to make you understand the same.

Both are unique dog breeds with their own fascinating traits. If you want a guard dog with loyalty and natural protective instincts, then you can go for a Rottweiler. But if you desire to have an affectionate and a gentle companion for you , then an American bully would be a perfect choice for you.

Anyway, the dog breed which may be perfect for you may not be for another one. So it totally depends upon your personal choice, preferences and lifestyle as well. It is crucial to offer your care and time to train and socialise them, irrespective of the breed you choose for you .

Hope this article will be useful in finding the perfect match for you !

FAQs

Q1. Which dog is stronger: Rottweiler or American bully?

Ans. Both breeds are the most powerful and impressive dogs. They are well known for their heavy build and athletic appearance. If you want a guard dog with loyalty and natural protective instincts then, you can go for Rottweiler. But in case you desire to have an affectionate and a gentle companion for you , then an American bully would be a perfect choice for you.

Q2. Who bites harder: American Bully or Rottweiler?

Ans.Bite force of the Rottweiler is relatively stronger than the American bully. The American bully holds a bite force of about 200 to 300 PSI ( pounds per square inch) while Rottweilers can apply considerable bite pressure around 328 and 350 PSI.

Q3. Is Rottweiler a fearless dog?

Ans. Yes, Rottweilers are powerful and fearless canines.Owing to their courageous and lionhearted attitude, they served as guard and military dogs in the first world war and second world war

Q4.What is the weakness of a Rottweiler?

Ans Rottweilers are believed to be more susceptible to various severe diseases like heart issues , orthopaedic or joint problems, obesity and eye problems including cataracts, retinal detachment enthropia etc.

Q5.Who bites harder pitbull or Rottweiler?

Ans.Rottweilers are considered one among the most strongest bite-forced dogs.