Exotic bully : Everything you need to know about this breed

The exotic bully is a fairly new breed that originated in the year 2008. It is widely regarded as a smaller version of an American Bully. Most of the people get confused between pocket bully and exotic bully. They even call the exotic bully as exotic pocket bullies or pocket bullies exotic. But the fact is, both are different breeds which have a somewhat similar appearance.

Increasing demand for smaller show dogs led to the development of exotic bullies. In this article we will provide you with all necessary information including the origin, characteristics and temperament of these exotic bullies.

Moreover, we will also discuss the average cost and wide variety of coat colors being available in this breed.

Different bully breeds

Bully breed is a term used to identify various kinds of dogs who resemble either slight or wholly types of terrier dog. Most of the bully breeds hold the genes of the ancient bulldogs, English bulldogs and British terriers.

However, a few bully breeds don’t have any relation with bulldogs. The bully breed term is not related to the temperament or behavior of the dogs but with the history & origin of those dogs.

The following listed dogs fall under the category of bully breed :

• American Pit Bull Terriers
• Bull Terriers
• Bullmastiffs
• Staffordshire Terriers
• Boston Terriers
• Boxers
• French Bulldogs
• Old English bulldogs
• American bullies

What is an Exotic bully?

The exotic bully or exotic American bully is considered as a smaller version of the American bully breed. These dogs possess characteristics of bulldogs but are found different from American bullies to some degree.

It is a product of crossbreeding American bullies with different bulldog breeds, like olde English bulldogs, English Bulldogs, French bulldogs etc.

Though being a newer breed, it is not recognized by any reputable kennel clubs, like United Kennel Club (UKC) and American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC).

The exotic bully was first acknowledged by the US bully registry in 2013.Breeders aimed at producing a dog with enhanced physical features of the American bully and other bulldog breeds.

As a result, compact and muscular dogs were produced with larger blocky heads.

Origin and history of exotic bullies

Exotic bullies were often confused with one of their closest relatives, i.e. The American bully breed. Still, a lot of people are not familiar with exotic bullies. But this breed has set up its separate identity in the year 2008 as its own breed.

Breeders, through their continuous assessment got successful in producing a new type of American bully with great positive changes in genetic makeup and overall appearance.

Consequently, a new dog breed, being smaller, more compact and holding a more look of bulldogs was produced which separates them from an American bully breed.

Physical features of the exotic bully

The physique of the exotic bullies is muscular and more compact. They have large and blocky heads with short and broad muzzles.

These canines have a broad chest, broad skull and powerful jaws. This breed has short forelegs, providing them with a dwarf appearance.

Exotic bully dogs are not recognized by any reputed kennel clubs. Hence, it is difficult to find any reliable information regarding their weight and height. Their weight is always proportional to their height.

According to some research being conducted, adult exotic bullies generally rise to about 16 inches at their shoulders and weigh around 80 pounds.

Temperament of the exotic bullies

Exotic bullies may appear frightening at first appearance, but they are gentle and even tempered canines. Their demeanor is found to be similar to American bullies.

They are quite friendly towards human beings and not at all aggressive.

Exotic bullies are also capable of becoming excellent companions. They are also good with the kids, but be sure to supervise them and not to be left alone with kids as they may cross their boundaries without being aware of hazardous results.

These canines may exhibit their jealous nature towards other pets in your home or society. So, it is important to begin their training and socialization from a young age. Yet, due to their smaller size, they may not serve that mush efficiently as guard dogs.

Variants of the exotic bully

Exotic bully dogs are bred in different versions, including standard exotic bully, pocket exotic bully and micro-exotic bully.

Let’s learn in detail about them :

1) Standard exotic bullies

Standard exotic bullies are small to medium-sized dogs which can stand up to 18 inches in height on their shoulders. They are also known as extreme exotic bully or extreme exotics.

2) Micro exotic bully

Micro exotic bullies have a similar appearance to the standard exotic bullies, but they are much smaller than them.

They can’t rise more than 13.5 inches in height and weigh not more than 40 pounds. These dogs are known by different names, like mini exotic bully and micro mini exotics.

3)Pocket exotic bully

There is no significant difference between pocket exotics and micro-exotic bullies. This breed is not recognized by any reputed kennel clubs, hence their names have not been standardized.

The pocket exotic bully should not be confused with the pocket bully, which is one of a variant of the american bully breed recognized by the American bully kennel club (ABKC).

Coat colors of the exotic bully

Exotic bullies have short, smooth and shiny coats or furs. They are available in a wide range of colors.

The most common coat colors among those are :

• White
• Cream
• Black
• Brown
• Brindle
• Tricolor
• Chocolate
• Grey
• Red
• Blue

Merle patterns are also found in exotic bullies, which are quite rare. The dilution of eumelanin pigment leaves some patches over the normal coat color, resulting in the Merle pattern.

If a bully puppy inherits Merle genes from both parents, there is more risk of getting blind or deaf. Hence, breeders avoid mating two merle exotic bullies.

Life expectancy of the exotic bullies

There are a lot of controversies regarding the lifespan of exotic bullies. According to some sources, the average life expectancy for these dogs is about 10 years, but there is very little evidence which proves this statement.

In fact, if we compare the exotic bully with their ancestral American bully breed, then bully exotics have quite a shorter lifespan.

American bullies have a lifespan of about 13 years. So, exotic bullies can live for about 5 to 7 years.

There are various reasons for the short life span of these exotics, which include :

• The primary reason is the unethical breeding standards. Hence, no reputed kennel clubs like ABKC and UKC recognized this breed yet. The bully registries like American bully registry (ABR), international bully coalition (IBC), US bully registry etc. recognized the exotic bullies.

• Another reason for their reduced time expectancy is that they are highly vulnerable to several health issues.

Cost of an exotic bully

Though exotic bullies are smaller, they are relatively costlier than their cousins, American bully dogs. Their smaller size and unique outlook have recently made them more popular throughout the world.

The average price of exotic bullies begins from $5000 and may go up to $1000. But it can even exceed $10,000 relying upon their genealogy, health, breeding standards and quality of the bloodlines.

Remember to take it from a reputable breeder who follows all breeding standards. They need some extra special care due to their short muzzles. Otherwise, they may get inflicted from Brachycephalic airways’ syndrome.

Other than their purchasing cost, you also need to be prepared for all their brought-up expenses, which include :

Type of Expense	Cost
Dog License	$10 – $20
Microchipping	$40 – $60
Toys	$30 – $100
Beds	$50 – $300
Deworming, Flea, and Tick Medications	$40 – $300
Crates and Carriers	$60 – $500
Grooming Essentials	$50 – $250
Initial Vet Visits	$100 – $500
Initial Vaccine Shots	$50 – $300
Collars and Leashes	$15 – $50
Neutering or Spaying	$50 – $500
Bowls	$40 – $60
Food and Treats	$80 – $150
Other Essentials	$30 – $80
Total Initial Cost	$495 – $2,470

Common health issues of exotic bullies

As exotic bullies are not the healthiest breeds, hence they are vulnerable to a wide range of health problems.

The extent to which they are prone to health issues entirely depends upon the way of breeding.

Some of the common health problems of exotic bullies are explained below :

1)Back Problems

Exotic bullies are likely to suffer from back pains which makes them unable to do any physical movements like playing, getting up, running, standing etc.

2)Hip Dysplasia

All bully breeds carry the risk of joint issues like hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia due to their heavy physique and bowed legs. This results in laying overpressure on the joints, increasing the chances of osteoporosis and arthritis.

3)Dental issues

Exotic bullies also suffer from dental issues like pain or tooth loss due to their Brachycephalic skulls. These dental issues decrease their ability to eat and make them uncomfortable throughout the day.

4)Eye problems

Most of the bully breeds who are the ancestors of the French bulldogs have flat faces and are more vulnerable to eye-related problems like entropion, dry eyes etc. This discomfort does not allow them to enjoy their life to the fullest.

5) Brachycephalic airway syndrome

One of the most common health issues to which exotic bullies are highly prone to is Brachycephalic obstructive airways syndrome (BOAS).

Due to their flat faces and short muzzles, they often suffer from respiratory problems which get even worse with time.

Don’t get overly tense with the health issues of the exotic bullies. Regular visits to the vets for checkups help the owner to detect the issues at their initial stage, and they can be cured easily.

Alternative names for exotic bullies

Due to being highly prone to some health issues, exotic bullies enjoyed not very good fame. Hence, in order to improve the reputation of the exotic bullies, a new name, Clean exotic bully, was invented by breeders.

Moreover, the American bully registry (ABR) and the international bully coalition (IBC) also set some standards for selective breeding of exotic bullies.

They are also known by some names, like Exotic American bully or bully exotics.

How to find a reputable exotic bully breeder

If you are thinking of buying an exotic bully, then you need to first search for a reputable breeder. Nowadays, most people search online and go through several breeders’ websites to find a reputable breeder.

But, it is strongly suggested to avoid such websites and meet the breeders directly. Even some authentic sites give the opportunity to their customers to visit them before purchase. Be careful and don’t become victims of various online scams.

The best ways to find a reputable breeder are the following :

• You can get the reference of reputable breeders from people who are already owners of exotic bullies.

• Visit some of the authentic websites and meet the puppies physically before paying for them.

• Search for local rescue groups who assess the rescued dogs and prepare them through proper socialization & training for new homes.

Choosing an exotic puppy is more desirable as getting an adult bully can be more risky. In addition, you are unaware of their experience in the past years and get companionship for a short term.

Tips to take care of exotic bullies

As a new owner of unique canine-like exotics, it is necessary to be aware of how to take care of them.

The following are some tips to better take care of your exotic bully :

1) Provide a high quality food diet

The Exotic bully breed requires a healthy, balanced diet containing at least 30% of proteins and 20% of essential fats.

An exotic puppy is to be provided with more food than adult exotics as they need to maintain their muscle mass.

But remember to keep checking on their weight. Otherwise, increasing weight may lead to further health issues like obesity, hip dysplasia etc.

2) Ensure proper training & socialization

As the exotic bully is quite a sociable dog breed, hence it is not difficult to train or socialize it. These canines should be trained using positive reinforcement techniques to get positive responses.

Not only this, they are required to be socialized from a young age. Introduce them to other animals and people politely and let them take their time to get friendly with them.

3)Provide a suitable amount of exercises

Exotic bullies are slightly active dogs due to their brachycephalic structure. Providing them with only 30 minutes of exercises will be sufficient for them.

Don’t force them to over-exercise. Else, it may cause several health problems.

4) Fulfill grooming requirements

As an exotic bully is a dog with a short and smooth coat, they don’t have many grooming requirements. Brushing them once or twice a week would be enough.

Bath them in some couple of weeks or whenever they get dirty or muddy to keep them tidy & clean. Trim their nails when it is needed to do so.

5) Make available fresh water

It is essential to supply your exotic pet with plenty of clean and fresh water. It will maintain their energy level and keep them hydrated.

Final thoughts

When trying to get an exotic bully, first get in contact with a reputable breeder and ensure your money does not get wasted on unethically bred dogs.

The word exotic got added due to their unique outer appearance. It is a gentle-natured, low-maintenance and highly sociable dog breed. But, you need to be extra cautious regarding the health care of exotic bullies.

These canines are also very suitable for less spacious homes due to their small size. So, if you can give your proper time and take care of these bullies, then, you can absolutely go for this breed !

Hope you gained an insight into exotic bully dogs.

FAQs

Q1. What makes an Exotic Bully?

Ans. Exotic bully is a product of crossbreeding American bullies with different bulldog breeds, like old English bulldogs, English Bulldogs, French bulldogs etc.

Q2. Are Exotic Bullies aggressive?

Ans. Exotic bullies may appear frightening at first appearance, but they remain gentle and even tempered canines if they are well-trained and socialized.

Q3. Are Exotic Bullies healthy?

Ans. No, they are not the healthiest canines. Exotic bullies are prone to some common health issues like back pains, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, skin problems, dental issues and eye problems.

Q4 How tall is an Exotic Bully?

Ans. According to some research being conducted, adult exotic bullies generally rise to about 16 inches at their shoulders and weigh around 80 inches. They fall under different categories like standard, micro and pocket exotics.