American Pit Bull Terrier vs. American Bully (Bully Pit)

Information and Pictures

Front view - A tan with black American Pit Bull Terrier is wearing a blue collar sitting on a carpet looking forward.

A short-legged, wide, muscular, white with brown American Bully is standing in grass looking to the left. It has a thick chain collar on and its ears are cropped short.

An American Pit Bull Terrier (left) bred by John Errington. An American Bully (right) bred by Ruthless Kennels.

People often confuse the American Pit Bull Terrier with the American Bully Pit. The American Bully is becoming very popular in the USA and most people lump the two together as one in the same when there are clear differences that even the average person could point out if they had a little bit of info on them.

The American Bully was started by crossing the American Pit Bull Terrier with other dogs in the bully breed family and sometimes dogs outside the bully family. The American Bully is becoming its own breed, and is not the same breed as the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT).

Two dogs laying down and sitting side by side on a tan tiled floor - A blue nose brindle American Pit Bull Terrier dog is laying next to a dark gray with white American Bully puppy who is sitting down. They are both looking up.

On the left is Spencer the blue nose brindle American Pit Bull Terrrier and on the right is Mia the 13-week-old blue nose American Bully Pit puppy.

One very clear difference is appearance. The American Bullies are more muscular and very broad often with larger heads and shorter legs. The American Pit Bulls are not as muscular and not as wide.

Pit Bulls are medium sized dogs weighing about 30 to 70 pounds and stand about 18 to 22 inches at the shoulders, while American Bullies are more like 50 to 120 pounds. In both breeds actual weight and height are less important than the proportion between weight and height. Weights and heights vary in both breeds, but the goal of the American Bully to be muscular and broad with a big head remains a clear difference.

Here are some examples...

Examples of American Bullies

Front view - A short-legged, wide, muscular, tan with white American Bully is sitting in grass in front of a chainlink fence looking forward. It has a large head, small cropped ears and a large thick brown leather spiked collar. Its mouth is open and its tongue is out. It looks like it is smiling.

Adult American Bully, photo courtesy of Corleone Kennels

View from the front - A large headed, wide, short-legged, tan with white American Bully is standing on a marble surface with its tongue showing. Its ears are cropped small and its mouth is very wide. There is a person behind it holding its collar which has a golden cross pendant hanging from it.

Adult American Bully, photo courtesy of Corleone Kennels

Front side view - A wide-chested, large headed, muscular, gray with white American Bully is standing in dirt looking to the left. Its mouth is open and tongue is out. Its eyes are squinted and its ears are cropped short and to a point.

Skylar, an American Bully, photo courtesy of Down South Smokin' Kennels

Examples of American Pit Bull Terriers

Close up front side view - A large headed, white with tan American Pit Bull Terrier dog is standing in grass looking up happily with its tongue showing. Its mouth is wide, eyes are almond in shape and its ears are perked up with the tips folded over.

Chevy is a female American Pit Bull shown here at 3 years old

Head and upper body shot from above looking down at the dog - A large headed compared to its skinny body, light brown eyed, red with white American Pit Bull Terrier is standing on a concrete surface and it is looking up. Its nose is brown and its forehead is wide and its ears are cropped short to a point.

Tokey, an American Pit Bull Terrier at 7 years old

Zeppelin the American Pit Bull Terrier at 2 years old

Front view - A rose-eared, wide chested, brindle with white American Pit Bull Terrier dog is sitting in grass looking forward. Its mouth is open and its tongue is out. It looks like it is smiling.

Tigger the American Pit Bull Terrier at 20 months old, weighing 60 pounds

Front view - A wide, big headed, rose-eared, tan and white Pit Bull / Bully mix breed dog is standing on a stone surface outside looking forward with its eyes, but its head is turned to the right.

This is Danger the 6 1/2 year old red nose Pit Bull / American Bully mix. His mother was a American Pit Bull Terrier game dog and his father is an American Bully. A lot of people assume that the term game dog means a fighting dog, when actually it is a term for a working dog. A lot of hunting-type breeds and working terriers use the word game to describe their working dogs. Game refers to the type of dog who will work until it drops, never gives up, perseveres and is ready and willing for anything.