Why Are American Bullies So Expensive? [The Real Reasons]

They are friendly and affectionate, but they are also very protective of their families. They will snuggle up to friends and family members, but they can rip an intruder apart. In many ways, American Bullies are perfect dogs, but this doesn’t come cheap.

In fact, American Bullies are one of the most expensive non-designer dogs you can get. But why?

Why are American Bullies so expensive? American Bullies are so expensive because they cost a lot to breed, maintain, and care for, and there are not as many reputable breeders with good breeding programs for American Bullies as with other breeds. A High-quality Bully can cost $10,000 and some American Bullies are estimated to be worth $500,000.

So, if there is anything American Bullies are not, is that they are definitely not cheap. They are not cheap and are not cheap to care for.

Getting an American bully is not a small investment, and you really should know what you’re doing, otherwise, you can lose thousands of dollars. To understand why are American Bullies are so expensive and what you really must know before getting one, keep reading…

Why are American Bullies So Expensive?

There are many factors that can determine the cost of an American Bully. Basically, there are 4 main things that can determine how much an American Bully puppy will cost, and these are, in no particular order:

The Breeder’s Reputation

You can find American bullies for as low as $500, but they are very unlikely to be purebred dogs and they are just not going to be good breeding stock or up to standards. A good American Bully breeding program is not an easy program to run (or cheap), so the breeder’s reputation is going to play the main role in how trustworthy they are.

Reputable breeders have good breeding programs and do all the things they should be doing, such as regular vet checks and veterinary care, and they will be able to provide evidence that their dogs are healthy.

Good breeders will also have good references and good word of mouth from people who have previously gotten dogs from them, and so you can easily find out about people’s past experiences with them.

All of this is to say that when it comes to American Bullies, the breeder you get the dog from is important, and it is the first thing you will be researching – or at least it should be.

The Breeding Quality

You want to make sure the dog you get is from a quality bloodline, especially if you want them as breeding stock or if you are planning to compete in shows or events.

Bullies that are not from quality bloodlines are still great dogs, but only as family dogs as they probably won’t match the standards of the competitions and events.

And although you can expect to pay a lot more in the beginning for a quality bloodline bully, if you are getting them as breeding stock, it will be a long-term investment that will eventually pay off as these dogs are much more likely to produce consistent litters that will earn you more than what you paid upfront.

The Bloodlines

The genetics and bloodline of a dog are dependent on the dog’s pedigree. Ideally, you want to make sure to get line breed dogs, and these are dogs that have the same ancestors appearing several times in the four-generation pedigree.

Line breed dogs will have higher-quality productions and are much more likely to produce consistent breeds.

It’s recommended to spend more on a quality bloodline – even though the initial investment will be much higher – as it can save you in the long term because you won’t need to spend much money on food supplements to bypass genetics.

Classes

The American Bully has found classes and each of them is a bit different and so you can expect to pay differently depending on the class of your dog. Each class of American bully is more suitable for a specific need, such as a pet, show dog, or breeding stock.

Let’s quickly go over each of the classes, in no particular order :

Classic

The classic American bully has less body weight and lighter bones than most other classes but will have a broader chest. They have compact bodies and well-defined jaws, and while they still look very strong, they make for excellent family pets.

Standard

The standard American bully is the standard that is accepted b the AKC. He falls somewhere in the middle and is the mellowest, I would say, of all the classes. The Standard American bully is a medium to large dog that has a distinct muscular build, blocky head, and heavy bone structure that easily distinguish them.

You can expect to pay an average of $2,500 for the standard American Bully.

Pocket

Pocket Bullies are, as the name may suggest, the smallest of the bully classes, but not that fool you into thinking they are any less amazing than them. Pocket bullies are still very much the strong American bullies you expect, with short stature, broad head, well-defined jaws, and cheek muscles.

The average male pocket bully stands at 14-17″ (36-43 cm) and males are slightly shorter at 113-16″ (33-41 cm). The average price for a pocket American bully is $2,000-$2,500.

XL

As the name implies, the XL is a larger version of American Bullies, but not the largest. Male American Bullies can be as tall as 23″ (58cm) or taller, with females slightly shorter at 22″ (56 cm). They look just like the standard American bully but with more buff.

They are taller, heavier, and larger than other classes, and they are more expensive as well. An XL American bully, on average, will cost more than $3,000.

They make for excellent breeding stock and show dogs, but if you are looking for a family pet, they may be just a bit larger and stronger than what most people would prefer.

Extreme

The extreme American Bully was canceled by the ABKC and there are now only 4 classes, but you still need to know about them. Basically,

The extreme Bully will basically have a larger body mass than any other class, making them look more buff than the other standards, although shorter than the XL. They will, however, be wider than even the XL bully.

The extreme bully will have such a massive body frame due to their thicker bones. They also have wider and wrinklier faces than the other standards. Due to their strong bodies, they should not be your best option for a family pet, but they can certainly be good breeding stock and there are people that are really into them, although they can’t compete.

I found this infographic and I think it sums all of this up really well:

From Visually.

Conclusion on Why American Bullies Are Expensive

American Bullies are a relatively new breed of dog, and although they are often mistaken for their pitbull cousins, the Bullies are very distinct from them. American bullies are expensive indeed, and they are so expensive because there are not that many good breeding programs for them (the supply doesn’t match the demand) and because they are just quite expensive to breed and care for.

Although the initial investment in an American bully may be higher, I think it’s still one of the best investments you can make in your life. American Bullies are superb companions that will keep you company, love you unconditionally, and guard you fiercely. They are easily the best friends you will get, and there is no price you can put on that, really.

All dogs are good dogs, and every dog is a special one. Please consider adopting from your local rescue or shelter and save a life instead of spending money that will support unethical breeding practices. #adoptdontshop

Why Are American Bullies So Expensive? [The Real Reasons]