The XXL American Bully: Your Guide To the Biggest And Toughest Bully Breed

The American XXL Bully is a relatively new breed of dog that has gained popularity in recent years. The breed is known for its impressive size, strength, athleticism, and friendly and loyal temperament. 

These giant companions can have sensitive stomachs, so invest in good diets and canine probiotics if you are interested in this breed. It is also essential to only use good equipment, like a sturdy no-pull harness, to ensure you always have control over them in public areas.

The American Bully is an emerging designer breed, with new varieties and sub-types popping up. This leaves confusion over questions like the difference between the XL and XXL Bully. Many people also want to know if these dogs are safe or prone to aggression. So let’s look closer at the XXL Bully and what you need to know if you search for “XXL Bully puppies for sale.” 

Just like the purebred American Pitbull Terriers, like the Gator Pitbull, we cannot overstate the importance of responsible ownership and research. Dogs with the amount of power that an XXL Bully has do not occur naturally, and we must respect this.

Of course, the most common question with dogs like XXL Bullies is, are they aggressive? The short answer is no, not usually. American Bullies are designed to have steadier and more relaxed temperaments than their American Pit bull Terrier cousins. They are also extremely loving. However, this does not mean they are without risk.

We cannot ignore genetics. A specific case of an XL Bully called Kimbo, who fathered several puppies that attacked their owners. Does this mean we should tar all Bullies with the same brush and try to ban them? Absolutely not. The XXL Bully is a remarkable companion dog and a good guardian, but only for experienced owners who understand how to care for these dogs responsibly. But this does illustrate the importance of responsible breeding.

If you are buying a large American Bully XL or XXL, it’s important to check the pedigree thoroughly for any known aggressive dogs.

History Of The American XXL Bully

The American Bully is an emerging breed developed in the United States in the late 20th century. The breed combines several other breeds, including the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT), American Staffordshire Terrier (AMstaff), the English Bulldog, and the American Bulldog.

The original goal was to take the highly athletic Pitbull and Amstaff and breed it more toward the “bully” type. This means a much bulkier dog that packs as much muscle and size as possible onto their frame. They should also have a more mellow personality than the traditional Pitbull. The United Kennel Club (UKC) recognized the Bully in 2013.

The American Bully Breed began with kennels like Razor Edge, whose founder also founded American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC). The ABKC only recognizes the 

• Pocket American Bully
• Classic American Bully
• Standard American Bully
• XL American Bully

However, since the American Bully is an emerging breed, we have seen several other Bully-type dogs crop up, including the Extreme, the Exotic, and the Micro Bully. The XXL is another of these sub-types that have emerged where Bullies are bred for more extreme proportions and unnatural conformation, including extreme size and weight.

While the UKC does recognize the American Bully, their XXL Bully is often much taller than their height recommendation of 20 inches in the breed standard.

This means that dogs advertised as an American Bully XXL are sometimes a mixed breed dog. It could be be a XL Bully that has been crossed to bigger mastiff-type dogs such as Cane Corsos, Presa Canarios, Bandogs, or American Bulldogs to add even more size and bulk. However, they can also be purebred XL bullies bred to greater and greater extremes by pairing the biggest individuals. Since the XXL is not recognized, it can be a marketing gimmick for some disreputable breeders. So be careful to research before your purchase.

Breeding for extreme size can create more health issues in the breed, typically placing more strain on their hearts, bones, and joints and typically shortening their lifespans. 

What Does The American XXL Bully Look Like?

The difference between XXL and Xl Bully is often confusing, and sometimes both terms are used to describe the same dog. In essence, they are very similar:

 American XXL Bully is bred to be as large as possible, with a weight range of 120-200 pounds (54 to 91 kg). However their height range is usually quite short for the amount of weight they carry, typically between 18 and 24 inches (45 to 60 cm). However, some dogs can stand up to 28 inches (71 cm) at the wither in extreme cases.

By comparison, the XL American Bully size is:

• Males over 20″ (51 cm) to 23″ (57 cm) at the withers. 
• Females over 19″ (48 cm) to 22″ (54 cm) at the withers.

Typically, the XXL Bully is a large, muscular dog with a broad head, wide chest, and thick, powerful legs. They have a short, smooth coat that comes in various colors, including black, blue, fawn, and brindle. Usually, American Bullies are not allowed to be albino or merle, but since the XXL is not really recognized, you may find them in any color. 

You can see this in the Merle American Pitbull, Aftermath:

Another famous example of an XXL Bully is the beautiful black Pitbull, Prague:

And the most famous giant red nose Bully that popularized the breed, Hulk:

These dogs are bred to exude power and strength, with bone-crushing jaws and characteristic huge blocky heads. Their ears are often cropped to make them look even more intimidating. 

Intelligence, Trainability, & Temperament Of the XXL Bully

The American Bully is a highly intelligent breed that is quick to learn and eager to please. They are known for their ability to excel in various dog sports, such as weight pulling, obedience, and agility. They are also highly trainable and respond well to positive reinforcement training methods.

They respond well to positive reinforcement training methods and thrive on praise and rewards. However, they do need boundaries and good leadership. It’s important to socialize the breed early and expose them to different people, animals, and environments to ensure that they grow up to be well-adjusted and well-behaved dogs.

This video shows how well these dogs do with positive training methods as puppies and trainable they usually are:

Some XXL Bullies are working bullies. Because of their size, they do not have the stamina that a Belgian Malinois does, but with good trainers, they make good protection dogs as in this video:

Keep in mind; these dogs should never be trained to be aggressive. Protection training is not meant to create an aggressive dog. So it is only something to do with a professional. Any bite work or guard training with a powerful dog needs to be undertaken with extreme care to avoid accidents.

XXL Bullies usually have a loving and loyal temperament. But temperaments can vary depending on the bloodline. Those bred more like a Pitbull can be more intense, while others have a more laid-back attitude, similar to a mastiff or Bulldog.

General Care of the XXL Bully

Exercise Needs

This breed’s exercise needs vary according to their size and ability. Bullies closer to the athletic Pitbull-type need at least 30-60 minutes of high-intensity daily exercise, including walks, runs, or plenty of playtime in a fenced-in yard.

However, the giant XXL Bullies with heavy builds need low-impact activity to preserve their joints and may also be prone to heatstroke. So a walks and short bouts of playtime are better as their size will not allow for much intense exercise.

Providing the breed with enough exercise is crucial to prevent them from becoming bored or destructive. However, be careful with heavy exercise that could damage their joints.

Warning: these dogs can be highly destructive if they become bored! They are completely capable of destroying your furniture. It’s vital to keep them mentally stimulated and take the time for lifelong training and daily exercise suitable for body-type.

Housing Needs

The XXL Bully is a large breed that requires a spacious living area. They do best in a house with a securely fenced-in yard where they can run and play. If they live in an apartment or other small living space, they will require more frequent exercise and playtime. 

Grooming Needs 

The XXL American Bully has a short, smooth coat that requires minimal grooming. They should be brushed weekly to remove loose hair and keep their coat shiny and healthy, and you can use a gentle oatmeal and aloe dog shampoo about every six weeks to wash them. 

They should also have their nails trimmed regularly and their ears cleaned with canine-friendly ear wipes to prevent infections.

Diet needs

Because of the XXL Bully’s size, they should be fed a low-calorie diet and kept slim, especially while they are growing. Too much extra weight on this dog will put undue stress on their joints and can exacerbate issues like early arthritis.

They need a heart-friendly diet, as they may have congenital heart problems, so speak to your vet about adding extra omega-3 fatty acids, taurine, L-carnitine, and MCT oil to their diet. 

They may also be prone to urate and cystine stones, so they may need a special diet for kidney stones.

XXL Bully Health

The XXL American Bully is a dog of extreme proportions, which can lead to various health issues, especially for their heart and joints. So let’s consult the Breed Predispositions to Disease in Dogs and Cats to get an overview of what kind of problems to be wary of in an XXL American Pitbull or Bully.

Typical hereditary issues to look out for in the XXL Bully include:

• Cystine kidney stones
• Congenital heart diseases or irregular heartbeats
• Atopic dermatitis and other skin problems leading to itchy or patchy skin.
• Demodicosis
• Hypothyroidism
• Cranial cruciate ligament disease
• Lymphoma
• Mast cell tumor
• Neurological conditions such as cerebellar degeneration
• Retinal degeneration
• Hyperuricosuria (excessive uric acid in the urine causing kidney and bladder stones)
• Prostate disorders
• Hip dysplasia
• Obesity

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

The XXL American Bully is a breed that is gaining popularity due to its impressive size, strength, and loving and loyal temperament. While this emerging breed requires a steady hand in training, they are highly intelligent and responsive to positive reinforcement training methods. With proper socialization and training, the XXL American Bully can make an excellent family pet and loyal companion. However, we must emphasize the importance of responsible and experienced ownership with this dog.

Tamsin De La Harpe

Author

Tamsin de la Harpe has nearly two decades of experience with dogs in rescue, training, and behavior modification with fearful and aggressive dogs. She has worked closely with veterinarians and various kennels, building up extensive medical knowledge and an understanding of canine health and physiology. She also spent two years in the animal sciences as a canine nutrition researcher, focusing on longevity and holistic healthcare for our four-legged companions.

Tamsin currently keeps a busy homestead with an assortment of rescue dogs and three Bullmastiffs.

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