American Bully Lifespan – How Long Do American Bullies Live
One of the newest recognized breeds in the American Kennel Club, the American Bully has only just entered the scene as an official breed.
For that reason, it is not as commonly known what to expect when it comes to an American Bully lifespan.
Commonly confused for other bulldog breeds, American Bullies are thick in stature, muscular, and have noticeably box-shaped heads. They also have a reputation for being aggressive or violent, but that is an unfair assessment.
The breed itself is loyal and playful with its humans and the history of placing Bullies against one another for fighting purposes has caused an unfair shadow over the breed.
Because of the unsavory reputation of the breed, you need to be aware of everything that you can do to keep your dog as safe and protected as possible, extending his lifespan as much as possible.
American Bully Life Expectancy
When are talking about the life expectancy of an American Bully, it is really important to know that the breed actually has 4 recognized sizes: standard, pocket, extra-large, and classic.
The sizes are not incredibly different, but they are different enough to be visibly noticed.
Standard Bullies stand between 16 and 20 inches tall, pocket Bullies stand between 13 and 17 inches tall, extra-large Bullies stand between 19 and 23 inches tall, and the class Bully is the same size as the Standard in height but is narrower.
In general, the average American Bully lifespan is between 10 and 14 years. The smaller types of American Bullies stay on the higher end of the spectrum, whereas the larger American Bullies will not live quite as long.
The heights are fairly negligible, but the smaller dogs will not have as much trouble with conditions like hip dysplasia.
How Can I Extend The Life Of My American Bully
Feed Him Healthy Diet
Just like with humans, one of the best ways that you can extend an American Bully life expectancy is through proper nutrition.
When you are able to give your dog the level of nutrition that he really needs, he will be able to thrive and will be much happier in general.
To know whether you are feeding your dog the right kinds of foods, you should start by looking at your dog’s type of dog food. No matter what a dog food advertises, they are not all the same kinds of foods.
You need to make sure that your dog’s food has a protein as the first ingredient. You should also look for added fillers or anything else that is in the food that shouldn’t be there.
In addition, make sure that you are not just feeding your dog table scraps. A dog can eat some kinds of foods that humans do, but they cannot or should not eat everything that we do.
You can add meat to your dog’s regular meals, but just meat will not give him all of the nutrients that he needs to be healthy.
Finally, make sure that you are giving your dog the right quantity of food. It is really hard for an overweight Bully to lose weight.
Exercise & Training
It might come as a surprise to you, but training and exercise will also extend the life of your dog. With exercise, it is much like with humans. Routine exercise will keep the body healthy and muscular, keeping fats down dramatically.
Obese American Bullies do not have an easy time losing weight. They will not be able to shed extra pounds, so do not allow them to get there in the first place.
If you are a runner, it might be a good idea to take your dog on runs with you, provided he has been adequately trained.
Untrained dogs are more likely to try to protect their owners defensively, which would be dangerous if you run in a populated area and the dog feels like you aren’t safe.
Having your Bully properly trained will also extend his life. This is because there is a lot of fear surrounding the Bully breed.
If the dog acts on his instinct to do something, even if the movement is not threatening when compared to another dog, the dog will automatically be labeled dangerous.
To prevent an untimely demise for your furry friend, make sure the dog has been properly trained.
Visit The Vet Regularly
Many humans only go to the doctor when there is something wrong. This is a mistake for humans as subtle issues may go unnoticed until they have become bigger issues.
Dogs experience much of the same problem. You need to take your dog to the vet regularly, rather than waiting for a problem to show up.
Additionally, routine vet visits will help keep your dog up to date on his vaccinations and can help you keep track of when you need to give your dog heartworm prevention. Your vet will also monitor your dog’s weight, which can help prevent obesity.
It is also so essential that your vet screen your dog for illnesses that may not be symptomatic.
Bullies are prone to some conditions more than they are others, but through proper monitoring, you should be able to treat conditions early and extend your pup’s life.
Brush Your American Bully’s Teeth
You might be thinking that there is no way that you will brush your dog’s teeth. Most people have never done it, but brushing a dog’s teeth is very important to his health, so long as the two of you are willing and able to give it a shot.
Make sure that you start carefully so that you do not make your dog feel threatened. Use a dog toothbrush and toothpaste instead of humans.
They do make chews that will act like a toothbrush as well if it is just too scary for you.
Overweight American Bullies Live Shorter Lives
Obesity might be an issue plaguing Americans and children, but it is not limited to children and adults.
It can also be suffered by American Bullies and you will find that the battle to help your dog shed the extra weight is difficult and frustration will pop up for both of you.
The reason that American Bullies who are overweight do not live as long, has several different sides to it. The first is that American Bullies who are overweight will struggle with joint pain and mobility issues.
With extra weight pushing against him, he will have trouble moving about, making it even harder to lose the extra weight.
Dogs can also develop diabetes, heart conditions, and high cholesterol from obesity, putting their lives in serious trouble.
These conditions are completely fatal and not typically reversible, therefore shortening the life of an American Bully pretty quickly.
Do Mixed American Bullies Live Longer Than Purebred Ones?
This concept comes up from time to time. The idea is that dogs that are mixed with more than one breed are not as susceptible to the genetic conditions as purebred dogs are.
The logic is interesting since it is true that purebred Bullies have a higher tendency toward certain conditions, but the question is whether that actually affects the lifespan of a Bully.
The life expectancy of an American Bully is between 10 and 14 years on average, which is really excellent when you think about the mindset about the breed.
Mixed American Bullies can live up to 15 years, but really, the amount of additional time that you might get with your Bully is negligible.
The risk is that when you mix a purebred Bully with something else, the other breed will also have higher tendencies toward certain medical conditions, so it may not help you in the end to seek out a mixed American Bully.
American Bully Age Groups Explained
- Puppy: An American Bully is a puppy from birth to at least a year, though he does experience other developmental changes during this time. He might also reach his final adult-size and still remain as a puppy when it comes to behavior. Your puppy will start with his mother’s milk and then be weaned onto puppy food.
- Juvenile & Teenager: An American Bully is a teenager starting at about 6 months old. This is the more dangerous side of puppyhood, when the dogs are more likely to be housebroken, but also more likely to be destructive. They still need puppy food at this age and definitely keep your eye on them.
- Adult: Your American Bully will be considered an adult when he is about a year old. It is at this time that you will need to change his food from puppy food to adult dog food, but he still may behave like a puppy for a while yet. The breed also commonly continues to fill out in size until they are about 18 months old.
- Senior: Generally, you can call your American Bully a senior around 10 years old. He will need to be moved to senior dog food as well to make sure that he is getting the best overall nutrition that you can offer him, setting him up for long and healthy golden years.
Does Neutering & Spaying Affect American Bully Lifespan
Spaying and neutering used to be something that was just automatically done to puppies when they reached six months old.
But now, with more research and knowledge, we have learned more about the effects of spaying or neutering your dog.
While spaying your dog later will help with bone development, there are still advantages to doing it early. When a dog has been sterilized younger in their lives, they are less likely to develop cancer than other dogs are.
You will also not need to worry about your dog running off in search of a mate, which will set your mind at ease.
American Bully Common Health Issues That Can Affect Their Lifespan
All dog breeds have a higher tendency to develop certain health conditions than others. Some health issues will not affect your dog as badly as others, but any kind of health problem can have a negative effect on your dog’s lifespan.
American Bullies have a higher tendency to develop hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, heart disease, mange, hypothyroidism, cataracts, and progressive retinal atrophy.
- Hip and elbow dysplasia: Hip and elbow dysplasia is a skeletal malformation that usually plagues larger breeds of dogs. When a dog’s hip and elbow joints were developing, something happened in their DNA that made the joints not quite fit together. When an American Bully is young, this issue is not noticeable, but you should have your vet look out for it. Then, as your dog ages, he will become less and less mobile as those joints become less flexible. The lack of mobility can lead to obesity and a loss in quality of life, resulting in an earlier death of your dog.
- Heart disease: Looking at heart disease, it is no wonder that it shortens the life expectancy of dogs. When the heart stops working, the dog stops lively. Many heart conditions can be detected early on and with proper treatment, you can try to keep your friend around for years to come.
- Hypothyroidism: A common condition among American Bullies, hypothyroidism is where the thyroid is not as active as it should be. A dog with this condition that goes untreated will become overweight and have a lot of trouble losing that weight. Thyroid issues are treatable, however.
- Eye conditions: American Bullies are susceptible to a couple of different eye conditions, but they all lead down the same path that could result in blindness. Blind dogs will usually have a shorter lifespan because they cannot be active without putting themselves in danger.
American Bully Lifespan FAQs
Indoor vs Outdoor American Bully
One of the most common questions we get is whether indoor or outdoor American Bullies live longer.
Dogs that are able to be brought inside of the home will live longer because they have protection from the elements and a more loving environment. Outdoor dogs do not have the same protection or human connection.
Does An American Bully Live Longer Than A Pitbull?
Though the breeds are commonly confused for one another, there is a difference in their lifespan. In general, an American Bully does not like as long as a Pitbull, when given the same quality of care.
American Bullies live between 10 and 14 years, but a Pitbull can live between 12 and 16 years.
Final Words
American Bullies are a wonderful and loving addition to any household. But, it is still an excellent idea to note what you can expect when it comes to an American Bully life expectancy.
That way, you will be able to build the life that you want to have with your dog, knowing what lies ahead.
You can always work to extend the life of your beloved dog through proper care and feeding, supplying him with a loving home that will also give him the food that he needs to stay healthy.
Your Bully also needs regular exercise and routine vet visits to help give him the quality of life that he really deserves.
Due to their reputation, American Bullies may be treated poorly by outsiders, so make sure that you keep your American Bully protected and with you, helping to extend the dog’s life expectancy.
