Last Updated on April 16, 2023
The American Bully is a relatively new breed that is developed as a cross between an American Staffordshire Terrier, an American Pit Bull Terrier, and some other Bully-type dogs. These dogs are known for their wide heads, muscular bodies, and short coat.
They are also known as being powerful and athletic doggos with an intimidating appearance, making them formidable guard dogs.
But just what does it cost to buy an American Bully? Is it expensive to maintain this breed? How do you find a reputable breeder for these dogs, and what factors will influence the price of one of these puppies?
Keep reading as we will look at all of this in the article below.
Quick Navigation
- 1 How Much Does an American Bully Cost?
- 2 What Does a Bully Cost Through Reputable Breeders?
- 3 Adoption Fee for a Rescue Bully
- 4 Factors Affecting the Price of an American Bully Puppy
- 5 Initial and Long-Term Ownership Costs
- 6 Additional Costs that Come with Owning this Breed
- 7 Should You Buy an American Bully Dog?
- 8 Further reading:
How Much Does an American Bully Cost?
Purchasing an American Bully puppy can cost between $2,500 and $5,000 from a reputable breeder.
Of course, the initial purchase price for your pup is just the beginning of your expenses when it comes to pet ownership, as you still have food, supplies, training, vet expenses, and more to consider.
Are American Bullies expensive?
Yes, American Bullies with top bloodlines are expensive. Some puppies from champion bloodlines can even net close to $20,000 for a single puppy.
However, if you don’t plan to breed or show your dog, you may be able to find this breed from lesser-known bloodlines for cheaper.
Various factors will influence the final price of your puppy, including the breeder’s reputation, genetics, size, and more.
How much is a full-grown American Bully?
If buying an American Bully puppy sounds like it will be too expensive, you can look at getting a fully grown dog.
Unfortunately, many American Bullies or crosses of this breed land at the shelter due to owners who don’t know how to handle them.
These dogs can be picked up for as little as $300 to $800, with the price you pay going towards the cost of caring for him at the shelter and providing him with any medical attention he might have needed before adoption.
You will also be giving a dog a much-needed home.
Read also: American Bully Growth and Weight Chart
Should you buy a puppy or an older dog?
It can be gratifying to rescue an older American Bully from a shelter since you will be providing a new home for a dog in need.
And as mentioned, rescued American Bullies are also one of the cheapest options for acquiring these dogs, but there can be issues with them.
Dogs that have been rescued will require more effort than puppies that have been purchased from a breeder. They can have behavioral problems if they aren’t adequately trained as puppies.
Older dogs may also have health issues that can be expensive to treat.
Are XLs more expensive than the Standard and Pocket Bullies?
Yes, the size of your American Bully will influence his cost. Standard Bullies are the most common and thus the cheapest breed variant, ranging between $2,500 and $5,000 a puppy.
Pocket American Bullies will range between $3,000 and $8,000, and finally, XL American Bullies are the most pricey, with these pups costing as much as $5,000 to $10,000 for a single dog.
See what an extra-large American Bully looks like at just one week old in this video:
American Bully Dog Price Chart
The American Bully comes in different variants of sizes. These include the Standard, Classic, Extra Large, Pocket, and Extreme. The right dog for you is a personal choice, but certain variants are more expensive than others.
Here is a quick look at the different size variants and their average pricing.
American Bully Size | Height | Characteristics | Cost |
Standard Bully | 16-20 inches (41 to 51 cm) |
Wide chests, big head, strong jawline |
$2,500 to $5,000 |
Classic Bully | 16-20 inches (41 to 51 cm) |
Lighter and more agile, fierce-looking |
$2,500 to $5,000 |
Pocket Bully | 13-17 inches (33 to 43 cm) |
Smallest variant | $3,000 to $8,000 |
XL Bully | 19-23 inches (48 to 58 cm) |
Largest variant, more body mass, big head |
$5,000 to $10,000 |
Extreme Bully | – | Smaller but broader, muscular, heavy |
$2,500 to $5,000, |
What Does a Bully Cost Through Reputable Breeders?
It can be expensive to buy a purebred American Bully from a reputable breeder, with average prices ranging from $2,500 to $5,000.
However, if you purchase them from a reputable breeder, you should receive health certificates that certify the dog is free of genetic diseases.
The cost of subsequently treating these severe health issues later in life may see you spend more money on your Bully’s life in the long run.
Thus, instead, spend a little bit more money initially buying your pet from an ethical breeder that cares about the health of their dogs.
How to find a reputable breeder and avoid puppy mills?
A puppy mill is a facility in which unethical breeders sell dogs for a low cost.
While it may seem like you are getting your American Bully for a reasonable price, these puppy mills often do not take proper care of their parent dogs or their puppies.
They also do not perform health inspections as thoroughly as reputable breeders.
Puppy mills also do not generally deworm or vaccinate their puppies; therefore, they risk having health problems immediately after birth since they were not adequately cared for.
This means that despite your dog’s apparent low cost initially, it could cost you an enormous amount of time and money in the long run.
On the other hand, breeders dedicated to breeding according to ethical standards share background information on their dogs’ pedigrees, temperaments, and even the grandparents of their puppies.
Local breeders in your area can be found on the American Bully Kennel Club website.
Here are a few breeders to get you started searching for the right puppy:
- The Incredibullz, Dallas and Las Vegas
- Florida State Bullies, Florida
Adoption Fee for a Rescue Bully
The initial purchase price of a rescued American Bully will be much less than a puppy from a breeder, ranging only between $300 and $800, and you might even help save a dog from euthanasia.
However, you will need to be prepared to train your pup as there’s a possibility that they did not receive formal training or might have experienced a traumatic upbringing that has affected their temperament.
American Bully-specific rescue centers near you may be able to help you locate a dog to adopt. Here are some you can try.
- Mid-America Bully Breed Rescue, Missouri
- NWA Bully Haven Rescue, Springdale, Arkansas
- Don’t Bully Us Rescue
Factors Affecting the Price of an American Bully Puppy
American Bully puppies can be priced differently depending on several factors, including their breeder’s reputation, genetics, size and age, and even their coat color and markings.
Despite the many variations in pricing, this breed is one of the more popular dogs.
1. Bloodline and Breeder’s Reputation
Genes and your pet’s bloodline are the primary considerations that will affect the cost of your American Bully. Pups from champion bloodlines will be higher.
For example, one well-known breeder in Texas sells the puppies from their award-winning dogs for between $8,000 and $20,000 each.
2. Registration papers/pedigree
When you buy an American Bully puppy, he should come with registration papers from a recognized dog registry, such as the United Kennel Club.
This certifies that he is purebred. You might be lucky enough to find a purebred dog without registration papers for less, but you also run the risk that your puppy could be a crossbreed.
Dogs without papers will also not be able to be entered into any dog shows or be bred.
3. Health screenings and medical expenses
Reputable American Bully breeders will perform several health screenings and checks on their dogs before selling their puppies to ensure they are free of any genetic diseases.
Unfortunately, these health screenings are pretty expensive, which means that their cost will be built into the price of your puppy.
When looking at the price of your pup, you should also check to see if this includes vaccinations, deworming, microchipping, and spaying or neutering.
Some breeders include some or all of these services, while others charge extra for these on top of your puppy purchase price.
4. Age
As referenced above, an older American Bully will be less than a puppy. The younger a doggie, the more costly he will be.
Be careful of anyone who sells puppies under two months old. As pups rely upon their moms for warmth and nourishment, they ought to remain with their moms for at least the first eight weeks of their lives.
5. Gender
Male American Bullies are, for the most part, more popular than female American Bullies as they are bigger and normally have fewer health concerns.
The proportion of boys to girls in the particular litter you’re looking at will likewise also influence the price of your Bully puppy.
6. Coat Color and Markings
There are various coat colors for the American Bully, including solid colors, brindle, fawn, and striped. Tri-color American Bullies that contain a patterned coat are some of the rarest and thus most expensive.
Albino American Bullies are also some of the most sought after, with a pure white dog known as the White Rhino, the most expensive American Bully.
That said, stay away from any breeder that can promise you an all-white or albino American Bully as they would be in breeding these dogs to obtain this genetic abnormality, and that can be extremely dangerous and unhealthy.
Merle American Bullies have a unique pattern coat with a mottled color in solid or piebald. You get red, blue, and cryptic Merle Bullies, although these are not recognized breeds and can have various health problems.
Despite this, Merle American Bully can cost between $5,000 and $10,000 or more. This is because they are quite rare, although even then, you run the risk of your Bully not actually being a purebred dog.
7. Others
The American Bully price might be impacted by a few different elements.
These factors can incorporate the breeder’s region, interest in the doggies from different purchasers in your area, shipping expenses, and any additional items your breeder has included, for instance, starting with puppy training.
Initial and Long-Term Ownership Costs
Aside from the initial purchase price of buying your American Bully puppy, there are various things you will need to spend money on when you bring your dog home for the first time.
This includes supplies like food bowls and beds, toys, grooming equipment, and food for your pup. It can thus cost about $355 just to get your dog set up and happy in your home.
American Bullies can spend you over $245 a month. You will need many things each month to keep him happy and healthy, including dog food and treats, flea and tick preventative medication, toys, and pet insurance, amongst others.
1. Veterinary Check-ups
The medical expenses for your American Bully can cost quite a lot. You should save between $30 and $50 a month for regular vet visits, while flea and tick preventative medication will set you back $10 and $15 a month.
In the first year of his life, you’ll also need to visit the vet more frequently for annual vaccinations and check-ups.
You’ll also need to get your puppy dewormed and spayed or neutered. In your pup’s first year alone, vet fees could be more than $1,100.
Joint issues are among the most common problems in all large-breed dogs. American Bullies are also susceptible to developing diseases such as hip or elbow dysplasia or patella luxation.
As these conditions worsen, they can cause severe pain and impaired mobility to your dog.
The cost of treating or fixing these conditions includes X-rays, surgery, and medication that could exceed $13,000.
Other diseases commonly affecting American Bullies are eye issues such as cherry eye and cleft palate. These problems will typically cost no less than $1000 to treat.
2. High-Quality Dog Food and Treats
American Bullies are big, strong, muscular dogs that need high-quality dog food to sustain their bodies, and lots of it.
A standard-sized adult American bully will eat about four cups of kibble daily. This means you can expect to spend between $30 and $50 on your dog’s food every week.
Also read: Best Dog Food for American Bully
2. Dog Grooming Service
American Bullies have short hair that doesn’t need much grooming, despite regular brushing.
Brushing your pup weekly and shampooing him every two or three months is all you need to do to keep his coat looking shiny and healthy.
You might also want to provide him with dental chews to keep his teeth cleaned and take him to the parlor every few weeks to get his nails clipped. These professional grooming fees will charge you $30 and $60 a visit.
3. Pet Insurance Coverage
It’s a good idea to take out pet insurance for your American Bully to assist you with covering any unexpected medical costs.
Contingent upon the amount you’re willing to spend, you can get plans that cover only unanticipated accidents or more comprehensive coverage that incorporates routine vet visits and health problems.
A basic arrangement for your dog will cost about $190 each year, while more far-reaching pet protection could set you back at about $560 yearly.
Just do your research correctly, as some pet insurance companies won’t cover American Bullies because these dogs have a bad reputation as aggressive animals that pick fights.
4. Environmental Maintenance
American Bullies need adequate exercise and space to roam, so you need to make sure your environment is well-equipped to deal with the needs of these dogs.
As large canines, they also produce huge poops, and you’ll have to buy a poop scoop and bags to pick up after your puppy. These costs will add up to around $30 per month.
5. Pet Toys
American Bullies can be pretty destructive if they get bored. Thus, you’ll need to invest in some good-quality pet toys that can keep him entertained and won’t be shredded to pieces within a few minutes.
You can probably look at spending around $20 to $30 per toy you buy your pup.
6. Pet Supplies
You need to buy various supplies for your American Bully, including feeding bowls, a dog bed, a crate, and a leash and collar.
These are big, strong dogs, they are pretty hard-wearing, so it’s good to buy quality products that will stand the test of time. Acquiring these supplies for your pup will likely cost you around $500.
Additional Costs that Come with Owning this Breed
Other than the above costs, you will need to provide your American Bully with puppy training. At the same time, you may also look to spend money on dog walking or kennels and boarding if you travel often.
Training your dog could be around $100 per group lesson.
You may also need to get a permit for your Bully to keep him legally in certain states, and this will cost you between $100 and $500 each year.
These permits are more expensive than other breeds due to the potentially aggressive nature of this breed.
Average Monthly Expenses
As may be obvious, there are various things that you need to pay for your American Bully’s life, with medical expenses and your canine’s food likely being the most costly.
You can plan to spend somewhere in the range of $160 and $245 each month for your dog.
First-Year Expenses
The initial year of pet ownership is the most costly as you need to buy all the provisions for your dog as well as pay for various medical expenses.
When you consider the fact that just buying your puppy could set you back between $,5000 and $10,000, you could end up spending between $4,280 and $12,630 in the first year alone.
Lifetime Expenses
American Bullies have a life expectancy between 8 and 13 years. You can expect to spend between $1,920 and $2,940 for every year of your dog’s life during this period.
Add this to the first-year expenses, and your pup could have cost you between $17,720 to $45,510 by the time he passes away.
Should You Buy an American Bully Dog?
The American Bully breed is an excellent guard dog. They are loved for their striking look, muscular bodies, and wide faces. However, they are strong dogs that need an experienced owner to manage their stubborn tendencies.
They also need someone that’s willing to provide them with top-quality dog food and health care throughout their lives and has the financial means to cater to the costs these dogs can rack up.
Are you that owner? Or do you already have an American Bully at home? We would love to learn all about him and where you got your puppy in the comments below.
Further reading:
Janine is an experienced content writer and travel journalist based in Cape, Town, South Africa.
Raised by a bundle of botanists, researchers, and biologists, she is passionate about things related to the animal kingdom, including, our furry friends. However, as a terrible allergy sufferer, she is limited in her pet selection and so has grown up surrounded by curly-haired Poodles.