Have you been offered an opportunity to get a BullyPit puppy? They’re quite rare, so you’re in luck!
Whatever sparked your interest in BullyPits, you’ll want to know more about the “breed.”
To be one hundred percent accurate, it’s not really a “breed” in the sense of being recognized by any kennel clubs. Instead, it’s one of those charmers that are sometimes termed “designer mutts.”
In other words, it’s a cross-breed that people have come to like so much that they’ve given it a unique name.
For example, you’ve probably heard of the Labradoodle, a cross between a Labrador and a Poodle.
But there’s more to the BullyPit dog than just being a cross between two distinct, very standard breeds. Understanding your dog means grasping this concept. Let’s begin right there!
BullyPit Dog Breed Parentage
You’re probably aware that a BullyPit is a cross between a Pitbull and American Bulldog, but did you know that the term “Pitbull” doesn’t refer to just one, standardized breed of dog?
The term “Pitbull” is applied to several types of dog. The American Pitbull, the American Bully, the American Staffordshire Terrier, and the Staffordshire Terrier are among the breeds to which the term “Pitbull” applies.
But it doesn’t end there. While the United Kennel Club has done its best to standardize these main forms of Pitbull, they aren’t recognized by all kennel clubs.
As a result, almost any kind of dog that has some form of Bully breed in it is often referred to as a Pitbull, and that muddies the waters a little further.
The American Bulldog, on the other hand, is a specific type of dog, and if it has the pedigree to prove it, it falls within one specific set of breed standards.
That makes its genetics, and the characteristics that come from those genes, rather more predictable.
First Step In Estimating What To Expect From A BullyPit Pup: Check Out The Parentage
There’s always a bit of guesswork involved in determining what to expect from a designer crossbreed.
Which of its mom’s genes will it express, and which of its dad’s genes will show up in the adult dog? All the same, you can get fairly close to figuring it out if you know about both parents.
So, given that one of them is an American Bulldog, exactly what type of Pitbull is the other one?
For example, if it’s an American Bully, you can expect a stockier, heavier build. If it’s an American Pitbull, the build isn’t as heavy and the dog is somewhat taller.
Even within registered breeds like the American Bulldog, there’s some variability. So, for example, there’s a range of sizes for both males and females, a range of possible coat colors and so on.
In either case, the parent dogs carry genes from their parents, and even when they don’t find expression in the way the dog looks, they’ll still carry those genes.
So, even when you get a purebred dog, there are variables that you may not have expected.
All the same, knowing a dog’s parentage is a good place to start your guesswork on how a puppy will turn out when it grows up.
With the Pitbull side of the family being the most variable, it’s of the greatest interest, but you should still check out the American Bulldog side of the family.
Last but not least, you might want to ask how the momma dog’s owners know who the father was.
If there was any chance that the female encountered other males during her fertile cycle, the chosen father might not be your puppy’s dad at all even if there were witnesses present. Not all pairings “take.”
Taking all this into account, we can still try to make some generalizations on the appearance and temperament of a BullyPit dog.
Although one could call any type of Pitbull crossed with an American Bulldog a BullyPit at a stretch, the classic BullyPit is bred using the American Pitbull and not the other types of Pitbull.
Pretty sure that’s what you’re getting? Then we can help you with a few characteristics you can expect from him.
BullyPit Appearance
With both parents having short, smooth coats, you can be sure that your BullyPit will have one too – and it can be just about any color or combination of colors thanks to its mixture of genes.
A BullyPit has a proportionately large head and a wide, smiling mouth set in a short muzzle.
The rest of the dog is a barrel of muscle, with a deep chest, strong back, tapering waist, and well-defined, muscular thighs.
Sizes are quite variable, but you can expect a measurement of 25 inches at the shoulder and a weight ranging from 50 to 100 pounds.
The crossbreeding helps with the BullyPit’s health and activity levels since many of them have a face that, while short, isn’t as “squashed in” as the Bulldog’s.
That means less chance of respiratory problems and greater comfort with physical activity.
One could say that BullyPits look similar to American Bullies, but the latter have a few extra breeds in their bloodlines, so there are subtle differences.
Nevertheless, you’ll find people mistaking your BullyPit for an American Bully.
BullyPit Temperament
It’s time to get the elephant, or rather the Pitbull, out of the room! Is the BullyPit a vicious dog? Can you trust it? That will be up to you!
Experts and authorities going all the way up to the Whitehouse itself, have concluded that you can’t judge an animal’s temperament based on breed alone. The way it is raised, trained and cared for are much more important.
An animal who feels safe and secure, who gets enough attention and stimulation, and who is properly trained, will more than likely be an affectionate, loyal, and trustworthy family pet.
As the owner of a BullyPit, you have an intelligent animal with a great need for games, companionship and a moderate, but real, need for exercise. It will be up to you to provide these.
You do have a dog with a strong prey drive, however, and it will chase, and possibly even attack, other animals who try to run away from it.
Socialization training definitely helps, but you will still need to be vigilant. Even if he’s only “playing,” the sheer weight and strength of your dog could mean that it hurts other animals.
With these disclaimers out of the way, however, BullyPit owners are giving their dogs glowing testimonials as companion animals and “man’s best friend.”
Play your cards right, and you’ll have a real charmer of a dog to hang out with.
Do remember that the BullyPit’s temperament is generally quite a sensitive one. He wants to please you and can easily feel upset, intimidated, or threatened. Tough appearance? Sure!
Sensitive nature? Check! It’s quite an endearing combination. Don’t bully your Bully! A little firmness and lots of positive reinforcement is all that’s required.
If you notice that your BullyPit seems nervous, intimidated, or overly excited in certain situations, the best way to help him will be to calm him as best you can and move him away from whatever upsets him.
Diet And Exercise
When it comes to diet, BullyPits have no special requirements that other dogs don’t have, although food allergies are quite common.
With each dog being unique, we can’t provide you with much guidance other than to suggest choosing a high-quality pet food and monitoring your dog to see if it agrees with him.
Do remember that puppies, adults, and senior dogs have different dietary requirements and adjust your BullyPit’s diet based on that.
“Free feeding,” or always having food available, is not for the BullyPit. As a puppy, he’s quite likely to eat more than he ought to, and that can cause health problems later on.
Hip dysplasia is more common in dogs that always had access to food as puppies. Throughout his life, implement specific feeding times, and provide measured portions.
An obese dog is at risk of a lot of added health complications.
Keep an eye on that waistline and, while you don’t want to see ribs, prevent him from gaining so much weight that you can’t feel them under the skin when you run your hand over his side.
Exercise will be extra important for a BullyPit’s health, and he will want you to be involved.
Without your involvement he may tend to get fat and lazy – a tendency inherited from the American Bulldog side of the family!
Plan your schedule to allow for twice-daily walks as well as active play in a safe area such as your yard. Throw in a few obedience training exercises and keep it fun.
All in all, this walking, training, and playtime should take up to two hours of your day. Remember that puppies shouldn’t have overly intense dog walks, however. Fitness develops over time!
BullyPit Health Issues
Serious Health Issues
As the owner of a dog that shares the genes of two breeds, you have a hybrid – and hybrids are often stronger and healthier than breed dogs because of the expanded gene pool.
However, this is a hefty dog, and heavier animals are somewhat prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, both of which can be crippling.
Ask the breeder from whom you are buying your BullyPit for the results of orthopedic screening to see whether the puppy has any inherited tendency for these problems.
However, hip dysplasia can develop later in life, so keeping your dog at healthy weight is the best way to help stave this kind of problem off.
A luxating patella is basically a kneecap that doesn’t stay in place and pops in and out of alignment.
Depending on its severity, dogs can either live with it quite comfortably or be in need of surgery to correct it.
If your dog has this problem, it will usually begin becoming noticeable between the ages of four and six months. He will run, limp a few steps, and then run again normally. Get a vet to check it out.
Older dogs of any breed can develop heart problems, but the bigger, heavier types of dogs are more prone to it.
As with humans, a healthy diet, healthy weight, and exercise can help to prevent heart problems from developing.
Less Serious (But Still Important) Health Concerns
As your BullyPit ages, he may start to develop cataracts. As in humans, cataracts are relatively easy for vets to treat, but without treatment, they can lead to blindness.
There’s not much you can do to reduce your dog’s chance of getting them, but you can and should keep up a regular schedule of annual health checks. If your veterinarian thinks it’s time for a cataract operation, go ahead.
We’ve already touched on allergies, which will often show up as skin problems, but there are other skin problems that BullyPits can get.
If he has skin folds, clean them out regularly, checking for any signs of inflammation, and if his skin or coat don’t look healthy get it checked out. The cause could be anything from eczema to an infection.
Grooming Your BullyPit
Dogs with short, smooth coats are the easiest to keep well-groomed. In fact, that coat even seems to be self-cleaning when you allow it to keep its natural balance without extra bathing.
Here’s the great news: you only need to bathe your dog if it’s getting dirty or smelly. Provided your BullyPit doesn’t find something “interesting” to roll in, you don’t really need to bath him.
When you do, it’s probably more for your sake than his!
Another grooming tip that’s more about your comfort than his will be brushing.
Your dog will be fine if you don’t brush him, but doing so means less shedding indoors, so house-proud pet owners may want to brush out those loose hairs, especially during the spring and autumn shedding seasons.
Nail-trimming, on the other hand, helps both of you. Unless you already know how to go about it, get professional dog groomers or your veterinarian to do the job for you.
Dog’s nails are structured differently to ours, and it’s all-too-easy to nip the blood vessels that feed them, hurting the dog and resulting in some pretty heavy bleeding.
Male Or Female BullyPit?
The main difference between male and female BullyPits is their size. Usually, the females are slightly more delicately built and smaller, while the males tend to pack the most punch in terms of size and weight.
This might make the males slightly more susceptible to skeletal issues that are associated with being big and heavy, but both males and females make excellent pets.
In both instances, it’s recommended to spay or neuter a dog that’s intended to be an easygoing family pet.
Veterinarians say that apart from eliminating a lot of behavioral issues in both males and females, this also reduces the chance of certain types of cancer.
Choosing A BullyPit Puppy
Welcoming a dog into your life is a big responsibility. So the first thing to consider is whether you’re ready to be an attentive pet owner.
If you and your family are satisfied that you’re equal to the costs, time, and commitment involved in raising a puppy, plus the thrills and spills (read “eaten slippers” and “puddles”), it’s time to start your search.
Finding A BullyPit May Not Be Easy
You’ll be searching through ads to find what you’re looking for – but you can also contact Pitbull and American Bulldog breeders to see whether they sometimes breed this mixture or can point you in the right direction.
Of course, you can also contact rescue organizations, particularly those that specialize in Pitbulls.
However, do be warned that they might just be taking an educated guess at the lineage of their dogs.
Check Out The Parents If You Can
Once you’ve found a promising litter, it’s time to go and check it out! You’ll definitely get a look at the mom dog, although the dad may be harder to track down!
If you’re willing to pay top dollar for a purpose-bred designer dog, you should be able to get a look at both.
You’re looking for healthy parents with good temperaments and caring breeders who love their dogs.
Pick A Pup
Next up, it’s time to check out those puppies. The sensible thing to do is to choose one of the strongest ones.
At the very least, the puppy should appear to be healthy and friendly.
OK, so sometimes our hearts go out to a “runt,” and there’s nothing wrong with that as long as you know that you may face some additional challenges if you choose him.
Forever Home
Once you’ve discovered the BullyPit puppy of your dreams and are ready to take him home, do check what he’s been eating.
Switching foods can lead to upset tummies, and transitioning to another type of food should be a process.
It’s time to introduce your puppy to his new home! You and your BullyPit are going to be the very best of friends and your Bullypit will grow to be a beautiful dog.