When Will Your American Bully Puppy Fill Out?

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Puppies grow fast. One moment they’re cute little furballs; the next, they’re grown up and all over the place. Knowing when to expect your puppy to fill out will let you know if they’re growing  healthy as expected.

American Bully Puppies fill out when they’re around 12 months old. Puppies of larger American Bully breeds will continue growing until they reach 18 to 24 months old. If your pup isn’t growing as expected, you should contact a vet to see what the problem is.

In this read, we’ll touch base on the growth cycle of American Bully puppies, shedding light on what you need to do to promote healthy growth. Ready? Then let’s get straight to it.  

When Do American Bullies Stop Growing?

American Bullies typically stop growing at 12 months old. However, a bully can take longer or slightly less time to fill out, depending on size. Larger American Bullies will continue increasing in bone size and height, extending the growing time to 24 months. 

Although each American Bully breed has an average expected size, the final size may differ as some bullies have a slightly bigger body frame than others. Therefore, how tall your four-legged family member will grow will be determined by their skeletal structure. 

Puppies’ legs have long bones that grow at their soft growth plates.

The growth plates are where new bone tissues are formed, which often start soft before hardening gradually as the pup continues to grow. 

Maximum bone size is reached when the growth plates stop producing new tissue and are calcified or “closed.” 

Typically, medium and small-sized puppy breeds mature faster than larger breeds, with small breeds reaching adulthood when they’re between 6 to 8 months old.

What Is the American Bully Growth Chart?

A dog’s skeletal structure determines its growth, and this varies depending on which Bully breed you own. Pocket Bullies are usually the smallest while XL Bullies are the largest of the breed, as explained below. 

• Standard. The Standard American Bully was bred as a companion dog without the aggressiveness of the American Pitbull Terrier. Standard American Bully males’ height is usually between 17 to 20 inches (43 to 51 cm), with females measuring 16 to 19 inches (41 to 48 cm) high.
• Pocket. The Pocket is the smallest of the American Bully breed, perfect if you fancy a reduced and compact-sized Bully. Male adult Pockets typically measure between 14 to 17 inches (36 to 43 cm), while females measure 13 to 16 inches (33 to 41cm). 
• Classic. The American Classic Bullies share the same height as Standard Bullies at 17 to 20 inches (43 to 51 cm). They stand out for their well-defined jaws, while having less muscle mass and thickness than the Standard Bullies.
• XL. XL Bullies have the same muscle mass as Standard Bullies. They’re the tallest Bullies, with males having a height of 20 to 23 inches (51 to 58 cm) and females measuring between 19 to 22 inches (48 to 56 cm) high. This combination of muscle and height makes a giant Bully breed.

How To Measure Your American Bully’s Height

To measure your canine companion’s height, here are steps you should follow.

• Ensure your cuddle buddy stands up straight while focusing on his shoulder and  neckline. The place where the shoulders and neckline meet is called the Withers. Like all dogs, the height of your American Bully is measured at the withers.
• Make sure that your furry companion stands up straight so that you can identify the withers correctly. Remember to measure from this point and not the head. Consider giving your bully a treat to keep him calm during this process.
• It would be best to use a measuring tape to measure your dog’s height. If your American Bully is small, then you can place them on a raised surface like a table to enhance the accuracy of the measurements. You can also use a carpenter’s level for measuring, which can help get a precise leveling. Don’t forget to get an extra hand for this as it’ll be required.
• Using the measuring tape, measure your dog starting from the withers downwards in a parallel manner till you reach the surface where your four-legged family member’s front paws are stepping on. The distance covered is the height of your furry friend.

How To Support Healthy Growth

Every pet parent’s sole desire is to have a happy healthy pet that even exceeds his projected lifespan. Fortunately, doing the following can improve your American Bully’s health and boost his chances of leading a long, happy life. 

Maintain a Proper Diet

American Bullies have high muscular content that requires a diet rich in protein, especially as they grow up. Puppies also need food rich in calcium to help with their bone growth and fats, which are a good source of energy.

As a happy American Bully owner, I strongly recommend giving your puppy a healthy american bully dog food like the Orijen Puppy Large Grain-Free Puppy Food, which contains 85% animal ingredients. 

It would be best to feed your puppy a proper diet three times a day, as good nutrition can also positively impact your puppy’s genetics.

Check on Your Puppy’s Health

Though the American Bully is an overall healthy breed, you should still take your Bully to the local vet for regular checkups to keep health complications at bay.  

Ensure your puppy is vaccinated and regularly examined by a trusted vet. Giving your puppy high quality calcium supplements like the Vetericyn Puppy Dog Supplement, which supports cellular, bone, and mental health will also improve their overall health. 

Exercise

The American Bully is muscular and energetic, and all that energy needs to be channeled out. Once your puppies are appropriately vaccinated, they should have regular daily exercise for at least 30 minutes a day. Games such as fetch can be an excellent way to nurture obedience and trust while still young, while swimming also helps them use all that stored energy.

Training

Obedience training should start as soon as your cute American bully puppy gets home. Training your pup will allow him to gain social skills and know how to behave around other dogs and people. 

Bullies are intelligent and respond well to positive reinforcement. As a result, you should consider using treats as a form of encouragement throughout training. 

How To Know if Your American Bully Is Growing As Expected  

Before making any assumptions, carefully examine your four-legged family member’s weight while consulting the American Bully Size Chart. The chart gives a proper expected weight at your dog’s particular age. 

If you’ve been feeding your American bully a healthy diet and keeping him busy with exercises, chances are he’ll grow as expected. 

However, there’s a possibility your canine companion can be overweight or underweight. You’ll know your American bully is underweight if his ribs are visible from the underside as they tend to have less fur than other breeds. 

In such situations, I highly recommend consulting your vet before increasing your puppy’s food consumption. 

If you find your Bully to be overweight (over the range limit), increasing his exercise routine to burn off that extra body fat is highly recommended. 

The general rule of thumb is to visit your vet for proper advice if you feel your puppy’s weight is below or above expectations. Irregular weight can be a sign of underlying medical conditions.

Wrapping Up

Bullies typically fill out when they’re 12 months old. Larger American Bullies will continue increasing bone size and height until they’re 24 months old. 

A dog’s skeletal structure determines its growth, and this varies depending on which Bully breed you own. Measuring your Bully’s height is the sure way of determining if they’re within the proper weight. 

You need to take good care of your Bully to ensure he’s healthy and grows up well. Your American Bully pup will grow up well if kept on a balanced diet and given the right amount of daily exercises.