7 Reasons Why American Bully Dogs Cost So Much

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American Bullies are highly popular “designer breed” dogs.

Many people want to adopt an American Bully until they find out that their prices can range between $2,000 and $10,000. As an owner of an XL American Bully, I can tell you why American Bullies are expensive but also worth it. 

Here are 7 reasons why American Bullies cost so much:

1. The bloodline of the breed is important.
2. The class of the Bully will affect the price.
3. Reputable American Bully breeders generally charge more.
4. Purebred certification will increase the cost.
5. Show-quality Bullies will be pricier.
6. Raising a female Bully through birthing is expensive.
7. American Bullies are highly popular and in demand.

These are some of the reasons why American Bullies can cost so much. Although the prices may seem outlandish to some, American Bullies are great dogs that justify the initial cost. Keep reading to learn more about why this breed is particularly expensive.

1. The Bloodline Is Important

Choosing the right puppy can be very hard as you’re not sure what they’ll look like when they grow up. The best indicator of a puppy’s future looks and abilities is their parents. By looking at their bloodline, you can get a good sense of what your future puppy will grow into. 

When it comes to American Bullies, bloodline is extremely important if you’re looking for certified American Bullies. That’s because the American Bully is a combination of Bulldogs and Pit Bulls, making it very easy for people to sell a mixed American Bully as a purebred mistakenly. 

When buying an American Bully, make sure to ask their ABKC Pedigree to confirm that they’re indeed 100% American Bully.

2. The Class of the Bully Will Affect the Price

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American Bullies come in four common classes. Each class of Bully has a different price as there are some major differences between them as discussed in the following: 

• Standard American Bully. Standard American Bullies are medium-large-sized dogs with a muscular build and a very prominent bone structure. They typically go for about $2,500.
• Pocket American Bully. Pocket American Bullies are the smallest class and look like a smaller version of the Standard Bully. Though they’re smaller, they’re usually more expensive than the Standard Bully and cost between $3,000 and $8,000. 
• XL American Bully. The XL American Bully is the largest class. They look exactly like the Standard Bully, except that they’re larger, taller, and heavier. XL American Bullies can be as tall as 23” (58 cm) and can cost between $5,000 and $10,000.
• Classic American Bully. The Classic American Bully is a variation of the Standard Bully that has a less prominent bone structure and less body mass. This dog is about the same size as a Standard Bully in terms of dimensions. Like the Standard Bully, the Classic American Bully costs about $2,500. 

3. Reputable American Bully Breeders Generally Charge More

The best way to guarantee quality is to work with a reputable breeder. If you work with a breeder who’s established and well-known, you’ll be sure to buy a puppy that’ll grow into a healthy dog. 

Some breeders are much more famous than others, and one American Bully actually sold for $250,000. While you don’t have to go to such great lengths to secure a high-quality American Bully, the reputation and background of your breeder will affect the prices.

One way to check the reputation of a breeder is to ask for references. See if you can speak with any clients who bought an American Bully from them in recent years and ask how the puppy has fared. It’s worth your time (and money!) to do your due diligence now to ensure you adopt a high-quality puppy. 

4. Purebred Certification Will Increase the Cost

While the certification itself isn’t particularly pricey, finding a dog with all its ABKC papers (American Bully Kennel Club) in order will give you peace of mind.

ABKC papers are a huge value-add for people looking for a high-quality American Bully, so it’ll be reflected in the price. 

In addition to checking that your puppy has ABKC certification, make sure that both parents have it as well. It’ll help you ensure your puppy is high-quality.  

5. Show-Quality Bullies Will Be Pricier

American Bullies are popular dog show breeds. If you’re looking for a dog to join a competition, then you should be prepared to pay significantly more than you would for a pet-quality Bully. 

If you’re looking for a competition quality American Bully, you should do the following to identify certain characteristics in a puppy:

• Make sure the top line of the dog is straight from the withers to the tail.
• Check the rear angulation. It needs to be just perfect—not too straight and not too curvy.
• Look at the dog’s front. You want a straight front, with the feet and toes pointing straight ahead and not left or right while standing.
• Check the dog’s pasterns; they need to be strong and erect. A straight pastern with a slight angle is ideal.
• Look for tight feet as a desirable quality. There should be minimal space between the toes.

Watch this short video to get an overview of the things you should look for if you’re interested in a competition-quality American Bully:

6. Raising a Female Bully Through Birthing Is Expensive

Breeding American Bullies is expensive. Not only do you have to buy a female Bully (which is already expensive), but you have to feed her and raise her until she’s old enough to breed.

Even after you breed her, you’ll still likely lose a few dogs from the litter, leaving you with only a few puppies to sell. 

Some of the things breeders have to pay for include:

• The adoption costs of the mother dog
• Dog food for the mother dog and the litter
• Medical costs, potentially including a c-section
• Vaccinations for the litter
• Progesterone tests for the mother dog
• Dog semen from a suitable father dog

Besides all of these costs, breeders also have to spend many hours caring for both the mother dog and the puppies. Puppies take about two weeks to be somewhat self-sufficient, so they need to be fed by the breeders multiple times a day during this critical period. 

7. American Bullies Are Highly Popular and In Demand

Just like any other good or service, demand will affect the price. The more people want a product that’s short in supply, the higher the prices will be. 

One of the reasons why American Bullies are so expensive is quite simple: people want them. Google Trends shows that interest in American Bullies has been increasing year after year since 2004.

As an XL American Bully owner, I understand why interest in these dogs has been increasing. American Bullies are extremely fine dogs with great hearts. Although they look big, strong, and perhaps scary, they’re great family dogs and are friendly to adults and children alike.

Unfortunately, that means demands for American Bullies continue to increase every year, making them highly sought-after dogs. Breeders can’t easily scale up supply because of the costs mentioned in the previous section, meaning the cost of the dogs will go up as demand increases.