Designer Crossbreeds are always a treat to have because they inherit the best of both worlds. However, some crosses can be a real challenge to have as a pet. As there are hundreds of designer crossbreed dogs around the world, dog enthusiasts have a variety of options to choose from. Have you ever seen a crossbreed that looks adorable but is slightly fierce? Or you have perhaps heard of the two famous dog breeds—the Pitbull and Bulldog. But did you know there is a mix of these two breeds known as the Bullypit?
Yes, we are going to discuss the Bullypiut in this article—their history, temperament, size, grooming, and so much more.
Bullypits may have a bad reputation because of their slightly fierce personality. However, they can be great pets if trained well at an early age. There are perfect for active families, fond of aggressive dogs, and who know how to drain a dog of pent-up energy. It is extremely important to know beforehand that Bulllypit’s aggressive personality means they require thorough training and socialization from an early age.
History and Origin
As mentioned earlier, the Bullypit is usually a mix of the American Pitbull Terrier and American Bulldog, but they are also sometimes mixed with different types of Pitbulls and Bulldogs. There is not much information available on the history of the Bullypit as it is a crossbreed. As often happens, it may be the result of accidental crossbreeding. Or, maybe, a breeder wanted to gift a puppy to those who want to have the best of both dogs—the American Pitbull Terrier and American Bulldog.
However, both the parents of the Bullypit have illustrious histories, and to understand Bullypits, it is important to get an overview of their parents. Genes play a vital role in determining how the offspring would turn out or why they are the certain way.
American Pitbull Terrier
It is believed that that the first Pitbulls were originally bred from Old English Bulldogs—both have similar appearances. They gained popularity on the British Isles during the cruel Bull baiting show. However, in 1835, the British Parliament passed the Cruelty to Animals Act which prohibited the baiting of some animals. Later, people diverted towards “Ratting,” a game to see whose dog would kill the most rats in the least amount of time. After some time, the public’s focus shifted to dogfighting as it was easily hidden from the law. As ratting and dogfighting required more agility and speed from the dog, breeders decided to mix Pitbull with Terriers, hence appeared the Pitbull Terrier.
Size
The size of the American Pitbull Terrier may range between 18 – 19 inches for males and 17 – 18 inches for females. They weigh around 30 – 85 pounds—depending on their gender and diet. So, the size of a Bullypit might be in the range above if they inherit dominant physical traits from the American Pitbull Terrier.
Temperament
Before we discuss the temperament of the Bullypit, it is important to understand the personalities of his parents. This would give you a clear idea of how your Bullypit is going to turn out or why your Bullypit behaves a certain way because, as mentioned earlier, genes play an important role in determining the personality of the dog.
That said, the American Pitbull Terriers are super-loving dogs, but they cannot comprehend the fact that their size would not allow them to be lapdogs. They are very confident and highly active who may become your watchdog as well and would alert you in the presence of strangers. However, the American Pitbull Terrier needs early socialization and training to behave appropriately.
Health
American Pitbull Terriers are generally healthy, but there are certain health conditions they may go through in their lifetime, which Bullypits can also inherit from them. They may suffer from heart diseases, hypothyroidism, skin allergies, and hip dysplasia (HD).
American Bulldog
The American Bulldog was bred down from the Old English Bulldog. These dogs were brought to North America by farmworkers and immigrants who wanted to keep their dogs to help with farming. Early farmers developed the dogs with the best working skills for all-around farm work, rather than worrying about breed purity or specific genetic attributes. Unfortunately, the American Bulldog was originally utilized in the barbaric sport of bull-baiting. The American Bulldog was nearly extinct after World War II until a few breeders scoured some specimens to resurrect the breed.
Size
American Bulldogs are comparatively taller than the English and French Bulldogs. They can grow up to 20 – 28 inches in height and weigh between 60 – 120 pounds—depending on the gender and diet. However, this is a standard American Bulldog size—they can grow bigger or smaller than the standard size.
Temperament
American Bulldogs are known to be extremely friendly, affectionate, and intelligent. However, their over-affectionate nature can sometimes land them in trouble—they become territorial and suspicious of strangers. They are good for families with children and can even be great watchdogs.
Keep in mind that American Bulldogs require proper socialization and training from an early age as well to behave appropriately among strangers and other pets. Fortunately, their intelligence makes them adaptable and easy to groom.
Similarly, American Bulldogs are active dogs and would require a good amount of physical activities every day. If you are living in an apartment, American Bulldog is not a good option for you as small spaces would not allow them to exert the built-in energy—leading to destructive behavior like chewing furniture, scratching sofas, or just being aggressive.
Keep in mind that Bullypits can inherit these traits from the American Bulldogs, hence is it important to understand the breed beforehand.
Health
American Bulldogs are also generally healthy with a lifespan of between 10 – 16 years—that means the Bullypit would be healthy as well and may live up to 10 – 13 years. However, there are certain health complications they might suffer from during their lifetime.
American Bulldogs are prone to cataracts, mange, or hypothyroidism. If they suffer from obesity early in life, they may develop hip or elbow dysplasia as well.
Now that we’ve got a detailed overview of the history of the American Pitbull Terrier and American Bulldog let’s dig more about the Bullypit.
A Profile of Bullypit
Appearance
Bullypits, in general, are medium-sized dogs with robust and heavy bodies. They have short, glossy, and smooth coats that come in a variety of colors—white, black, brown, and chocolate. The height and weight of the Bullypit depend on the dominant parent genes—they can usually be about 25 inches tall and weigh between 50 – 100 pounds. They have a short muzzle, a large head and mouth, a deep chest, and a firm back. Bullypits have long and tapered tails with short, well-defined, and stocky legs. Their large mouths may deceive you into believing that your dog is smiling at you, which is not always true—they can have comical expressions at times.
Temperament
Just like their appearance, Bullypit has an aggressive personality. They are not very welcoming and inviting like other dogs, but that does not tag them as a bad choice for people. If trained properly at an early age, Bullypits can be great pets.
They are also very easy to train—make sure they know you’re the leader of the pack and they cannot do whatever they like. Although your Bullypit may chase squirrels and other animals outside just like any other dog, it would not cause any hurdles if you train them right.
Grooming
The good thing about Bullypits is that they are considered hypoallergenic dogs—as they don’t shed much. As Bullypits have short hair coats, they do not require frequent brushing sessions and grooming—a quick brushing once or twice a week would be sufficient for your dog. Also, keep in mind that brushing your dog’s hair every week would keep shedding to a minimum. Similarly, Bullypits don’t require frequent baths, especially shampoo baths, as they may dry out the skin.
Apart from brushing and bathing, you must keep a regular check on your Bullypit’s ears, teeth, and nails. Use a pH-balanced ear cleaner to suck out the built-in ear wax—doing this twice a week would suffice. Additionally, it is advised that you brush the Bullypit’s teeth once or twice a week to remove any built-up tartar and to ensure your dog is healthy and presentable.
Exercise Requirements
Even though Bullypits looks lazy, they are super active and require at least 90 minutes of moderate exercise every day to stay healthy. Keep in mind that you would have to coax your dog to get the required amount of exercise. As Bullypits are prone to obesity, daily walks are an excellent way to burn off the calories and maintain a healthy weight.
Training
Bullypits inherit the most from the Terriers—that makes them super playful. Before training a Bullypit, make sure to approach him in a firm yet positive tone. Rewarding your Bullypit with treats after every successful training session will boost up the process. Additionally, just like the English Bulldog, Bullypits can develop an unnecessary barking habit which you would need to control at an early age.
Food and Nutrition Requirements
Since Bullypits are not highly active dogs, they can easily gain weight if they consume an immoderate amount of calories. Keep in mind that dog owners need to keep a strict check on their diets and plan fixed meals every day that include the essential nutrients—protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals, and water.
Overeating can cause several chronic health conditions in Bullypits like diabetes, so instead of free-feeding your dog, make sure you plan their diet and feed them accordingly—this is a more manageable task. As a larger breed, Bullypit will require less than a smaller dog with a faster metabolism.
3 Reasons Why Bullypit May Not Be The Right Choice For You
Even though Bullypits are friendly dogs and dog enthusiasts can even have them as watchdogs, there are certain facts about the Bullypit that you must consider before opting for it. Check out the three reasons and reflect upon them as it would help you in understanding the Bullypit better and deciding if he’s the right choice for you.
They are Impatient
Bullypits are impatient. They need to get things done “right away” and would bug you to fulfill their wishes. You may even have to go out of the way to please them as they do not care about your time and personal space. Keep in mind that this can become problematic in the long run.
They Bark Excessively
Bullypits are extremely barky. They would bark excessively over the tiniest of unfamiliar voices and would not stop until the sound or voice is settled down. This may irritate you or the neighbors in the long run as Bullypits’ barking tendency is way higher than other dog breeds.
They Can Sometimes Be Aggressive
It is a commonly known fact that American Bulldogs and American Pitbull Terriers have aggressive personalities, but the Bullypits cross the barrier. They can sometimes be extremely aggressive and would bite and hurt other pets or even children. It is important to keep in mind that these dogs need proper socialization and training at an early age, and if you’re a novice owner, it would be better to drop this breed from your list.
Male vs. Female
There are no notable differences between the male and female Bullypit. Both are large, loving, and sometimes overprotective. However, Female Bullypits tend to be more cautious and are better watchdogs, whereas the males are better playmates. The size is the same for both.
Do Bullypits Get Along With Other Pets?
As Bullypits are bulky and strong, they can unintentionally hurt other pets like cats and hamsters while chasing them. It is better to train your Bullypit accordingly or have separate places for your Bullypit and other pets. Keep in mind that Bullypits would not hurt your pets intentionally—it is just their size that may cause injuries to other pets.
Are Bullypits Good For Families?
Bullypits are a safe option for families with grown-up children. As mentioned earlier, these dogs are not kid-friendly and can hurt young children. However, if trained properly at an early age, they can get along with young children as well. It solely depends on how the children treat them and the dog’s training. If you have children above the age of 10, you would not have any problem owning the Bullypit.
What is the Price of the Bullypit?
Bullypits do not have a fixed price; much depends on the breeder you choose and the kind of breeder you may go to. Some unethical breeders would sell these dogs at a lower price, but if you opt to choose your dog from a professional breeder, they would cost you around $500 to $1000. If the mother is a Bulldog, the price may rise to $1000 or even more as there are several complications while breeding with the Bulldog.
Always keep in mind to buy your puppies from reputable breeders as it would ensure a healthy dog without complications.
Fun Facts About Bullypits
As we’ve thoroughly discussed the temperament, size, grooming, and other important factors of a Bullypit’s life, it’s time to learn some fun facts about the famous guard dog.
- Bullypit can jump high like high-flyers
- They have a high pain tolerance
- They are extremely protective and possessive towards their owners