American Bully breeders.

A serious American Bully breeder is registered with the ABKC, the UKC, or both, and tells you exactly which one. They name their dogs' size category (Pocket, Standard, Classic, XL) and have shown the parents in conformation. They provide OFA hips, a cardiac evaluation, and DNA testing through Embark or UC Davis. They explain the registry split on merle (ABKC accepts; UKC disqualifies) and which side of that line their breeding program sits on. They ask about your household, your fencing, your other dogs, and the rental or HOA situation, because BSL sweeps American Bullies into the same category as APBTs and AmStaffs regardless of registry. A breeder who places an American Bully without those conversations is the wrong breeder.

Typical price range.

An American Bully puppy from an ABKC- or UKC-registered breeder usually costs between two thousand and five thousand dollars in the United States, with proven show lines and color-popular litters running higher. XL and Pocket categories tend to command premiums. Anything under a thousand dollars almost always means the litter is from unregistered parents or skipped health testing. The market for "rare" Bully colors (lilac, champagne, tri merle) carries real price premiums that are partly genuine (the color is harder to produce) and partly marketing (the color is not a quality signal on its own). Ask exactly what is included: shots, microchip, dewormer, vet check, registration paperwork, the lifetime take-back clause, and the conformation grading paperwork if the breeder shows.

Health checks worth asking about.

The American Bully health stack is conformation-driven because of the breed's blocky build. Responsible breeders run OFA hips and elbows, a cardiac evaluation by a board-certified cardiologist, and DNA testing through Embark or UC Davis VGL. BOAS (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome) grading is increasingly common in heavier-built lines. Demodex screening is standard. Hereditary cataracts, NCL-A (cerebellar ataxia), and skin allergy panels are worth running. A breeder who can hand you all the paperwork on both parents and explain which size category the litter is graded toward is the breeder you want.