Exotic Pitbulls are an interesting but controversial breed. They have a unique appearance and a small size. However, many worry that their exaggerated characteristics come at a risk to their health.
Exotic Pitbull Facts
First, it’s important to understand the breed, or breeds, of an exotic pitbull. The term pitbull doesn’t refer to a specific breed. Instead, there are four breeds that can be termed pitbulls.
The American Pitbull Terrier is commonly referred to as a pitbull. However, the Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, and American Bulldog are also pitbulls.
You may also hear the term bully breed. This applies to any breed that originates from English Bulldogs and British Terriers, which encompasses a much larger group of dogs. These include all pitbulls, Boxers, French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, and English Bulldogs, to name a few.
What Breed is an Exotic Pitbull?
An Exotic Pitbull is also known as an Exotic Bully, or Exotic American Bully. An American Bully was created by breeding American Pitbull Terriers with certain traits. They were also bred with English Bulldogs and American Bulldogs.
The American Bully is heavily muscled, and generally shorter and heavier than the American Pitbull Terrier. The Exotic Bully was created by breeding the American Bully with the French Bulldog and the English Bulldog.
They can also be created by breeding an American Pitbull Terrier with Bulldogs.
Exotic Bully Appearance
Like the parent breeds, the Exotic Bully comes in a wide range of colors. These include chocolate, black, brown, tri color, and brindle. A tri-color Exotic Bully has a base color and two other colors.
The Exotic Bully is smaller than the American Bully and the American Pitbull Terrier. They have features of a Bulldog, and resemble the American Bully. However, their features are more exaggerated.
They have a large head compared to their body size. It is short, broad, and square. They have wide noses and broad, short muzzles. This gives their face a squashed appearance, similar to the English Bulldog.
They have a wide deep chest, and a thick neck to support their large head. Their legs are wide apart, and they have a muscular, stocky appearance.
Exotic Pitbull Price
The price of the Exotic Pitbull can vary greatly based on its size, color, and pedigree.
Most Exotic Bullies cost $2,000 to $5,000. However, a tri-color Exotic can cost $10,000 to $20,000. A micro Exotic Bully is smaller, and can cost up to $30,000.
Exotic Pitbulls with a pedigree will also be more expensive. If they have a prestigious bloodline, they can cost up to $30,000 as well.
Exotic Pitbull Rarity
The Exotic Bully is a very new breed. This is one reason its rare. It’s also controversial, with many breeders concerned that they aren’t as healthy as other pitbull breeds.
Exotic Pitbull Life expectancy
The breed is so new that their life expectancy is in question. Some criticism of the breed state that they do not live longer than 7 years. The American Pitbull Terrier can live from 10-15 years, and the American Bully can live for 10-12 years.
Typically, you would expect the life expectancy to be similar to the parent breed. However, this isn’t the case with the Exotic Pitbull, likely due to health problems that plague the breed.
Exotic Pitbull Size and weight
The size and weight of the Exotic Pitbull varies based on whether they are a standard or micro version.
The male Exotic Pitbull will be under 17 inches tall, and weigh 80 pounds or less. Female Exotic Bullies grow to under 16, and weigh 70 pounds or less.
The Micro Exotic Bully is smaller. Males will be under 14 inches, and females will be under 13 inches tall.
Exotic Pitbull Health
Unfortunately, Exotic Pitbulls suffer far more health issues than the average pitbull. It’s important to note that the risk of some of these health conditions can be reduced by proper breeding.
The Exotic Bully breed is plagued by breeders who seek exaggerated characteristics, without concern for the health of puppies or the breed as a whole.
The breed is also new. This means there must be some trial and error. The American Bully breed is also relatively new, and didn’t encounter such an increase in health problems, however. Again, it could come down to eager, rather than ethical or knowledgeable, breeders.
English Bulldogs are prone to more health problems than other Bully breeds as well. This is also a contributing factor, as Exotic Bullies have some blood from English Bulldogs, which gives them their flat face.
Hip and Joint Problems
Many large or medium sized breeds, including Bully breeds, are at a risk for hip dysplasia. However, Exotic Bullies are at a higher risk. This may be due to genetics, and their body shape. The risk of hip dysplasia is partially determined by genetics.
In fact, genetic testing can reveal a dog’s risk fo the condition. Many reputable breeders avoid breeding dogs with the condition, or a high risk of developing it.
Exotic Bullies are very heavy for their size, and have wide set legs. This can contribute to hip dysplasia.
Hip dysplasia causes pain, particularly with movement. It can also make it difficult for the dog to walk, if it’s severe.
The Exotic Pitbull is also at an increased risk of other joint problems, including arthritis.
Back Problems
Back problems are also common in Exotic Pitbulls. Just like humans, back problems affect a dog’s quality of life. If they have severe back issues, they may not be able to walk properly or play.
Brachycephalic
Several breeds of bulldog are considered brachycephalic, including Exotic Bullies. Their flat face results in a short nose and reduced airway. This can lead to breathing difficulties. Unfortunately, the condition typically gets worse over time.
Brachycephalic dogs may not be able to exercise, or even walk very far, because they struggle to get enough oxygen.
Overheating
Brachycephalic dogs do not do well in hot conditions. They overheat easily. If you want an Exotic Bully, you should keep this in mind.
Exotic Pitbull Behavior/Characteristics
Exotic Pitbulls are highly affectionate. They make wonderful companion animals. They are happy to spend hours in your lap.
They are friendly, and generally get along well with everyone. Exotic Bullies are not guard dogs. In fact, they will likely immediately take to everyone they meet.
When they’re properly socialized, you can expect them to do well with other animals or pets in the household as well.
They are excellent with children. Like the American Bully and Pitbull, an Exotic Bully is a great nanny dog. They will provide companionship for children, and may even be protective over them.
They are very unlikely to bite, even if they are protecting their family. They are more likely to bark and growl, which may send an intruder running the other way.
How to care for an Exotic Pitbull
Caring for an Exotic Bully can be challenging due to their potential health issues. However, when it comes to basic care, they are similar to other dogs. Of course, all breeds have their own requirements for proper care.
Diet
Your dog’s diet is critical to their health. Exotic Pitbulls have a lot of muscle mass for their body size. This means it’s essential to feed them a high protein and high fat food.
You’ll need to select a food that is 30% protein and 20% fat. You may need to speak to your vet about how much to feed them, but the food package is a good starting point.
Puppies should be fed puppy food. Once they are 1 year old, you can transition them to adult dog food.
Exercise
Exotic Pitbulls aren’t as active as other pitbull breeds. However, exercise is still very important for them. They require at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day. However, as much as 1 hour a day can be beneficial.
They do lack stamina, so opt for a few shorter exercise sessions rather than one long exercise session.
Walking is great exercise for them. They are playful, so games like fetch and tug of war are excellent as well.
Training
Training is an essential part of dog care for any breed. Exotic Bullies are easy to train. They thrive on attention, and are eager to please their owners.
It is important to socialize them early. Despite their small size, they have big personalities. This can lead them to getting into fights with larger dogs if they aren’t socialized properly.
How do you buy an Exotic Pitbull?
If you want to buy an Exotic Pitbull, the first step is finding a breeder. This takes some homework. It’s easy to perform a Google search. You’ll most likely find plenty of breeders, despite the rarity of the Exotic Bully.
However, not all breeders are ethical. This is where the homework comes in. Finding an ethical breeder is important no matter what breed of dog you choose.
However, it’s even more important for Exotic Bullies. Improper breeding will increase the risk of serious health problems, and impact the breed as a whole. You don’t want to end up with a dog who has major health struggles, or support an unethical breeder by buying from them.
Check Registration
One way to learn if a breeder is ethical is to ask if their dogs are registered, or if they are a registered breeder. When it comes to Exotic Bullies, there are a few registration organizations.
These include the Us Bully Registry (USBR), the American Bully Registry (ABR), and Exotic Bully Registration (EBR). These organizations all have slightly different standards, but they are all devoted to the health and well being of bully breeds.
This isn’t a guarantee that the breeder is ethical, but most who register their dogs are.
Registration can make the dogs more expensive, but it’s well worth it for peace of mind.
Ask Questions
Next, you should ask questions. What is their goal when breeding Exotic Pitbulls? How do they ensure the health of the puppies? Have the parents undergone genetic testing? Have the puppies had health screenings? A reputable breeder will be happy to answer questions like this.
You should also be prepared to answer questions yourself. An ethical breeder will want to be sure that the puppy is going to a good home. Expect them to ask what your plans are for the dog, what their living conditions will consist of, and your previous experience with dog ownership.
A breeder that asks no questions about where the dog is going is likely not ethical.
Know the Standard
There’s no one set standard for Exotic Bullies yet. However, there are some issues you should look out for. Dogs without these problems are often called “Clean” Exotic Bullies. This term simply means they don’t have the defects that are common in the breed.
The dog should have feet at the correct angle. Their body should be proportional, meaning no one area of the body is out of proportion to the others. The muzzle should be under 2 inches long. They should be approximately as tall as they are long. The neck should be thick and strong enough to support their head.
Unfortunately, few Exotic Bullies meet this standard currently. If you choose a dog that doesn’t, you should be aware that they have a greater risk of serious health issues.
Visit the Breeder
There are a few reasons why it’s a good idea to visit the breeder before you decide to buy an Exotic Bully. First, it will give you more information about how their dogs live.
A breeder that cares for their dogs will ensure they have good living conditions. An unethical breeder won’t show much concern for the living conditions of the dogs.
You’ll also be able to see how the breeder acts with the dogs, and get a better sense of their personality.
Another reason to visit the breeder is to avoid being scammed. Puppy scams are very common, particularly with hard-to-find popular breeds.
Scammers post ads for puppies. Trusting people purchase the puppy, and send the money to the “breeder”. Unfortunately, they don’t receive their puppy. They were simply scammed.