Micro Bully: Your Complete Guide

The micro bully is the smallest of the American bully dogs. Although this particular variety isn’t recognized by the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC), the miniature size of the micro bully has led to a growing demand and liking for this breed.

If you’re looking for a small dog that appears the same as an American bully, the micro bully might be it. However, there are many controversies surrounding this dog breed, primarily due to extreme downsizing.

Our article will cover everything about these dogs, from their history to health problems. Read on to know if it’s a breed you should get.

Quick Look at the Micro Bully

Below is a quick glance at the micro bully in terms of the breed’s physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.

What Is the History of Micro Bullies?

Micro bullies share a similar history with the other American bully-type dogs, particularly the pocket bully with their resemblance in size. However, it’s more difficult to track the lineage of micro bullies. These dogs are a result of selective breeding pocket bullies to have smaller dogs while keeping their muscular appearance.

There isn’t a standard practice breeders follow to have micro bullies. Breeders crossbreed pocket bullies with French bulldogs and other bulldog-type dogs to have smaller dogs that carry the traits of the American bully. For this reason, you can also consider the micro bully a designer breed.

This extreme downsizing of dogs has been controversial despite the high demand for this breed. Many experts argue that this downsizing leads to serious health problems, which are apparent in many micro bullies – more on their general health down below.

The disproportionate looks and the health problems micro bullies suffer make them a controversial dog breed. With their short lifespan of three to eight years, many find buying micro bully puppies unethical. If you’re interested in getting a pocket bully as your next four-legged friend, consider adopting from a shelter rather than a breeder.

What Do Micro Bullies Look Like?

The micro bully comes in various colors, including black, blue, brown, fawn, red, white, and gray. Most micro bullies have two colors, but it isn’t uncommon for a micro bully to be tricolored.

Typically, micro bullies have white patterns on the chest and inner parts of the legs. Many also have white markings on the head, running in a vertical line.

What Size Is a Micro Bully?

The micro bully is a small dog breed. Males are under 14 inches, and females stand no taller than 13 inches. They are the smallest American bully-type dogs, though not recognized by the ABKC.

Like other American bullies, there isn’t a typical weight for a micro bully. However, they should have proportionate bodies that carry their weight well. Typically, you can expect these dogs to weigh anywhere from 30 to 45 pounds.

With the muscular frame and the miniature size of the micro bully, it’s difficult for breeders to achieve a proportionate look. It’s one of the reasons the ABKC doesn’t see micro bullies as a legitimate variety of the breed.

What Is a Micro Bullies Coat Type and Length?

Micro bullies have a short coat that’s smooth to the touch. It has minimal grooming needs. They require brushing once or twice weekly to reduce shedding and keep their coat healthy.

Micro bullies don’t shed much but are far from being a hypoallergenic breed. Those with pet allergies are likely to experience allergic symptoms around a micro bully.

What Is a Micro Bullies Temperament?

Micro bullies have a similar temperament as the other American bully dogs. However, these dogs tend to be more on the laid-back side than the larger bully dogs. They are quite lazy dogs that love napping the entire day.

Since the micro bully doesn’t have the athleticism of the larger American bullies, you can consider them companion dogs. The micro bully’s laid-back attitude and affectionate nature also complement this personality trait, making them cuddly lap dogs.

Micro bullies are also sensitive dogs that thrive on affection. They don’t take harsh corrections lightly and may lose their trust in humans. When training a micro bully, it’s critical to only utilize positive reinforcement techniques.

These dogs can get along well with pretty much any furry family member. A micro bully will fit right in and get along with dogs, cats, and even small animals. However, they may not be able to keep up with active dogs. Micro bullies do best in families with gentle characters that love napping the entire day as much as them.

Are Micro Bullies Good With Kids?

Micro bullies generally do well with children. Their small size and laid-back personalities make them calm four-legged friends for kids of all ages. Since they don’t have the endurance to play for long periods, micro bullies pair well with gentle children.

Still, children must be taught to respect their space. Although micro bullies aren’t prone to snapping at people, especially children, they will get agitated if someone bothers them as they eat or wakes them up loudly. Repeated disturbances like these can lead to all kinds of behavioral issues in the long run.

Are Micro Bullies Good With Other Animals?

Micro bullies are friendly and social dogs that do well with other animals. They will make an excellent addition to your family if you already have pets at home. This goes for any pet you might have, from dogs to cats to even small animals. Micro bullies don’t have a strong prey drive and don’t pose a threat to prey animals like hamsters and rabbits.

However, these don’t mean all micro bullies are automatically well-behaved around other animals. Socialization is still necessary to ensure they grow up to be friendly dogs.

Are Micro Bullies Aggressive?

Unlike many people think, micro bullies aren’t inherently aggressive. They are far from being hostile towards other animals and people. Micro bullies are sweet companion dogs that always look forward to finding a spot on their owner’s lap for cuddles.

The only instance where a micro bully may display aggression is due to their upbringing. If the owner neglects socialization, any dog is bound to engage in aggressive behavior. When well-socialized, micro bullies become happy dogs that welcome everyone with a smile.

Do Micro Bullies Bark?

Micro bullies are quiet dogs that don’t use their voice often. They may bark sometimes to get their owner’s attention or to complain when the dinner is late, but micro bullies aren’t known to be barkers. Coupled with their woofing rather than a loud bark, micro bullies make excellent companions for apartments with noise restrictions.

Are Micro Bullies Affectionate?

Micro bullies are small, cuddly dogs that thrive on human companionship. They are extremely devoted and happily accept any form of affection from their people. Micro bullies particularly enjoy snuggling with their owners as they usually sleep often and for long periods.

This affectionate nature of the micro bully also makes them open towards strangers. Although it may take time for them to get comfortable around new people, they are social dogs that warm up to strangers quickly.

Are Micro Bullies Intelligent?

Micro bullies aren’t very bright. They also have a stubborn personality. It wouldn’t be a surprise for a micro bully not to understand a new command on the first try. It will surely take time for a micro bully to learn new commands and behaviors you want to reinforce.

While this may pose difficulties in training at times, it also makes micro bullies less demanding dogs. They don’t have big mental stimulation needs and prefer dozing off rather than using their brains to solve problems. However, like all dogs, micro bullies need playtime to stay happy.

Are Micro Bullies Energetic?

Micro bullies are low-energy dogs that don’t require much physical exercise. Daily walks of 20 to 30 minutes are enough to keep them healthy and satisfied. Even routine potty breaks and a short walk around the neighborhood can be enough to meet the exercise needs of a micro bully.

When taking a micro bully out for a walk, it’s important to be mindful of their physical capabilities. These dogs are not suitable for demanding exercise. Additionally, heat exhaustion is a big problem with micro bullies. It’s best to avoid going out for walks during the day in summer.

Are Micro Bullies Easy to Train?

Micro bullies aren’t the easiest dogs to train. This isn’t only about their intelligence, however. Micro bullies tend to be stubborn dogs that are more interested in what’s in it for them rather than executing commands to please their owners.

While it’s difficult to teach a micro bully complex tricks, it’s not to say that they aren’t trainable. With enough patience and plenty of praise and tasty treats, micro bullies can get through basic obedience.

Due to their sensitive personalities, harsh corrections should be avoided when training a micro bully. Otherwise, they may associate training with punishment rather than a reward at the end.

Are Micro Bullies Good Watchdogs?

Whether or not a micro bully will bark at unusual sounds or strangers depends on the individual dog’s temperament. Some are quite territorial; others don’t care if a stranger walks in the yard at all.

However, even if a micro bully barks and alerts you after spotting an unusual sight, that’s where their job ends. You shouldn’t expect them to be guard dogs. They can’t intimidate intruders or strange animals like the bigger standard or XL bully cousins.

Are Micro Bullies Good Service Dogs?

Micro bullies don’t make good service dogs. They aren’t very trainable and there’s no guarantee that a micro bully will stay on the job to help an individual with a disability. Even if they were, the physical characteristics of the breed wouldn’t allow them as they aren’t athletic dogs that can do a whole lot.

Although micro bullies aren’t suitable for service dog work, they can make good ESAs ready to get on their owner’s lap for cuddles at a moment’s notice.

How to Care for a Micro Bully?

Caring for a micro bully day-to-day is relatively straightforward. This dog breed doesn’t have high grooming or exercise needs. You can simply brush the coat once a week and go for short daily walks to keep them active.

However, the extreme downsizing of the breed makes them prone to a wide variety of health problems. They require more frequent checks at the vet than other dog breeds. While most dogs need at least one visit to the vet for general checkups every six months, it’s best to take micro bullies every three to four months.

Below, you’ll learn more about the health problems associated with the micro bully.

Do You Need to Groom a Micro Bully?

As mentioned, the micro bully has very low grooming needs. You can use a bristle brush or a rubber grooming mitt one to two times a week to remove dead hair from the coat. Since they have short hair, micro bullies don’t need haircuts. Bathing should be done when they get dirty or develop an unpleasant smell.

Aside from maintaining their coat, micro bullies need routine dental care, eye and ear cleaning, and nail trimming.

Do Micro Bullies Shed?

Micro bullies shed but very minimally. Don’t expect these dogs to drop clumps of hair everywhere they walk. It’s effortless to keep shedding in check by brushing the coats weekly. Nonetheless, they aren’t hypoallergenic dogs, which should be a consideration for those suffering from pet allergies.

What Health Problems Do Micro Bullies Have?

Unfortunately, micro bullies suffer from various health issues that shorten their lifespan and lower life quality. Joint pain and respiratory problems are two main health issues seen in most micro bullies.

The body of this dog breed is often too heavy for their frame. This excess weight usually leads to elbow dysplasia, where it reduces the range of motion and causes severe discomfort. It’s common for micro bullies to develop joint problems as early as their teenage years.

The respiratory problems affect all short-nosed dog breeds. Particularly with micro bullies, they also have narrow nostrils and windpipes that cause breathing difficulties. Considering their weight, it takes a micro bully double the effort to carry their body around.

Due to this, micro bullies are prone to heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which can lead to developing severe symptoms, including loss of consciousness. That’s why it’s critical to take them out for daily walks in cooler parts of the day and keep them light and short.

Other health problems that commonly affect micro bullies are congenital heart disease, allergies, skin problems, cherry eye, and hip dysplasia.

How Long Do Micro Bullies Live?

Micro bullies, unfortunately, may develop serious health issues early in their lives that require serious medical treatment. With all the health problems micro bullies are prone to developing, they don’t have a long lifespan. Micro bullies have an average life expectancy of between three and eight years.

What Should a Micro Bully Eat?

Micro bullies should be on a high-quality diet. A commercial dog food from a reputable brand with your vet’s recommendation should be enough to provide them with enough nutrients. You can also supplement their diet with vitamins.

Additionally, a micro bully may require a specialized diet prescribed by a veterinarian if they develop certain health conditions. For example, a veterinarian may recommend a renal diet for a micro bully with kidney problems.

Is a Micro Bully the Right Dog for Me?

The micro bully is the tiniest of the American bully dogs. However, like the exotic bully, these dogs haven’t received any recognition from the American Bully Kennel Club. Considering the serious health problems associated with this breed due to extreme downsizing, it’s likely that the ABKC won’t decree the micro bully as a legitimate variety anytime soon.

Despite their affectionate nature and friendly demeanor, the breeding of these dogs has been subject to ethical questions. For this reason, it’s best to avoid getting a micro bully from a breeder. Instead, check your local shelter or rescues to see if they have any micro bullies looking for a home.

Even if there aren’t any, we’re positive you’ll find many dogs who would be thrilled to get a chance to be your four-legged friend. While you’re at it, make sure to ask lots of questions to ensure you’re adopting from a reputable organization.