Breeding suitability guide — American Bully
For breeders: which tests, which thresholds, which mating rules apply
1. Mandatory tests for parents
American Bully Club Deutschland (im DZR e.V., kein VDH-/FCI-Verein) requires these tests for breeding approval — they must be on file for every breeding animal.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ectropion / Entropion | — | clear | Complex | American Bully Club Deutschland (im DZR e.V., kein VDH-/FCI-Verein) |
| Elbow Dysplasia (ED) | X-ray | ED 0 | Polygenic | American Bully Club Deutschland (im DZR e.V., kein VDH-/FCI-Verein) |
| Hip dysplasia (HD) | X-ray | HD A–B | Polygenic | American Bully Club Deutschland (im DZR e.V., kein VDH-/FCI-Verein) |
| Complex vertebral malformation (CVM) | X-ray | — | Complex | American Bully Club Deutschland (im DZR e.V., kein VDH-/FCI-Verein) |
| Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) | X-ray | clear | Complex | American Bully Club Deutschland (im DZR e.V., kein VDH-/FCI-Verein) |
| Patellar Luxation (PL) | Physical examination | — | Polygenic | American Bully Club Deutschland (im DZR e.V., kein VDH-/FCI-Verein) |
| Merle coat pattern (M) | — | no merle × merle mating | Autosomal dominant | American Bully Club Deutschland (im DZR e.V., kein VDH-/FCI-Verein) |
| Heart disease | Physical examination | — | Complex | American Bully Club Deutschland (im DZR e.V., kein VDH-/FCI-Verein) |
2. Mating rules
When one parent has a borderline result, the other parent must meet specific criteria.
We currently have no structured mating rules for this breed. Please consult your club's regulation.
3. Recommended additional tests
Sensible additions for line planning.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) (BOAS) | Physical examination | clear | Complex | AI-Vet |
| Ichthyosis (ICT) | — | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | AI-Vet |
| Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) | DNA test | clear | Autosomal recessive | AI-Vet |
| Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | AI-Vet |
| Cystinuria (Cyst-1a) | Body-fluid analysis | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | AI-Vet |
| Hyperuricosuria (HUU) | Body-fluid analysis | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | AI-Vet |
4. HonestDog verification
- Upload a legible certificate (PDF or photo) per test in the breeder dashboard
- Certificate must show date, examining vet, and FCI/VDH logo
- Certificates older than 36 months are flagged as stale
- We extract the results from each upload using AI and check them for consistency with the dog's profile — the profile tile then shows 'verified'