Replacement ABKC papers for my dog

Hello,

As a vet student, I wanted to share some information regarding the responsibilities involved in owning an American Bully.

In France, certain dogs considered potentially dangerous are subject to specific regulations. This requires owners to obtain an ownership licence, have a behavioural assessment carried out on the animal, and follow specific rules regarding access to public spaces. The law distinguishes between two categories based on physical characteristics: 'attack dogs' (category 1) and 'guard and defence dogs' (category 2).

Although the American Bully is not officially listed among these breeds in the January 1999 Act, it is a cross between the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier—breeds that belong to categories 1 and 2. Despite this lineage, the American Bully isn't subject to the specific French regulations that normally involve registering the dog with the local council, mandatory neutering in certain cases, obtaining an ownership licence, specific training, or restrictions on sales and transfers.

Registries such as the ABKC, EBKC, ABR, or IBR are purely genealogical records for American Bullies. They do not determine your dog's legal categorisation. To establish this, you need to have a breed type assessment performed by a vet, generally from the age of 8 months. The cost of this assessment is usually around £70 to £120.

All the best,

Quitterie.