The Difference Between XL Bully vs. XL Pitbull — And Why Sin City Pits Now Calls Them American Terriers

You’ve probably heard the terms XL or XXL tossed around in the dog world — especially when talking about Pitbulls or Bullies over the last decade plus. But what do these size labels really mean? Are they based on weight, height, or just hype?

At Sin City Pits, we want to clear up the confusion — because we’ve been part of the evolution that’s taken these dogs from what was once known as an XL Pitbulls, to American Bullies and we've transformed it into something far more consistent: the American Terrier.

📏 SO What Does XL or XXL Actually Mean?

The term XL simply refers to a taller version of the original breed type — whether Pitbull, Poodle or a Bully. It doesn’t mean it’s stronger, more capable, or even better bred. It just means bigger in height! An XL Pitbull is a taller version of the American Pitbull Terrier. An XL Bully is a taller version of the American Bully and there’s no universal standard — each registry (UKC, ABKC, etc.) has slightly different guidelines for height, some changing it as the breeds change. But at Sin City Pits, we consistently produce dogs with structure and function, including:

• Females: 22–24” TTW (top of withers)
  
• Males: 23–26” TTW
  

That’s where form meets function — not just size for the sake of size.

🧬 Bully vs. Pitbull — The Real Differences

This should be simple, but the dog world especially on forums often makes it confusing — also when people are chasing size or looks over structure and lineage. Here's how we explain it:

Bully Dogs (XL Bully):

• Thick, heavy-set structure
  
• Looser skin around the neck and jaw
  
• Typically have broader features and shorter muzzles
  
• Inconsistent traits from dog to dog and line to line

• Athletic, lean muscle structure
  
• Tight skin
  
• More defined, dominant headpiece
  
• Consistent working-dog build with a purpose-driven look
  

Now — if you add height to either of those, that’s when people start labeling them XL.

🐾 Why Sin City Pits No Longer Calls Them “XL Pitbulls”

What most people call XL Pitbulls, we now define and breed as the American Terrier.

Why?

Because the term "XL Pitbull" has become watered down — often misused, mismatched, and associated with dogs that no longer reflect the structure, capability, or temperament of the American Pitbull Terrier and as the American Bully. Through 13+ years of breeding and 300+ productions, 6+ generation using the same blood we’ve created our own consistent class American Terrier – :

• Height and power better than any other XL
  
• Agility and intelligence no other bully breed can match
  
• Family-compatible temperament A+
  
• DNA-tested, multi-generation proven linage
  
• Consistency in the look, overall health, and performance
  

That’s why the American Terrier isn’t just a label — it’s a breed class we’ve built, and one that represents everything the original XL Pitbull was meant to be — minus the hype, minus the confusion, and with all the quality.

📸 The picture above on this blog is one of our Sin City Pits productions — a perfect example of what an XL Pitbull should look like... or rather, what a true American Terrier actually is. Anything significantly different in structure, temperament, or proportion is a different breed!

Learn more about how our structured breeding process protects health and legacy in our post →  About Us

💬 Sin City Pits — Not Your Ordinary Program

• We don’t chase trends or hype.
  
• We build legacies with a set vision
  
• And when others confuse terms, we redefine them through generations of DNA-proven dogs.
  

At Sin City Pits, the “XL Pitbull” has evolved.

It’s no longer just XL — it’s The American Terrier.