ManMade Kennels founder says cattle genetics can improve American Bully breeding

Eddie Perez, founder of ManMade Kennels and ManMade Cattle in Chickasha, Okla., says breeders can borrow cattle-industry tools like Expected Progeny Differences to make smarter choices about temperament, health and long-term genetic diversity. The pitch matters as the American Bully breed grows and buyers look beyond appearance.

Why it matters: - Perez says the American Bully’s future depends less on looks and more on traits that affect daily life, including temperament, health and genetic diversity. - Responsible breeding decisions can shape how dogs interact with children, strangers, other pets and unfamiliar environments. - Buyers who focus only on appearance may miss the factors that determine whether a puppy becomes a stable family companion.

What happened: - Eddie Perez, founder of ManMade Kennels and ManMade Cattle, outlined how cattle-breeding principles can inform American Bully genetics. - Perez said tools used in livestock breeding can help dog breeders think about long-term outcomes instead of short-term appearance. - ManMade Kennels published the message as educational guidance for American Bully owners and breeders. - More information is available at ManMadeKennels.com.

The details: - In cattle breeding, Expected Progeny Differences, or EPDs, help producers estimate how likely certain traits are to pass to offspring. - Perez said the same mindset applies to dog breeding, even though the industries operate differently. - Perez said breeders should evaluate temperament, health, structure, consistency and the future results of each pairing. - Phenotype refers to visible traits such as structure, size, color, muscle expression, movement and overall appearance. - Genetics refers to inherited traits that may pass from one generation to the next. - Phenotype matters for breed preservation, but appearance alone does not explain how a dog will influence future generations. - Genetic diversity can help support breed health and reduce the risk of concentrating undesirable traits. - Strategic outcrossing has long been used across species to introduce new genetics while preserving breed integrity. - Responsible breeders often focus on early socialization, positive human interaction, environmental enrichment, confidence-building activities, temperament evaluations and age-appropriate exposure to new experiences.

Between the lines: - The message pushes back on breeding trends driven by social media, where bloodlines, colors and dramatic looks can get outsized attention. - Perez is framing breeding as a long-term planning problem, not a popularity contest. - The argument also reflects a broader industry debate: whether the next generation of American Bullies should be selected primarily for presentation or for durability, predictability and behavior. - ManMade Kennels says the program emphasizes temperament and responsible genetic planning. - The kennel also says it produces educational content for owners and enthusiasts. - ManMade Kennels says its online audience includes more than 120,000 YouTube subscribers.

What's next: - As interest in the American Bully continues to grow, breeders and buyers are likely to keep debating temperament, genetics and puppy development. - Perez says the long-term goal should be producing animals that improve future generations, not just animals that look impressive today. - Prospective buyers are likely to ask more questions about health testing, socialization practices and breeding strategy before choosing a puppy.

The bottom line: - Perez’s core message is simple: in dog breeding, as in cattle, lasting success comes from planning for what gets passed on, not just what looks good now.