BGM Interview with “Bully The Kid”

I am Christopher “Bully the Kid” Bennett emcee, writer, radio personality, Bully ambassador, ABKC spokesperson, animal cruelty investigator, father, and the voice of the American Bully! Alright I’ll tone it down for the interview, but I’m kind of feeling myself right now, sitting with the legendary BGM!

How did you get the name “Bully The Kid”?

The name Bully the Kid came about through radio. Back in 2008, I was co-hosting a radio program with Michelle Chavez, on Bully Talk Radio. I said I needed a nickname because Christopher wasn’t exactly unique, thanks for that Mom! So I had been into westerns and legends, like Billy the Kid since I was young, and despite my age I like to have fun with all I do. So live on the air I half joked that everybody needed to call me Bully the Kid, the name stuck and since then I’ve been, “The Kid, Bully, and BTK”.

What inspired you to get involved with this breed?

I had been involved with the American Pit Bull Terrier forever it seems. I love that breed of dog and had done just about every legal activity one could do with an American Pit Bull Terrier. From working, to the show ring, I loved it all. I loved them so much that I remember when I first saw the American Bully and I thought, “Damn that’s the worst Pit I had ever seen!” I was a bonafide hater of the breed. I wasn’t feeling the dogs at all. That’s straight real talk!

That was about in 2003-2004. In 08 late 07, my feelings were changing. That change was spearheaded by individuals that separated the breed into its own breed. I was willing to readily accept the American Bully as an American Bully. I just didn’t accept it as a American Pit Bull Terrier. Regardless of what was used in its creation, once you change a breeds ability to perform the tasks in which it was created, I believe you create something new. Especially, if the goal is to do exactly that.

I became familiar with the community, through all of the flash. I loved the radio, clothing, magazines and the mega events. I knew I could build a home within the community. I wanted to write, writing is a passion, so I reached out to Atomic Dogg Magazine. Someone took that resume though and told me they weren’t interested, and I wrote on a website for almost a year until finally ADM noticed and I got my chance. I snatched it and now i am 1 of 2 senior writers on the team.

Everything else I do, comes from being attracted to the community and the vibe and energy it exudes. I’ve been fortunate to be accepted as a voice for an amazing breed and I will forever be grateful!

Do you have a kennel, or own any dogs?

No kennel, but definitely have dogs! Man I still have my UKC Grand Champion “Cochise” pure APBT in body, mind and soul! Then I have my American Bully Champion” Gorillas The Future Foretold” aka “The Prophecy” litter mates to the winningest bitch in ABKC history “Appletini”. Shout out Gorilla Kennels and my boy Michael Jordan!

Then I have my new passion the baddest Shortybull on the planet! Cassius Clay aka The G.O.A.T! Blue River from the bottom to the top! Even if yours looked like Halle Berry it still wouldn’t be finer than Clay! Real deal, all day, every day! Then I have a baby shorty girl named The Rocca Cola Bear aka Cola! Bad little white girl! She’s going to hold it down real soon, trust me.

I’m a buyer though, not a breeder. I’ve studded out “Cassius” a time or two to select bitches, but for the most part these dogs are my brothers and sisters. Family first, pets second, and just dogs never! That’s how we get down! For the Shorty Section I go by Signature Shortybulls and we are trying to assist in bringing that breed to the forefront in a positive way.

Do you ever show any of your dogs?

I love showing my dogs! I rarely get to though, because I’m in the ring as an emcee so much. I think it’s important to earn a title on all my dogs however, so I always make sure to carve out time to step in the ring and compete with the best.

This year I plan on showing at the ABKC Nationals in New Jersey and “The GOAT” and I started touring this past August to earn his Grand champion title. So look for “The Kid” and “The GOAT”, at a show near you!

What are the Bully Shows like in the south, compared to everywhere else?

The south is full of camaraderie. We are a family, and I think we support each other really well. Whether its in competition, or throwing shows, we try to work together. I don’t think that’s always the case in other regions. We truly focus on presentation, and dogs showing out in the ring.

When you come to a show in the south you may not see the elaborate booth setup a that you get in Cali and the Midwest, or the giant crews like Cali and Texas, but you do get that southern hospitality. We all know each other and grind together. Not saying we are better, but the south is my home, and I love my living room! We go hard and take showing seriously down in the woods and the swamps of the South! Although we will step out on that red carpet like we do every year, at Bullymania in downtown Atlanta!

Speak on the current status of the bully game.

I think the Bully game is at a crossroads. We’ve come from a very wild and unruly past, where almost anything went. Breeders were judged by the impressiveness of the dogs they produced, and nothing else. That’s moving towards a large portion of our community who not only want impressiveness, but strive for correct structure as well.

We are holding more individuals responsible for what they do. Whether it be bad breeding practices, or bad business, we are calling you out. The community is also becoming more educated and is starting to question why things are the way they are, and making changes when we have to. That’s a big thing!
The community is growing. The individuals are becoming teachers and leaders, and that’s huge! We are no longer looking at the breed as a game. We are looking at it as a movement that has to be protected and guided in the right direction!

Tell our readers about your radio show?

The Bully Booth Tuesday Nights at 10pm EST! The Booth is my personal show! I’ve been doing Bully Radio for 5 years, and now Bullythekidradio is the platform for intelligent, entertaining discussion of all things bully. I want my show to always be about content and not advertisement, I don’t bring on kennels to discuss hot breedings, but instead discuss topics and issues that affect our breed from top to bottom. Shout out to my co-Host Loudmouf!

Radio is important and its important that we remember we represent the breed, not only to our community, but to others as well! I love radio. I like to bring on a variety of guests, and we clown and educate at the same time!

You were also part of a new Animal Planet reality series, “Bully and Sugar” – Southern Justice. What was that like?

Man! I loved filming! Television is another world and honestly, I never in a million years thought I’d have a chance to do that! I grew up watching Animal Planet and Animal Cops. The fact that I could do television, and at the same time showcase an epidemic like animal cruelty, was a dream come true.

I mean they gave me a badge, a gun and swore me in as a deputy! I was like let’s do it! Seriously though I have always taken animal cruelty and neglect seriously. I was fortunate to be a part of the Bully Community and be put into the spotlight to receive that opportunity. We are still hoping to get picked up soon. It’s a process and can make you anxious, but at the end of the day if its not I still loved the experience. I am being booked to film on other programs as well and I’m living a dream when it comes to animals, so no complaints on my end!

What advice do you have for anyone looking to get involved with this breed, in any way?

Make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. Put the animals first! Everything else will work itself out whether it be success, finances or notoriety. Focus on the breed and the dogs you have. Buy and breed with a 12 to 15 year commitment! If you don’t see yourself having the dog that long, then don’t get it. Just wait until you find one you can see yourself having that long.

If you want to be the next BTK, or BGM, then network and showcase your talent and worth. This community is wide open and those that pursue their dreams for the right reasons will do well and will leave an imprint on the breed. The ones who don’t will fade away. The only bad thing, is the dogs that suffer because of these fly-by-night breeders.

Where would you like to see the bully game 10 years from now?

Ten years from now, I expect to see more consistency in the breed, and in the show ring. I would love to see a major network televising our national event, and portraying the American Bully as the number one household companion in the world. A decade from now we will have more health tested stock, and hopefully as a whole the breed will be healthier. The fair weather fans, will be gone and the community will be built on the backs of solid individuals and kennels!

That’s my prophetic thought process! Lets make it happen! By the way I plan on being filthy rich! Dirty in dollars laughing with my dogs!

What other hobbies or interests do you have?

Writing, writing and more writing! I have a series of novels dropping this winter! The Devil Dog Diaries! Volume 1 Coal-Train is a beast of a book! I’m really proud of it and I think it’s a special piece of literature! Get you a copy!!

When I’m not writing I’m playing with my dogs and spending time with my family! I’m a beast at the bowling alley, play in flag football leagues although I’m getting old, and i’m about to leave it to the 25 and under crowd real soon!

What motto do you live by?

Man I come up with quotes daily! Right now these are two of my favorites that I keep in mind daily, both BTK originals:

There is always a larger picture. It is entirely up to us whether we squint or open our eyes wide enough to see it.

–Bully the Kid

The only way to catch up to someone or something that is behind you is to stop moving forward.

–Bully the Kid

Where can our readers find you online?

Christopher James (Bully the Kid) on Facebook

@Bullythekidradio on Instagram

@Bullythekidlive on Twitter

www.Bullythekid.com is being launched real soon! Books, radio, television and gigs! All things BTK!

Thank you BGM for the opportunity to sit down with y’all! I wish you continued success!

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