State your name, your kennel, and where your kennel is located.
My name is Keiven Harris, founder of Built-Ryte Bullies, located in Fortson, GA.
What type of dogs do you breed, and what inspired you to get involved with that particular breed?
At Built-Ryte Bullies we breed XL / Extreme American Bullies. I really love the athletic and muscular characteristics of the breed, along with their excellent temperament and family compatibility.
What is your favorite bloodline?
I don’t have a favorite, but I have favorites. I really love them all. We are predominantly Razors Edge, Gotti, Royal Blue Generation, Ganghis Kon, and Greyline.
In your opinion, what are the characteristics of a responsible dog breeder?
Responsible breeders follow ABKC XL guidelines:
Straight fronts
Level top line
Tail drops to between 1 inch above or below the hocks
Angulation only the rear quarters
2-3 in muzzle
Forehead stop
Angulation of the eyes without droop or visibility of inner eyelid
Scissor bite
Sprung rib cage
Abdominal tuck neither excessive or rounded
Tight skin around shoulders and throat
Muscle tone and athletic movement
And the list goes on for us. We strive for perfection.
What type of diet do you keep your dogs on throughout the year?
At Built-Ryte Bullies we feed premium kibble and raw mix. Our RAW consists of: ground beef, ground turkey, chicken quarters, coconut oil and fish oil.
How many times a day do you feed your dogs?
Our bullies over 1 year of age eat once per day, late in the evening. Our puppies depending on age, eat 2-3 times per day .
How do you keep your dogs in shape throughout the year?
We have a 1 acre fenced in dog run. Our bullies are let out of their facilities daily to run, play, and socialize with one another.
Walk us through the process of purchasing a pup from your kennel from start to finish.
1) Read over our purchase contract found on our website
2) Call us to confirm your pick is available prior to placing a deposit.
3) Once a deposit is placed, the contract will be drawn up by us and signed prior to emailing to the customer.
4) Once the customer receives the contract and confirms that everything is correct, it should be signed and returned.
5) Remainder of balance will be sent at predetermined date.
6) Once full payment is received, transport will be arranged.
Do you currently show any of your dogs?
Yes, we have a 14 month old stud about to make his debut.
What advice do you have for any upcoming breeders?
Study the breed, travel to local dog shows and look for literature. There are some great books on Amazon on the dog reproductive system and whelping a litter, from A to Z. Do not fully rely on info from a plethora of dog breeders, because the information can be conflicting and confusing if you have no working knowledge. The first thing I did was purchase books and CD’s on dog breeding, hosted by the AKC.
What do you think is the most difficult thing for people in the bully game to overcome?
To become a selective breeder, Meaning to breed for the more desired traits, while breeding out the less desired traits, when choosing a stud or picking a pup from litter.
How do you think they can overcome this thing?
Don’t get caught up on only one desired trait. Be patient with the breeding process to create an overall balanced and impressive XL American Bully.
Who do you look up to in the bully game, and why?
I look up to programs that do good business, are willing to teach and share, and breed outstanding American Bullies.
Tell us about one of Built-Ryte Bullies main goals for the year 2020.
1) To produce even more complete XL American Bullies that are closer to my vision
2) To get back into the show ring and champ a few bullies.
Describe how you would want things in the bully breed Community, to be 10 years from now.
1) I would like the breed to be recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC).
2) All the fad breeding for particular colors and styles needs to come to an end. I would like the breed to have one distinctive look just like any other dog breed.
What separates Built-Ryte Bullies from the competition?
I feel like a lot of kennels can say they desire the same thing as we do, such as: muscle, strong rear, sprung ribs, correctness, extreme bone, blocked top skull, etc. The way we actually envision it is unique to us. Anyone looking at our program will see that we represent our name like none other. Our passion for the breed, customer service, and willingness to educate are other key factors that help separate us as well.
What other hobbies or interests do you take part in?
Family time, wealth building, physical fitness, sports nutrition and playing basketball.
What do you think of Bully Girl Magazine?
I think Bully Girl Magazine is an awesome platform for breeders to get to know one another. They are fun and bring an abundance of positivity to the American Bully breed community.
