State your name, and where your kennel is located.
Our names are Cody and Jim Blackburn, our kennel is called Carolina Bully Farms, located in Charlotte NC.
What type of dogs do you breed, and what inspired you to get involved with that particular breed?
We breed extreme pocket bullies, we loved the pitbull breed, and as we researched it we found the American Bully, and that was our perfect dog. The more we got involved in the bullies, the more we found that it was the breed for us. “The shorter, the wider, the better”.
What type of diet do you keep your dogs on throughout the year?
We struggled with this for 3 years before finding what worked for us. We tried Taste of the Wild, Blue Buffalo, and every top of the line food you can think of. Then when consulting with an old veterinarian, he told us to try dog chow, and we have used it ever since. Since it doesn’t have the best ingredients, we use BullyMax as a supplement.
Do you have any upcoming breedings that you would like our readers to know about?
We have some phenomenal 2014 breedings coming up. We have our upcoming stud Big Country going to our female Sweet Money, and we have CH Mo Money going to our female Peaches.
What is your favorite bloodline?
I can definitely appreciate all bloodlines, I use Gottiline and Razors Edge in my program, but to me you cant beat Razors Edge overall, and that’s why I used it to create my own strain of edge blood, MONEYLINE. I will eventually make it a bloodline but unlike some people I know you can just make a bloodline overnight.
Do you currently show, any of your bullys?
I have Mo Money champed out, and Miss Bounci champed out. I took a while off from the show ring, but I have a few shows scheduled for this year and I’m gonna show my boy Too Phat and my boy Big Country.
What advice do you have for any upcoming Bully Breeders?
You have to breed to your vision, not what is popular at the moment, and then promote what you have. Don’t be shy about showing of your dogs and your productions.
What is the most difficult thing for people in the bully game to overcome?
The hate, when you get a big name quick it makes everyone mad, but at the same time if you use that hate to drive you, it can be even be the best promotion you can get.
How do you think they can overcome this thing?
You have to stay above it, let the haters push you but don’t let them drag you down. Haters are more passionate then people who like you so let them talk about you and spread your name.
Who do you look up to in the bully game, and why?
I definitely look up to Pratt at Pratts Pits, he does his thing he doesn’t get caught up in all the craziness the bully world pushes on big name breeders, I respect that.
Describe how you would want things, in the Bully Commuity, to be 10 years from now.
I would like to see it as not just the “bully community” but that the bully breed has grown past that to become a household name like a German shepherd, or English Bulldog. I would like to see the shows being much, much larger and nationals getting some tv coverage. I sadly think we were much closer to this 3 yrs ago than today. Today’s shows have shrank, and the shows are looking for dogs no one wants. Now I don’t think they need to be picking flawed dogs, but the dogs that the ABKC was built on wouldn’t win in a show nowadays. I think a clearer standard needs to be set for all this to happen, and we need much more unity in the bully world.
What separates your kennel from the competition?
The fact that we NEVER do a breeding for the money is the first thing. All of our breedings are carefully planned in advance. Next and most important, is our love for the dogs. We spend all day everyday spending one on one time with our bullies, and they need that attention. Lastly, we want you to get your dream bully, because that is the best way for us to grow and become bigger as a kennel.
What other hobbies or interests do you take part in?
We are into guns, we go to the range every chance we get, and we are getting into weightlifting pretty hard. But bully’s are our lifestyle.
What motto do you live by?
We just do our best to always keep GOD first, and live life as he wants, the best we can.
What do you think of Bully Girl Magazine?
I think they are doing something fewer and fewer magazines in the bully world are doing, getting out and getting in touch with the top breeders, and talking to them about the bully world, and not making it a book of ads – LOL. It has been a pleasure talking with y’all, and GOD BLESS.
