Levi Bullies: XL American Bully Breeder in Canada

State your name, your kennel, and where your kennel is located.

My name is Melinda Levi, and I am half of Levi Bullies. We are located in New-Brunswick, Canada.

What type of dogs do you breed, and what inspired you to get involved with that particular breed?

At Levi Bullies, we breed XL American Bullies. We absolutely love the breed, their temperament, companionship, and loyalty. They also have a very strong and powerful look, which is exactly what we were going for in a dog. We decided to get involved in breeding as we are so passionate about our dogs, and we wanted to do our part to better the breed.

What is your favorite bloodline?

I honestly do not have a favorite bloodline. Each bloodline has some unique features that I can appreciate individually. I love the breed, not the bloodline.

In your opinion, what are the characteristics of a responsible dog breeder?

I believe the characteristics of a responsible breeder start with someone that respects the breed, the breed standards, and maintains that quality. Someone that will take the time to educate themselves on the history of the breed and the genetics. A good breeder is not out to make a quick buck. Instead, they are truly trying to better the breed. A responsible breeder should always prioritize the dog’s health and find the right fit with its forever family.

What type of diet do you keep your dogs on throughout the year?

Our dogs eat a half raw and half kibble diet. The raw diet consists of beef, moose, fish, pork, lamb, and raw vegetables. Right now, for kibble, we are feeding them Boreal and/or Taste of the Wild.

How many times a day do you feed your dogs?

We feed our adult dogs twice a day, and our puppies under six months are fed three times a day.

How do you keep your dogs in shape throughout the year?

We do a lot of walking and hiking in the woods. We are also fortunate to live by the water, so they go swimming in the summer. We incorporate a lot of tug, flirt polls, and other accessories to change it up.  

Walk us through the process of purchasing a pup from Levi Bullies from start to finish.

• Levi Bullies is very interactive with our clients, and we start with a quick conversation of interest, followed by a puppy application. 

• We do our homework to ensure that our pups have great homes! During the pregnancy, birth, and the early puppy stages, to the day they go home. Our goal is to be very transparent with our clients; we always communicate updates, send pictures and videos, and facetime with the puppies. 
• We want our clients to feel comfortable that their dogs are getting much attention and the very best care while they are with us.

Do you currently show any of your dogs?

We are not currently showing because of the Covid restrictions, but we will start in the Fall of 2021 if all goes well.

What advice does Levi Bullies have for any upcoming breeders?

I would advise you to take your time, figure out what you want, and be patient to get there. This is not something that happens overnight or can be rushed. Once you have your vision, it will be easy to get sidetracked, and tempting opportunities will come by. So make sure that you always stick to your vision, work hard, and educate yourself to make it happen!

What do you think is the most difficult thing for people in the bully game to overcome?

Just like in anything, there will always be someone better, bigger, and more successful than you. But, often, when you start comparing yourself to these people, jealousy comes in, and it’s easy to see them as competition and put them down. 

One of the hardest things is recognizing that not everyone has the same vision and work ethic, and that’s okay.

How do you think they can overcome this thing?

Be respectful in the game. Stay in your lane, focus on what you are doing, and the rest does not belong to you.

Tell us about one of Levi Bullies main goals for 2022.

One of our main goals for 2022 is to hit the road and have our dogs in the shows! I would love to share our productions and our beautiful dogs with the bully world.

Describe how you would want things, in the bully breed Community, to be 10 years from now.

Better and better every day! As a newer breed, there are still disagreements on breed standards and registration criteria that linger around. I would love for the Bully community to pull together and earn the respect and accreditation it deserves in the dog world.

What separates Levi Bullies from the competition?

We are home-based; our dogs are raised with our family, our children, and our friends. So our puppies are an extension of our family!

What other hobbies or interests do you take part in?

We are a very active family that loves fitness, hockey, baseball, and volleyball. Some of our other interests include boating, fishing, and hunting!

What do you think of Bully Girl Magazine?

I think Bully Girl Magazine is an awesome way to showcase all of the great work women are doing in this Bully world! It has great energy and I love the positive vibes that Bully Girl Magazine brings to the Bully world. Cheers!