Hulk: The Biggest Pitbull in the World Uses Bully Max

Hulk the dog is a giant pitbull from New Hampshire who became famous as possibly the biggest pit bull in the world. He was widely reported to weigh about 175 pounds at just 18 months old, more than double the size of a typical American Pit Bull Terrier. Hulk is owned and trained by Dark Dynasty K9s (DDK9), and his diet included Bully Max PRO Series food.

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania—A New Hampshire pit bull, aptly named Hulk, just may be the world’s biggest.

Who Is Hulk the Pit Bull?

Hulk is owned and trained by Dark Dynasty K9s (DDK9), a well-known New Hampshire kennel that breeds pit bulls and trains protection dogs for families, celebrities and police and federal officers. Hulk went viral when videos of the giant red-nose pit bull spread across YouTube and the news.

What surprised people most was not just his size. Hulk lives with the family as a house dog and was shown playing gently with their young child. That made him a popular example of a well-raised, well-trained pit bull, and a counterpoint to the breed's rough reputation.

DDK has reportedly turned down offers to buy Hulk for as much as $500,000.

Before we go further, a quick note on fuel: if your pit bull needs more strength and energy from the bowl, a meat-based, high-protein dog food is the simplest place to start.

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How Big Is Hulk Compared With a Normal Pit Bull?

Years ago, American Pit Bull Terriers like Hulk were bred to “bait” large animals like bulls. These dogs are known for their tenacity, courage, and strength, but they’re not usually the biggest dogs on the block.

The United Kennel Club (UKC) breed standard describes a mature male American Pit Bull Terrier at about 35 to 60 pounds and a female at about 30 to 50 pounds, standing roughly 17 to 21 inches at the shoulder. Hulk, at around 175 pounds, is about three times the top of that range.

For a full breakdown of normal sizes by age, see our guide to average pit bull weight, height and size.

Is Hulk a Purebred Pit Bull?

Dark Dynasty K9s describes Hulk as an American Pit Bull Terrier. Many breed fans point out that his size is far outside the APBT standard, and some believe he has American Bully or mastiff-type dogs in his background. There is no public DNA test to settle it, so treat it as an open question.

Part of the confusion is that “pit bull” is used loosely for several breeds. Big, heavy dogs called pit bulls are often American Bullies, which are a separate breed. Read are American Bullies the same as pit bulls? for the differences, or see which dogs are considered bully breeds.

What Is the Biggest Pitbull Breed?

Among the breeds people call pit bulls, the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier are medium-sized dogs. The American Bully, especially the XL class, is the largest of the group, and it is the breed most “giant pit bull” photos actually show. Hulk is an outlier: very few dogs of any pit bull type come close to his reported weight.

What Does Hulk Eat?

A dog Hulk's size needs a lot of fuel. DDK9 has used Bully Max for its dogs, including Hulk, and Hulk's documentary features Bully Max PRO Series 31/25 (sold at the time as Gorilla Max).

Pro Series 31/25 is the same high-calorie formula featured in Hulk's video, with 600 calories per cup for working and sport dogs. Feeding an everyday pit bull instead? See our guide to the best dog food for pitbulls.

Hear why champion dog owners use Bully Max:

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Dark Dynasty K9s also feeds Bully Max to other dogs in its program. Every batch of Bully Max is triple tested for safety, and the company has had zero recalls.

Hulk on BarCroftTV (Featuring Gorilla Max aka Bully Max PRO Series)

Can Your Pit Bull Get as Big as Hulk?

Clearly Hulk is a genetically gifted dog. His size comes mainly from his genetics, and no food or supplement can turn an average pit bull into a 175-pound dog. Trying to force extra size on a dog with too many calories just adds fat and strains the joints.

What you can do is help your dog reach its own best build: lean, well-muscled and at a healthy weight. That comes down to three things:

• Good food: a meat-based diet with enough protein and calories for your dog's activity level. See how to build muscle on a dog with food.
• Exercise: regular walks, play and, for adult dogs, resistance work like tug, flirt poles, a weighted vest for dogs or weight pulling. See how to put muscle on your dog.
• Rest and patience: muscle builds during recovery, over months, not weeks.

Check with your vet before you change your dog's diet or start a new training routine, especially for puppies under a year old.

Want to add muscle support to your own dog's routine? Muscle Builder is a daily tablet for dogs of all breeds and ages.

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The Hulk Documentary: Behind the scenes at DarkDynastyK9s

Hulk the Pit Bull: FAQ

How much does Hulk the pit bull weigh?

Hulk was reported to weigh about 175 pounds at 18 months old. His current weight has not been published.

Is Hulk the biggest pit bull in the world?

There is no official record for the biggest pit bull, but Hulk is the dog most often named as the largest. His reported weight is about three times that of a typical American Pit Bull Terrier.

Who owns Hulk?

Hulk belongs to the family that runs Dark Dynasty K9s, a pit bull breeding and protection dog training kennel in New Hampshire.

How big does a normal pit bull get?

Most adult American Pit Bull Terriers weigh about 30 to 60 pounds and stand about 17 to 21 inches at the shoulder. Males are usually larger than females.

Want your dog to build lean muscle the healthy way? Start with a meat-based, high-calorie food like Bully Max PRO Series 31/25 and see more dogs fed Bully Max.