Gottiline Bloodline History: The Notorious Juan Gotty & the American Bully
A preserved chapter from The Bully Bible documenting the early Gottiline bloodline, The Notorious Juan Gotty, Richard Barajas, Greyline influence and Gottiline's place in the development of the modern American Bully.
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Gottiline Bloodline: Quick Summary
Gottiline is one of the historically influential bully-style bloodlines associated with the period that preceded and overlapped the formal development of the American Bully. The line is most closely associated with The Notorious Juan Gotty and breeder Richard Barajas of West Side Kennels.
- The historical line traces prominently to The Notorious Juan Gotty.
- Juan Gotty was purchased from Tony Moore of Greyline Kennels.
- The blood became known for heavy bone, broad heads, mass and substantial frames.
- Gottiline influence appears behind numerous later American Bully pedigrees.
- Historical terminology such as “Gotti Pit Bull” predates today's clearer distinction between the American Pit Bull Terrier and American Bully.
- Modern Pocket American Bully classification is based on mature height, not a fixed body-weight limit.
Chapter 4: Gottiline
The Gottiline Pit Bull bloodline, otherwise known as the Gotti Pit Bulls, Gottyline or Gotty Pit Bulls, became one of the most popular bloodlines in the American Bully community. This bloodline was started by Richard Barajas of West Side Kennels. He owned the foundation sire, The Notorious Juan Gotty.
The Notorious Juan Gotty
Back in 1997, he bought Gotty for $1,300 from Tony Moore. Richard probably didn't know at the time what a great buy Juan Gotty was. Tony owned Greyline Kennels in Los Angeles. The Greyline foundation female was named Showtime. Showtime was the mother of Gotty's father, R Greyline's Raider 2. Raider passed away when Gotty was only seven weeks old.
This was just the beginning for Gotty's long line of fantastic foundations. If you've heard the names Coldens Blue Rhino, Felony, Pate's Blue Beast, Gottiline's Monster, Do Good Big Boy, New Trojan's Dillinger and many others, these were some of the dogs associated with the early foundation and expansion of Gotty blood.
The historical account published in this chapter reported that Gotty sired more than 900 UKC-registered American Pit Bull Terriers. Starting with Juan Gotty, the Gottiline bloodline spread across the United States and around the world, including Canada, China, Japan and the Philippines. Gotty would become one of the best-known dogs associated with the early bully-style movement.
The Historical Gottiline Look
The Gottiline bloodline is named after The Notorious Juan Gotty. Only the “y” was changed to an “i.”
The look of the Gotti blood was distinctive. These dogs were often described as carrying substantial mass, a stocky frame and considerable girth.
They were sometimes heavier, thicker and shorter than other Pit Bulls of the period. The head was described as brick-like and extremely broad between the cheeks, sitting on a well-defined, heavily muscled neck.
Many Pit Bull enthusiasts said they couldn't tell the difference between a Razors Edge dog and a Gottiline dog. To people familiar with the lines, however, there were recognizable differences in type.
Some Gottiline dogs were also described as showing spotting or speckling in the coat, especially on white dogs. This was never a universal characteristic of the bloodline and should not be treated as a defining genetic marker.
Temperament in the Historical Gottiline Discussion
The personality attributed to Gotti blood in the original chapter was one of good temperament. At a time when Pit Bulls continued to carry a public reputation for aggression, bully breeders increasingly emphasized companion temperament rather than the fighting traits associated with parts of the breed's much earlier history.
The original chapter described these dogs as loving household companions that could be good with children and, with appropriate upbringing and management, other dogs. It also emphasized loyalty to family and home.
Gottiline's Influence on Later Bully Programs
Other bloodlines and programs became associated with Gottiline influence. The historical chapter identified Gotty as foundation influence behind Mikeland's Kracker and Gator as well as Kingpinline's Goliath.
Gotty blood also appeared behind bully dogs produced at very different sizes. During this period, people commonly used informal labels such as “XL Pit Bull” and “Pocket Pit Bull” to describe larger or smaller bully-style dogs.
Juan Gotty contributed to a wide range of bully pedigrees and played an important role in the development of what became the modern American Bully. The dogs descended from or influenced by the line were not identical, but heavy bone, broad heads, density and substantial girth became closely associated with the Gottiline name.
The Notorious Juan Gotty became a legend within the early bully movement and one of its most recognizable foundation dogs. The term “bully Pit Bull” was widely used during the transitional period before the American Bully had fully emerged as a separately recognized breed.
There are too many dogs carrying The Notorious Juan Gotty in their pedigrees to list here. Two prominent names referenced in the original chapter are Cali Kingpin's Goliath II (G2) and Gottiline's Dax.
The historical significance of Gottiline is not simply the popularity of one dog—it is how widely that influence spread through the developing bully community.
How the Terminology Has Changed Since This Chapter Was Written
Chapter 4 has intentionally retained the terminology commonly used during the period it documents. Readers should understand, however, that modern breed terminology is more precise.
American Pit Bull Terrier vs. American Bully
Today, the American Bully is treated as a distinct companion breed, rather than merely another name for an American Pit Bull Terrier. Modern American Bully standards emphasize a muscular, substantial companion dog with breed type, balance, movement and stable temperament.
For that reason, phrases appearing in the historical chapter such as “Gotti Pit Bull,” “bully Pit Bull” and “Pocket Pit Bull” should be read in their historical context. They document the vocabulary being used while the modern American Bully identity was still developing.
For a current standards-based overview, see Venomline's complete American Bully breed guide .
Pocket and XL Are Not Defined by the Old Weight Descriptions
The original chapter described dogs below approximately 60 pounds as “Pocket” and dogs around 90–100 pounds or more as “XL.” That language is preserved because it reflects the historical article, but it should not be used as today's classification system.
Under the current ABKC American Bully standard, Pocket is determined by mature height at the withers. Adult Pocket males are at least 14 inches and under 17 inches; females are at least 13 inches and under 16 inches. There is no official Pocket weight requirement.
The XL variety is likewise determined primarily by mature height rather than a specific body-weight threshold.
See Venomline's Pocket Bully Size Guide for the current measurement ranges, measuring instructions and full-grown size context.
A Note on Historical Production Counts
Historical sources have published differing figures for the number of registered offspring attributed to The Notorious Juan Gotty. The original Bully Bible chapter reported more than 900 UKC-registered offspring. Because historical public accounts vary, this archive edition preserves the figure as part of the original chapter rather than presenting it as a newly independently audited 2026 total.
Temperament Requires More Nuance Today
The original chapter's description of Gottiline dogs as good-tempered companions reflects the direction breeders were trying to establish. Modern readers should avoid treating any bloodline label as a guarantee of behavior. Genetics, breeder selection, early development, socialization, health, training, environment and individual temperament all matter.
For current guidance, read Venomline's American Bully Temperament & Family Guide .
Continue Researching the American Bully
This archive chapter documents one historically influential bloodline. Current standards, sizes and ownership information belong in dedicated modern resources.
Why Gottiline Still Matters to American Bully History
Bloodline history matters because the American Bully did not appear fully formed overnight. Modern pedigrees reflect generations of selection, individual foundation dogs, different breeder visions and the mixing and refining of influential families of dogs.
Gottiline became important because Juan Gotty was reproduced widely and his influence traveled into numerous programs. The line also became associated with a visual direction—heavy bone, broad heads, density and a substantial overall appearance—that helped shape public expectations of what a bully-style dog could look like.
That does not mean every descendant looked the same, nor does a famous ancestor automatically establish the quality of a modern dog. A pedigree tells you where a dog came from. Structure, movement, temperament, health and consistent production tell you what a breeding program actually built from that pedigree.
From Historic Bloodlines to Modern Breeding Programs
Serious American Bully breeding today requires more than stacking famous names in a pedigree. Historical bloodlines provide context, but responsible breeding decisions should evaluate the complete sire and dam, structural strengths and weaknesses, temperament, health considerations, phenotype and the traits demonstrated in previous offspring.
This is one reason modern breeders continue studying dogs such as Juan Gotty, Dax, Razors Edge foundation dogs and other influential producers: not simply for nostalgia, but to understand how recognizable traits moved through generations.
Looking for a Pocket Bully Puppy?
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View American Bully StudsFrequently Asked Questions About Gottiline
What is the Gottiline bloodline?
Gottiline is a historically influential bully bloodline associated with The Notorious Juan Gotty and the early development of the bully-style dogs that contributed to the modern American Bully.
Who started the Gottiline bloodline?
Historical accounts identify Richard Barajas of West Side Kennels as the breeder associated with establishing Gottiline around The Notorious Juan Gotty.
Who was The Notorious Juan Gotty?
The Notorious Juan Gotty was an influential foundation sire whose widespread use helped establish Gottiline and spread its influence through early bully pedigrees.
Is Gottiline an American Bully bloodline?
Gottiline predates or overlaps the period in which the modern American Bully became formally established. Its descendants and related dogs became highly influential within American Bully pedigrees.
What did Gottiline dogs historically look like?
Historical descriptions commonly emphasized heavy bone, broad heads, substantial girth, muscular necks, dense bodies and a stockier appearance. Individual dogs varied considerably.
Are Gottiline and Razors Edge the same bloodline?
No. Gottiline and Razors Edge are separate historically influential bloodlines, although later American Bully pedigrees may combine ancestry from both.
Is a Pocket Bully defined as weighing under 60 pounds?
No. That description appears in older bully-community terminology, but the current ABKC Pocket American Bully variety is classified by mature height at the withers rather than a fixed weight limit.
What are the current ABKC American Bully varieties?
The ABKC currently recognizes Pocket, Standard, Classic and XL varieties of the American Bully.
Is the American Bully the same breed as the American Pit Bull Terrier?
No. Modern breed registries and standards treat the American Bully as a distinct companion breed. Older bully literature sometimes used Pit Bull terminology during the breed's developmental period.
Why is Juan Gotty important to American Bully history?
Juan Gotty became one of the most widely discussed foundation dogs of the early bully movement, and his blood appeared throughout numerous programs that contributed to the development and popularity of the American Bully.
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