AKC: Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Terrier Group
Breed Standard
General Appearance
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a smooth-coated dog. It should be of great strength
for its size and, although muscular, should be active and agile.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Height at shoulder: 14 to 16 inches. Weight: Dogs, 28 to 38 pounds; bitches, 24 to
34 pounds, these heights being related to weights. Non-conformity with these limits
is a fault. In proportion, the length of back, from withers to tail set, is equal to
the distance from withers to ground.
- Head:
Short, deep through, broad skull, very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop, short
foreface, black nose. Pink (Dudley) nose to be considered a serious fault.
- Eyes:
Dark preferable, but may bear some relation to coat color. Round, of medium size, and
set to look straight ahead. Light eyes or pink eye rims to be considered a fault, except
that where the coat surrounding the eye is white the eye rim may be pink. Ears--Rose
or half-pricked and not large. Full drop or full prick to be considered a serious fault.
- Mouth:
A bite in which the outer side of the lower incisors touches the inner side of
the upper incisors. The lips should be tight and clean. The badly undershot or overshot
bite is a serious fault.
Neck, Topline, Body
The neck is muscular, rather short, clean in outline and gradually widening toward
the shoulders. The body is close coupled, with a level topline, wide front, deep brisket
and well sprung ribs being rather light in the loins. The tail is undocked, of medium
length, low set, tapering to a point and carried rather low. It should not curl much
and may be likened to an old-fashioned pump handle. A tail that is too long or badly
curled is a fault.
Forequarters
Legs straight and well boned, set rather far apart, without looseness at the shoulders
and showing no weakness at the pasterns, from which point the feet turn out a little.
Dewclaws on the forelegs may be removed. The feet should be well padded, strong and
of medium size.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters should be well muscled, hocks let down with stifles well bent. Legs
should be parallel when viewed from behind. Dewclaws, if any, on the hind legs are
generally removed. Feet as in front.
Coat:
Smooth, short and close to the skin, not to be trimmed or de-whiskered.
Color
Red, fawn, white, black or blue, or any of these colors with white. Any shade of
brindle or any shade of brindle with white. Black-and-tan or liver color to be
disqualified.
Gait
Free, powerful and agile with economy of effort. Legs moving parallel when viewed from
front or rear. Discernible drive from hind legs.
Temperament
From the past history of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the modern dog draws its
character of indomitable courage, high intelligence, and tenacity. This, coupled
with its affection for its friends, and children in particular, its off-duty quietness
and trustworthy stability, makes it a foremost all-purpose dog.
Disqualification:
Black-and-tan or liver color.
Approved November 14, 1989
Effective January 1, 1990
- www.akc.org/breeds/recbreeds/stbult.cfm
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