A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.
Group: Group 2 (Terriers)
History:
General Appearance: The American Staffordshire Terrier should give the impression of great strength for his size, a well put-together dog, muscular, but agile and graceful. He should be stocky, not long-legged or racy in outline.
Characteristics: (Not specified.)
Temperament: Keenly alive to his surroundings. His courage is proverbial.
Head And Skull: Head medium length, deep through, broad skull, very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop. Muzzle medium length, rounded on upper side to fall away abruptly below eyes. Jaws well defined. Underjaw to be strong and have biting power. Lips close and even, no looseness. Nose definitely black, Dudley nose undesirable.
Eyes: Dark and round, low down in skull and set far apart. Light or pink eyes undesirable. No pink eyelids.
Ears: Set high. Ears should be short and held rose or half pricked. Full drop to be penalised.
Mouth: Upper teeth to meet tightly outside lower teeth in front. Undershot or overshot mouths undesirable.
Neck: Heavy, slightly arched, tapering from shoulders to back of skull. No looseness of skin. Medium length.
Forequarters: Shoulders strong and muscular with blades wide and sloping. The front legs should be straight, large or round bones, pasterns upright. No resemblance of bend in front. Forelegs set rather wide apart to permit chest development.
Body: Back fairly short. Slightly sloping from withers to rump with gentle short slope at rump to base of tail. Well sprung ribs, deep in rear. All ribs close together. Chest deep and broad. Loins slightly tucked.
Hindquarters: Well muscled, let down at hocks, turning neither in nor out.
Feet: Of moderate size, well-arched and compact.
Tail: Short in comparison to size, low set, tapering to a fine point; not curled or held over back. Not docked. Tail too long or badly carried undesirable.
Gait/Movement: Must be springy but without roll or pace.
Coat: Short, close, stiff to the touch, and glossy.
Colour: Any colour, solid, parti, or patched is permissible, but all white, more than 80% white, black and tan, and liver not to be encouraged.
Sizes: Height and weight should be in proportion.
Height:
Dogs approx 46-48 cms (18-19 ins) at shoulders
Bitches approx 43-46 cms (17-18 ins) at shoulders is considered preferable.
Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
Notes: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
The American Staffordshire Terrier
With one of the most well documented histories in the family of dogs, the American Staffordshire Terrier is a unique breed. His combined power, grace and agility are coupled with a sleek athletic appearance and affectionate nature, making him a most versatile breed. His intelligence is evidenced through success in the obedience and agility field. Few other breeds possess such a remarkable combination of gentleness, camaraderie and reliability.
ORIGIN
The American Staffordshire Terrier sprung directly from the roots of the Old Pit Dog, as did the American Pit Bull Terrier. However, the two are definitely not the same dog – their origins may relate but that is where the relationship ends. Accepted as a pure breed in 1936, the American Staffordshire Terrier followed a defined breeding pattern which produced a breed so versatile that it is now utilised as a family pet, family dog, guardian, show dog and obedience and agility competitor. It has emerged as one of the most reliable, trustworthy and loyal of all dogs.
GENERAL APPEARANCE
The American Staffordshire Terrier should give an impression of great strength for his size. Well balanced, muscular yet agile, graceful in movement, is alive to his surroundings, with an excellent sense of smell and hearing. They can be any colour, solid or pied, but all white, more than 80% white, black and tan and liver are not encouraged.
Height and weight should be in proportion. Males 46-48 cm (18 to 19in) at shoulder, Females 43-46cm (17 to 18in).
TEMPERAMENT
The American Staffordshire Terrier is renowned for its reliability as a family dog, they are extremely lovable, loyal and devoted to their owners, with special emphasis on their reliability with children. Notwithstanding this, it must be understood that the American Staffordshire Terrier in most instances will fight when challenged by another dog.
CARE AND GROOMING
The breed requires little grooming as its coat is short, stiff and glossy. Bathing on an “as required” basis will suffice. Owners should ensure their dogs are correctly and adequately housed and not allowed to roam freely in public places. They should be sufficiently controlled in public and not permitted to run near unfamiliar dogs.
Breed Standard
General Impression: The American Staffordshire Terrier should give the impression of great strength for his size, a well put-together dog, muscular, but agile and graceful, keenly alive to his surroundings. He should be stocky, not long-legged or racy in outline. His courage is proverbial.
Head: Medium length, deep through, broad skull, very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop; and ears are set high. Ears - Cropped or uncropped, the latter preferred. Uncropped ears should be short and held half prick or rose. Full drop to be penalized. Eyes - Dark and round, low down in skull and set far apart. No pink eyelids. Muzzle - Medium length, rounded on upper side to fall away abruptly below eyes. Jaws well defined. Underjaw to be strong and have biting power. Lips close and even, no looseness. Upper teeth to meet tightly outside lower teeth in front. Nose definitely black.
Neck: Heavy, slightly arched, tapering from shoulders to back of skull. No looseness of skin. Medium length.
Shoulders: Strong and muscular with blades wide and sloping.
Back: Fairly short. Slight sloping from withers to rump with gentle short slope at rump to base of tail. Loins slightly tucked.
Body: Well-sprung ribs, deep in rear. All ribs close together. Forelegs set rather wide apart to permit of chest development. Chest deep and broad.
Tail: Short in comparison to size, low set, tapering to a fine point; not curled or held over back. Not docked.
Legs: The front legs should be straight, large or round bones, pastern upright. No resemblance of bend in front. Hindquarters well muscled, let down at hocks turning neither in nor out. Feet of moderate size, well-arched and compact. Gait must be springy but without roll or pace.
Coat: Short, close, stiff to the touch and glossy.
Color: Any color, solid, parti, or patched is permissible, but all white, more than 80 percent white, black and tan and liver not to be encouraged.
Size: Height and weight should be in proportion. A height of about 18 to 19 inches at the shoulders for the male and 17 to 18 inches for the female is to be considered preferable.
Faults: Faults to be penalized are Dudley nose, light or pink eyes, tail too long or badly carried, undershot or overshot mouths.
The American Staffordshire Terrier
With one of the most well documented histories in the family of dogs, the American Staffordshire Terrier is a unique breed. His combined power, grace and agility are coupled with a sleek athletic appearance and affectionate nature, making him a most versatile breed. His intelligence is evidenced through success in the obedience and agility field. Few other breeds possess such a remarkable combination of gentleness, camaraderie and reliability.
ORIGIN
The American Staffordshire Terrier sprung directly from the roots of the Old Pit Dog, as did the American Pit Bull Terrier. However, the two are definitely not the same dog – their origins may relate but that is where the relationship ends. Accepted as a pure breed in 1936, the American Staffordshire Terrier followed a defined breeding pattern which produced a breed so versatile that it is now utilised as a family pet, family dog, guardian, show dog and obedience and agility competitor. It has emerged as one of the most reliable, trustworthy and loyal of all dogs.
GENERAL APPEARANCE
The American Staffordshire Terrier should give an impression of great strength for his size. Well balanced, muscular yet agile, graceful in movement, is alive to his surroundings, with an excellent sense of smell and hearing. They can be any colour, solid or pied, but all white, more than 80% white, black and tan and liver are not encouraged.
Height and weight should be in proportion.
TEMPERAMENT
The American Staffordshire Terrier is renowned for its reliability as a family dog, they are extremely lovable, loyal and devoted to their owners, with special emphasis on their reliability with children. Notwithstanding this, it must be understood that the American Staffordshire Terrier in most instances will fight when challenged by another dog.
CARE AND GROOMING
The breed requires little grooming as its coat is short, stiff and glossy. Bathing on an “as required” basis will suffice. Owners should ensure their dogs are correctly and adequately housed and not allowed to roam freely in public places. They should be sufficiently controlled in public and not permitted to run near unfamiliar dogs.
Breed Standard
General Impression: The American Staffordshire Terrier should give the impression of great strength for his size, a well put-together dog, muscular, but agile and graceful, keenly alive to his surroundings. He should be stocky, not long-legged or racy in outline. His courage is proverbial.
Head: Medium length, deep through, broad skull, very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop; and ears are set high. Ears - Cropped or uncropped, the latter preferred. Uncropped ears should be short and held half prick or rose. Full drop to be penalized. Eyes - Dark and round, low down in skull and set far apart. No pink eyelids. Muzzle - Medium length, rounded on upper side to fall away abruptly below eyes. Jaws well defined. Underjaw to be strong and have biting power. Lips close and even, no looseness. Upper teeth to meet tightly outside lower teeth in front. Nose definitely black.
Neck: Heavy, slightly arched, tapering from shoulders to back of skull. No looseness of skin. Medium length.
Shoulders: Strong and muscular with blades wide and sloping.
Back: Fairly short. Slight sloping from withers to rump with gentle short slope at rump to base of tail. Loins slightly tucked.
Body: Well-sprung ribs, deep in rear. All ribs close together. Forelegs set rather wide apart to permit of chest development. Chest deep and broad.
Tail: Short in comparison to size, low set, tapering to a fine point; not curled or held over back. Not docked.
Legs: The front legs should be straight, large or round bones, pastern upright. No resemblance of bend in front. Hindquarters well muscled, let down at hocks turning neither in nor out. Feet of moderate size, well-arched and compact. Gait must be springy but without roll or pace.
Coat: Short, close, stiff to the touch and glossy.
Color: Any color, solid, parti, or patched is permissible, but all white, more than 80 percent white, black and tan and liver not to be encouraged.
Size: Height and weight should be in proportion. A height of about 18 to 19 inches at the shoulders for the male and 17 to 18 inches for the female is to be considered preferable.
Faults: Faults to be penalized are Dudley nose, light or pink eyes, tail too long or badly carried, undershot or overshot mouths.
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