BREED STANDARD

OF

THE STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER.

GENERAL APPEARANCE:Smooth coated,well balanced, of great strength.

Muscular,active and agile.

CHARACTERISTICS: Traditionally of indomitable courage and tenacity. Highly

intelligent and effectionate.

TEMPERAMENT: Bold, fearlessand totally reliable.

HEAD & SKULL: Short,deep though with broad skull. Very pronounced cheek

muscles , distinct stop, short foreface , nose black.

EYES: Preferrably dark but may bear some relation to coat colour. Round , of

medium size and set to look straight ahead. Eye rims dark.

EARS: Rose or half pricked , not large or heavy. Full drop or pricked ears highly

undesirable.

MOUTH: Lips tight & clean. Jaws strong , teeth large , with a perfect , regular

and complete scissor bite ( Upper teeth overlapping the lower teeth & set

square to the jaws).

NECK: Muscular, rather short , clean in outline gradually widening towards shoulder.

FOREQUARTERS: Legs straight & well boned, set rather wide apart , showing no

weakness at the pasterns , at which point feet turn out a little. Shoulders well laid back

with no looseness at elbow.

BODY: Close coupled , with level topline , wide front , deep brisket , well sprung ribs,

muscular & well defined.

HINDQUARTERS: Well muscled , hocks well let down with stiffles well bent. Legs

parallel when viewed from behind.

FEET: Well padded , strong and of medium size. Nails being black in solid coloured

dogs.

TAIL: Medium length , low set , tapering to a point and carried rather low. It

should not curl much and may resemble an old fashioned pump handle.

GAIT/MOVEMENT: Free , powerful and agile with economy of effort. Legs moving

parallel when viewed from front to rear. Discernable drive from hindlegs.

COAT: Smooth , short and close.

COLOUR: Red,fawn,white,black or blue,or any of these colours with white. Any

shade of brindle or brindle with white. Black , tan or liver colour not to be

encouraged.

SIZE: Weight In Dogs: 12.7kg - 17 kg. Weight In Bitches: 11kg - 15.4kg.

DESIRABLE HEIGHT: 14-16 Inches (Relating to the above weights).

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 it's degree.

NOTE: MALE DOGS SHOULD HAVE 2 APPARANTLY NORMAL TESTICLES

FULLY DESCENDED INTO THE SCROTUM.