Breed Info
General Info
Appearance
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a stocky, muscular dog that exudes character, strength and athletic ability. His expressive countenance indicates his mood and intelligence.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is an English breed of dog and should not be confused with his larger cousin the American Staffordshire Terrier or the American Pit Bull Terrier.
The breed attained UK Kennel Club recognition on 25 May 1935. Much of the groundwork to attain this status can be attributed to Joseph Dunn and Joe Mallan. Dunn and Mallan invited friends to a stafford fanciers meeting at the Cross Guns Hotel, Cradley Heath, South Staffordshire (a hotel owned and managed by Mallan). About fifty breeders met at the hotel and formed the Original Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club. The name was shortly changed to Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club due to the Bull Terrier Club objecting the use of the word 'original'. Staffords were imported into the US during this time. Since that time the breed has grown to be one of the most popular breeds of dogs with a large repressentation at the Crufts Dog Show.
Standard
General Appearance:
Smooth-coated, well balanced, of great strength for his size. Muscular,
active and agile.
Characteristics:
Traditionally of indomitable courage and tenacity. Highly intelligent and
affectionate, especially with children.
Temperament:
Bold, fearless and totally reliable.
Head and Skull:
Short, deep through with broad skull. Very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop,
short fore face, nose black.
Eyes:
Dark preferred 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 and clean. Jaws strong, teeth large, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite,
i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Neck:
Muscular, rather short, clean in outline gradually widening towards shoulders.
Forequarters:
Legs straight and well boned, set rather wide apart, showing no weakness at the pasterns, from
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 and well defined.
Hindquarters:
Well muscled, hocks well let down with stifles well bent. Legs parallel when viewed from behind.
Feet:
Well padded, strong and of
medium size. Nails black in solid coloured dogs.
Tail:
Medium length, low set,
tapering to a point and carried rather low. Should not curl much and may be
likened to an old fashioned pump handle.
Gait / Movement:
Free, powerful and agile with economy of effort. Legs moving parallel when viewed from front or rear. Discernible drive from hind legs.
Coat:
Smooth, short and close.
Colour:
Red, fawn, white, black or blue, or any of these colours with white. Any shade of brindle with white. Black and tan or liver colour highly
undesirable.
Size:
Desirable height at withers 35.5 - 40.5 cms (14 - 16 ins.), these heights being related to the weights.
Weight:
dogs: 12.7 - 17 kgs (28 - 38 lbs); bitches 11- 15.4 kgs (24
- 34 lbs)
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.
To be penalised in accordance with the severity
of the fault:
Light eyes or pink eye-rims.
Tail too long or badly curled.
Non-conformation to the limits of weight or height.
Full drop and prick ears.
Undershot or overshot mouths.
The following faults should debar a dog from winning any prize:-
Pink (Dudley) nose.
Badly undershot or overshot mouth. Badly undershot - where the lower
jaw protrudes to such an extent that the incisors of the lower jaw
do not touch those of the upper jaw. Badly overshot - where the
upper jaw protrudes to such an extent that the incisors of the upper
jaw do not touch those of the lower jaw.
Note:
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles full descended into the scrotum.