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Staffordshire Bull Terrier 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 a broad skull. Very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop, short foreface, 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 the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck Muscular, rather short, clean in outline gradually widening towards the 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 top-line, wide front, deep brisket, well sprung ribs; muscular and well defined.

Hindquarters Well muscled, hocks well let down and 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 Short, smooth and close

Colour Red, fawn, white, black or blue, or any of these colours with white. Any shade of brindle or any shade of brindle with white. Black and Tan or Liver colour highly undesirable.

Size Desirable height at withers 36-41 cms (14 to 16 ins), these heights being related to the weights. Weight: dogs: 13-17 kgs (28-38 lbs); bitches 11-15.4 kgs.

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.

Note Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.