Did you know?
The American Staffordshire Terrier was accepted in 1936 for
registration in the American Kennel Club stud book as Staffordshire
Terriers.
The American Staffordshire Terrier are intelligent and excellent
guardians.
So you want to own a American Staffordshire Terrier?
Over the past 50 years, careful breeding has produced today's
American Staffordshire Terrier who is affectionate, reliable, and an
especially good dog for children.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is a happy, outgoing, stable, and
confident dog who makes a wonderful family pet.
The American Staffordshire Terrier is adaptable to country or city
living, the only thing that will break his spirit and his heart is
lack of his owner's fond attention.
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 rose or half prick. 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 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 per cent 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 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.
Approved June 10, 1936 |