STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER
OFFICIAL BREED 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 & SKULL
Short, deep though with broad skull.
Very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop, short foreface, nose black.
EYES
Dark preferred but may bear some relation to coat colour. Dark Rims
Round/Almond shaped, of medium size, and set to look straight ahead.
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 too 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 hindlegs.
COAT
Smooth, short and close.
COLOUR
Red, fawn, white, black or blue, or any one 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 shoulders 36 - 41 cms (14 to 16 ins)
Dogs: 13 - 17 kgs (28 - 38 lbs) - Dependant on height
Bitches: 11 - 15.4 kgs (24 - 34 lbs) - Dependant on height
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 on health & welfare of the dog...
NOTE
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
Staffs with excessive white fur over pink skin can suffer from sunburn and eventually skin cancer.
Staffs love to sunbathe on their backs so be aware of this when choosing your staff.
*size
Subjective comment: Weight to size ratio can increase by up to 1.5KG (Female) to 2.5KG (Male)
without the dog being truly overweight with regards to fat % due to high muscle concentration if a
strict exercise& diet regime is followed (high protein, potassium, etc) thus also reducing Body Fat %
In New Zealand, South Africa, U.S. & Australia it is common to find lean dogs of 18-20kgs that are 16inches at shoulders
This may be the subject of non-processed foods and greater amount of exercise to burn off excess calories & fat
(As with humans, BMI is not the best indicator of ideal weight as it does not account for high muscle concentration)