World Amstaff Database

[ Login ]

AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER STANDARDS
Description	Official Amstaff Standard AKC, Adopted and approved June 10, 1936.	Official Amstaff Standard FCI, ¹ 286, 01.12.1997
Classification:	Terrier Group	Group III, Terriers. Section 3, Bull type Terriers. Without working trial.
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.	The 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 half prick or rose. 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.	Medium length, deep through. CRANIAL REGION: Skull: broad. Stop: Distinct. FACIAL REGION: Nose: Definitely black. Muzzle: Medium length, rounded on upper side to fall away abruptly below the eyes. Lips: Close and even; no looseness. Jaws/Teeth: Well defined. Under jaw strong and to have biting power. Upper teeth to meet tightly outside lower teeth in front. Cheeks: Very pronounced cheek muscles. Eyes: Dark, round, low down in skull, set far apart. No pink eyelids. Ears: Set high. Cropped or uncropped, the latter preferred. Uncropped ears should be short and held rose or half prick. Full drop to be penalized.
Neck:	Heavy, slightly arched, tapering from shoulders to back of skull. No looseness of skin. Medium length.	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 of chest development. Chest deep and broad.	Topline: Back fairly short. Slight sloping from withers to rump with gentle short slope at rump to base of tail. Chest: Deep and broad. Well sprung ribs; close together, deep in rear.
Tail:	Short in comparison to size, low set, tapering to a fine point; not curled or held over back. Not docked.	Short in comparison to size, low set, tapering to fine point; not curled or carried over back. Not docked.
Legs:	The front legs should be straight, large or round bones, pastern upright. No semblance 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.	FOREQUARTERS: Front legs straight, with large bones. Set rather wide apart to permit chest development. Shoulders: Strong and muscular, with blades wide and sloping. Pastern: Upright. HINDQUARTERS: Well muscled. Hocks: Let down, turning neither in nor out. FEET: Of moderate size, well arched and compact. GAIT/MOVEMENT: Springy but without roll or pace.
Coat	Short, close, stiff to the touch and glossy.	HAIR: Short, close, stiff to the touch, glossy.
Color:	Any color, solid, parti, or patched is permissible, but all white, more than 80 percent white, black and tan and liver not to be encouraged.	Any colour, solid, particolour, or patched is permissible; but more than 80% 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 the shoulders for the male and 17 to 18 inches for the female is to be considered preferable.	Height and weight should be in proportion. A height of about eighteen to nineteen inches (46 48 cm) at the shoulder for the male and seventeen to eighteen inches (43 46 cm) for the female 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.	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. • Dudley nose. • Undershot or overshot mouth. • Light eyes. • Pink eyelids. • Tail too long or badly carried. Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified. N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.