Breed Standards

The staffordshire bull terrier breeding standard was changed over the years. Here you can see all three of them with the current first then the second standard and then the original standard.

The current breed standard(2002) 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 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. 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 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 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 and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog. Note Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

The old breed standard(1948) Characteristics From the past history of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the modern dog draws his character of indomitable courage, high intelligence and tenacity. This coupled with his affection for his friends, and children in particular, his off-duty quietness and trustworthy stability, makes him the foremost all-purpose dog. General Appearance The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a smooth-coated dog. He should be of great strength for his size and although muscular, should be active and agile. Head and Skull Short, deep through, broad skull, very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop, short fore-face, black nose. Eyes Dark preferable, but may bear some relation to coat color. Round, of medium size, and set to look straight ahead. Ears Rose or half-pricked and not large. Full drop or prick to be penalized. Mouth The mouth should be level, that is, the incisors of the lower jaw should fit closely inside the incisors of the top jaw, and the lips should be tight and clean. The badly undershot or overshot mouth to be heavily penalized. Neck Muscular, rather short, clean in outline and gradually widening towards the shoulders. Forequarters Legs straight and well boned, set rather wide apart, without looseness at the shoulders, and showing no weakness at the pasterns, from which point the feet turn out a little. Body The body should be close coupled, with a level topline, wide front, deep brisket, and well sprung ribs being rather light in the loins. Hindquarters The hindquarters should be well muscled, hocks let down with stifles well bent. Legs should be parallel when viewed from behind. Feet The feet should be well padded, strong and of medium size. Tail The tail should be of medium length, low set, tapering to a point and carried rather low. It should not curl much and may be likened to an old-fashioned pump handle. Coat Smooth, short and close to the skin. Color Red, fawn, white, black or blue, or any of these colors with white. Any shade of brindle or any shade of brindle with white. Black-and-tan or liver color not to be encourage. Wheight and Size Weight: Dogs, 28 1bs. to 38 1bs. Bitches, 24 1bs. to 34 1bs. Height (at shoulder), 14 in. to 16 in., these heights being related to weights. Faults To be penalized in accordance with the severity of the fault: light eyes or pink eye-rims. Tail too long or badly curled. Non-conformation to limits of weight and 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. General No exhibit whelped after January 1, 1967, shall be docked, cropped, de-whiskered, trimmed, or altered in any way except that dew claws on the hind legs, if present, may be removed and the long hairs on the underside of the tail may be trimmed. Imported exhibits may have the front dew claws removed.

The original breed standard(1935) General Appearance The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a smooth-coated dog, standing about 15 to 18 inches high at the shoulder. He should give the impression of great strength for his size, and although muscular should be active and agile. Head Short, deep through, broad skull, very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop, short foreface, mouth level. Ears Rose, half prick and prick; these three to be preferred, full drop to be penalized. Eyes Dark. Neck Should be muscular and rather short. Body Short back, deep brisket, light in loins with forelegs set rather wide apart to permit of chest development. Front Legs Straight, feet well padded, to turn out a little and showing no weakness at pasterns. Hind Legs Hindquarters well muscled, let down at hocks like a terrier. Coat Short, smooth and close to skin. Tail The tail should be of medium length tapering to a point and carried rather low; it should not curl much and may be compared with an old-fashioned pump handle. Weight Dogs 28 to 38 lbs., Bitches 4 lbs. less. Colour May be any shade of Brindle, Black, White, Fawn or Red, or any of these colours with White. Black and Tan and Liver not to be encouraged. Faults to be Penalized Dudley nose, light or pink eyes (rims), tail too long or badly curled, badly undershot or overshot mouths.