****** STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER STANDARD ******


Smooth Coated,Well Balanced Of Great Strength For Size,Muscular,Active & Agile.

 
Characteristics:
Traditionally of indomitable courage & tenacity.
highly intelligent also affectionate.
Expecially with children(hence the reason  being named the nanny dog)

 Temperament:
Bold,Fearless & totally realiable.

Head & Skull:
Short deep through with broad skull,very pronounced cheek muscles,distinct stop.short foreface,nose black
(regardless of coat colour)

Eyes:
Dark preferred,may differ some in realation to coat colour.Round of medium size & set to look straight ahead.eye rims dark(in relation to coat colour.)

Mouth:
lips tight & clean.jaws strong.teeth large with a perfect  regular & complete scissor bite eg:upper teath closely overlapping the lower & set square to the jaws.

Neck:
Muscular rather short & clean in outline gradually widening towards shoulders.

Forequaters:
legs straight & well boned,set rather far apart,showing no weakness in the pasterns,from which feet turnout a little (no playing)shoulders well laid back with no weakness at elbow.

 Body:
close coupled with level topline,wide front deep brisket,well sprung ribs,muscular & well defined.

Hindquarters:
Well muscled,hocks well let down with stifles well bent,legs parallel when viewed from behind.

Feet:
 well padded,strong & 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 & may be likened to  an old fashioned pump handle.

Gait/movement:
Free powerful & agile with economyof effort,
legs moving parallel when viewed from front or rear,driven by a powerful set of hind legs.

Coat:
Smooth,short & close

Colours:
Red,fawn,white,black or blue or any one of these colours with white.
Any shade of brindle/any shade of brindle with white.
Liver colour highly undesirable.

Sizes:
Weight dogs:13-17kg(28-38lbs)
bitches:11-15.4kg (24-34lbs)
desirable height:36-41 cm (14-16 inc)
These heights being realated to weights.

 Faults:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be  concidered a fault & the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree & Its  effect upon the health & welfare of the dog.

Note:
Male  animals should  have two apparently normal testicals fully descended into the scrotem.