FCI -Standard N° 286 / 01.12.1997/ GB
AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER
ORIGIN :
U.S.A.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE VALID ORIGINAL STANDARD : 03.09.1996.
FCI‑CLASSIFICATION : Group 3 Terriers.
Section 3 Bull type Terriers.
Without working trial.
GENERAL APPEARANCE :
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.
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.
BODY :
Topline : Back fairly short. Slight
sloping from withers to rump with gentle short slope at rump to base of
tail.
Loins : Slightly tucked.
Chest : Deep and broad. Well sprung ribs; close together, deep in rear.
TAIL : Short in
comparison to size, low set, tapering to fine point; not curled or carried over
back. Not docked.
LIMBS :
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
HAIR : Short, close, stiff to the touch, glossy.
COLOUR : 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
eighteen to nineteen inches (46 ‑
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.
· 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.