FCI-standard nr 76 /20.01.1998/F/D/GB

STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER

ORIGIN: Great Britain
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL VALID STANDARD: 24.06.1987
UTILIZATION: terrier
CLASSIFICATION FCI: Group 3 Terriers; Section 2 Bull type terriers
Without working trial.

The illustration does not necessarily show the ideal example of the breed.
Copyright: M. Davidson, illustr. NKU Picture Library

GENERAL APPEREANCE:
Smooth-coated, well balanced, of great strength for his size. Muscular, active and agile.

BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT:
Traditionally of indomitable courage and tenacity. Highly intelligent and affectionate especially with children. Bold, fearless and totally reliable.

HEAD: Short.

CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Deep through with broad skull.
Stop: Distinct.

FACIAL REGION:
Nose: Black.
Muzzle: Short foreface.
Jaws/Teeth: Jaws strong, teeth large, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i. e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaw.
Lips: Tigh and clean.
Cheeks: Very pronounced check muscles.
Eyes: Dark preffered 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.

NECK:
Muscular, rather short, clean in outline gradually widening towards shoulders.

BODY: Close-coupled.
Topline: Level.
Chest: Wide front, deep brisket, well sprung ribs; muscular and well defined.

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.

LIMBS

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.
Elbows: No looseness.

HINDQUARTERS: Well muscled. Legs parallel when viewed from behind.
Stifles: Well bent.
Hocks: Well let down.

FEET: Well padded, strong and of medium size. Nails black in solid coloured dogs.

GAIT/MOVEMENT:
Free, powerful and agile with economy of effort. Legs moving parallel when viewed from front or rear. Discernible drive from hindlegs.

COAT

HAIR: 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 AND WEIGHT: Desirable height at withers 36-41 cm (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.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:
* Agressive or overly shy dogs.
* 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.
* Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation, should be used for breeding.

Source: http://www.fci.be/