theStaffordshire Bull Terrier

Brave, Tenacious, Clever
Terrier Group Terrier Group

meet theStaffordshire Bull Terrier

Did you know?

The old-fashioned Bulldog was a fierce, courageous animal used in the sports of bear- and bull-baiting as early as the mid-sixteenth century.

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at aGlance

Energy & Size

medium ENERGY &
medium size

AKC Dog Ranking

79th
Most Popular Dog Breed

Personality

Brave, tenacious, a bit stubborn; but also gentle, playful, and clever.

theBreed Standard

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Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breed Standard Illustration 01 02 03 04 05 06

  • General Appearance

    The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a smooth-coated dog. It should be of great strength for its size and, although muscular, should be active and agile.

  • Head

    Short, deep through, broad skull, very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop, short foreface, black nose. Pink (Dudley) nose to be considered a serious fault. Eyes - Dark preferable, but may bear some relation to coat color. Round, of medium size, and set to look straight ahead. Light eyes or pink eye rims to be considered a fault, except that where the coat surrounding the eye is white the eye rim may be pink. Ears - Rose or half-pricked and not large. Full drop or full prick to be considered a serious fault. 

  • Body

    The neck is muscular, rather short, clean in outline and gradually widening toward the shoulders. The body is close coupled, with a level topline, wide front, deep brisket and well sprung ribs being rather light in the loins. The tail is undocked, 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. A tail that is too long or badly curled is a fault.

  • Forequarters

    Legs straight and well boned, set rather far apart, without looseness at the shoulders and showing no weakness at the pasterns, from which point the feet turn out a little. Dewclaws on the forelegs may be removed. The feet should be well padded, strong and of medium size.

     

  • Coat

    Smooth, short and close to the skin, not to be trimmed or de-whiskered.

  • Hindquarters

    The hindquarters should be well muscled, hocks let down with stifles well bent. Legs should be parallel when viewed from behind. Dewclaws, if any, on the hind legs are generally removed. Feet as in front.

A Staffordshire Bull Terrier
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theStaffordshire Bull Terriers of AKC

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get involved inClubs & Events

National
Breed Club

theStaffordshire Bull Terrier Club of America

Local Club

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Meetups

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