theAmerican Staffordshire Terrier

Smart, Confident, Good-natured
Terrier Group Terrier Group

meet theAmerican Staffordshire Terrier

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American Staffordshire Terriers are intelligent and excellent guardians.

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at aGlance

Energy & Size

medium ENERGY &
medium size

AKC Dog Ranking

84th
Most Popular Dog Breed

Personality

  • Check Confident
  • Check Good-natured
  • Check Smart
Smart, confident, good-natured companions.

theBreed Standard

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

  • General Impression

    The American 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

    Head: Medium length, deep through, broad skull, very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop; and ears are set high. Ears - Cropped or uncropped, the latter preferred. Uncropped ears should be short and held rose or half prick. Full drop to be penalized. Eyes - Dark and round, low down in skull and set far apart. No pink eyelids. Muzzle- Medium length, rounded on upper side to fall away abruptly below eyes. Jaws well defined. Underjaw to be strong and have biting power. Lips close and even, no looseness. Upper teeth to meet tightly outside lower teeth in front. Nose definitely black.
    Neck: Heavy, slightly arched, tapering from shoulders to back of skull. No looseness of skin.

  • Body

    Back: Fairly short. Slight sloping from withers to rump with gentle short slope at rump to base of tail. Loins slightly tucked.
    Body: Well-sprung ribs, deep in rear. All ribs close together. Forelegs set rather wide apart to permit chest development. Chest deep and broad.

  • Tail

    Short in comparison to size, low set, tapering to a fine point; not curled or held over back. Not docked.

  • Legs

    The front legs should be straight, large or round bones, pastern upright. No semblance of bend in front. Hindquarters well-muscled, let down at hocks, turning neither in nor out. Feet of moderate size, well-arched and compact. Gait must be springy but without roll or pace.

  • Coat

    Short, close, stiff to the touch, and glossy.

A American Staffordshire Terrier
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theAmerican Staffordshire Terriers of AKC

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get involved inClubs & Events

National Breed Club

theStaffordshire Terrier Club of America

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Club

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