The revision of the standard brought about some changes. It has been said that not all of the early breeders
did fully agree with the revision... The revised standard is as follows.
CHARACTERISTICS:
From the past history of the Staffordshire bull terrier, the modern dog draws his character of indomitable
courage, high intelligence and tenacity. This, coupled with his affection for his friends, and children in particular, his
off-duty quietness and trustworthy stability, makes him the fermost all-purpose dog.
GENERAL APPEARANCES:
The Staffordshire bull terrier is a smooth coated dog. He should be of great strenght for his size and, although
muscular, should be active and agile.
HEAD AND SKULL:
Short, deep through, broad skull, very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop, short foreface, black nose.
EYES:
Dark preferably, but may bear some relation to coat colour, round, of medium size, and set to look straight
ahead.
EARS:
Rose or half prick and not large. Full drop to be penalised.
MOUTH:
The mouth should be level, i.e., the incisors of the bottom jaw should fit closely inside the incisors of
the top jaw, and the lips should be tight and clean. The badly undershot or overshot mouth to be heavily penalised.
NECK:
Muscular, rather short, clean in outline and gradually widening towards the shoulders.
FOREQUARTERS:
Legs straight and well-boned, set rather wide apart, without looseness at the shoulders, and showing no weakness
at the pasterns, from which point the feet turn out a little.
BODY:
The body should be close-coupled, wide front, deep brisket, well-sprung ribs and rather light in loins.
HINDQUARTERS:
The hindquarters should be well muscled, hocks let down with stifles well bent. Legs should be parallel when
viewed from behind.
FEET:
The feet should be well paded, strong and of medium size.
TAIL:
The tail should be of medium lenght, 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.
COAT:
Red, fawn, white, black or blue, or any of these colours with white. Any shade of brindle or any shade of
brindle with white. Black-and-tan or liver-colour not to be encouraged.
WEIGHT AND SIZE:
Dogs, 28ibs to 38 lbs.; bitches, 24 ibs to 34 lbs. Height (at shoulders): 14 to 16 ins.; these heights being
related to the weights.
FAULTS:
To be penalised in accordance with the sevirity of the fault:
Light eyes or pink eye-rims; tail too long or badly curled; non-conformation to the limits of weight and
height; full drop and prick ears; undershot or overshot mouths.
The following faults should debar a dog from winning any prize:
Pink (Dudley) nose; badly undershot or overshot mouth. Badly undershot - where the lower jaw protrudes
to such an extent that the incisors of the lower jaw do not touch those of the upper jaw; badly overshot - where the upper
jaw protrudes to such an extent that the incisors of the upper jaw do not touch those of the lower jaw.
