BREED STANDARD

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

Characteristics: Traditionally of indomiatable courage and tenacity; Highly intelligent and affectionate, especially with children.

Temperament: Bold, fearless, and totally reliable.

Head and Skull: Short, deep through with broad skull. Very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop, with short foreface.

Eyes: Dark preferred but may bear some relations to coat colour. Round, of medium size and set to look straight ahead. Eye rims are dark.

Mouth: Lips tight and clean. Jaws strong, teeth large, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite.

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

Forequarters: Legs straight and well boned, set rather wide apart, showing no weakness at the posterns, from which point feet turn out a little. Shoulders well laid back with no looseness at the elbow.

Body: Close-coupled, with level topline, wide front, deep brisket, well sprung ribs, muscular and well developed.

Hindquarters: Well musculed, hocks well let down with stiffles well bent. Legs parallel when viewed from behind.

Feet: Well padded, strong and medium sized. The nails are black in solid coloured dogs.

Tail: Medium length, low set, tapering to a point and carried low. Tail should not curl much and may be likened to an old fashioned pump handle.

Gait/Movement: Free, powerful and agile with economy of effort. The legs must move parallel when viewed from front or rear. There must be a discernable drive from the hind legs.

Coat: Smooth, short and close.

Size: Desirable height at the withers is 35.5-40.5 cm (14 to 16 inches). These heights being related to the weights. The weight of a dog should be 12.7-17.0kg or 28 to 38 pounds. Bitches should be 11-15.25kg.

Breed Standard from the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of Canada