American Kennel Club dated June 1987

F.C.I. Std. No 286

Country of Origin - United States of America.

Amended 05/03

GENERAL APPEARANCE

The American Staffordshire Terrier should give the impression of great strength for his size, a well put-together dog, muscular, but agile and graceful.   He should be stocky, not long-legged or racy in outline. 

CHARACTERISTICS

(Not specified.) 

TEMPERAMENT

  Keenly alive to his surroundings.  His courage is proverbial. 

HEAD AND SKULL

Head medium length, deep through, broad skull, very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop.  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.  Nose definitely black, Dudley nose undesirable. 

EYES

 Dark and round, low down in skull and set far apart.  Light or pink eyes undesirable.  No pink eyelids. 

EARS

Set high. Ears should be short and held rose or half pricked. Full drop to be penalised.. 

MOUTH

Upper teeth to meet tightly outside lower teeth in front.  Undershot or overshot mouths undesirable. 

NECK

Heavy, slightly arched, tapering from shoulders to back of skull.  No looseness of skin.  Medium length. 

FOREQUARTERS

Shoulders strong and muscular with blades wide and sloping.  The front legs should be straight, large or round bones, pasterns upright.  No resemblance of bend in front.  Forelegs set rather wide apart to permit chest development. 

BODY

Back fairly short.  Slightly sloping from withers to rump with gentle short slope at rump to base of tail. Well sprung ribs, deep in rear.  All ribs close together.  Chest deep and broad.  Loins slightly tucked. 

HINDQUARTERS

Well muscled, let down at hocks, turning neither in nor out. 

FEET

Of moderate size, well-arched and compact. 

TAIL

Short in comparison to size, low set, tapering to a fine point; not curled or held over back.  Not docked.  Tail too long or badly carried undesirable. 

GAIT/MOVEMENT

Must be springy but without roll or pace. 

COAT

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

COLOUR

Any colour, solid, parti, or patched is permissible, but all white, more than 80% white, black and tan, and liver not to be encouraged. 

SIZE

Height and weight should be in proportion. 
Height: 
Dogs approx 46-48 cms (18-19 ins) at shoulders 
Bitches approx 43-46 cms (17-18 ins) at shoulders is considered preferable. 

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. 

NOTE

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.