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Staffordshire Bull Terrier

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Of smooth coat, well balanced, of great strength for its size. Muscular, active and agile.
 

Personality:  intelligent, affectionate  and brave.
 

Energy Level : Very Active.  This dog is active and energetic, and needs daily exercise.  
 

Good with children:  Yes.

 

Good with other dogs:  With supervision.

 

Grooming:  Seasonal.

 

Life Expectancy : 12-15  years old.

Bark level:  Bark when necessary.

  • HISTORICAL SUMMARY  

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier  (SBT), also called  Staffbull, is a small to medium-sized dog breed, originally from the  Staffordshire County  at  England .  The Staffordshire bull terrier emerged from a slope of the  Bull-and-terrier , a type of dog resulting from crosses between  old bulldogs  and some  terriers , held in  18th century . As the reason for the origin of the bull-and-terrier, and consequently of the Staffbull, are the dog fights that became popular in the country in the 19th century, mainly after the ban on the  bull baiting  (fighting between dogs and bulls) in 1835. The objective was to obtain a strong, resistant and agile animal at the same time, so they crossed the  old bulldog  with  terriers , giving rise to the  bull-and-terrier.  Some aspects of  bull-and-terrier  were taken to the  United States  around 1850, in what later gave rise to the  American Pit Bull Terrier  and  American Staffordshire Terrier ; but those who stayed in  England , especially the aspect of  Cradley Heath  in Staffordshire, gave rise to what we now call  Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Its name was changed three times, until it was finally called the Staff, in honor of its native county. The first registration of a Staffbull in the registry office took place in 1935 in London, with a dog called  Buller. The Staffbull played a number of roles, but became known especially as the "nanny dog", due to the affinity and protection given to the family's children.  

Country of Origin: Great Britain.

BEHAVIOR AND TEMPERAMENT:  Traditionally indomitable courage and tenacity. Highly intelligent and affectionate, especially with children. Courageous, intrepid and totally trustworthy.

HEAD:  short.

  • CRANIAL REGION  
     

Skull: Deep and wide.

 

Stop: Distinct.

  • FACIAL REGION

 

Truffle: Black.

 

Muzzle: Short.

 

Jaws and  Teeth: Strong jaws; large teeth with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite.

 

Lips: Closed and dry.

 

Cheeks: Very pronounced cheek muscles.

Eyes: Preferably dark, but some relation to coat color is tolerated. Round, of medium size and set in such a way as to look straight ahead. The edges of the eyelids are black.

 

Ears: Pink or semi-erect, neither large nor heavy. Thick, drooping or erect ears are highly undesirable.

 

NECK: Muscular, rather short, of good shape, gradually widening towards the shoulders.

 

  • BODY: Short back.

 

Top row: Flat.

 

Chest: Broad front, deep sternum; well sprung ribs; muscular and well defined.

 

TAIL: Medium length, set low, tapering to a point and carried low. It should not form a hook and may resemble an old water pump lever.

  • MEMBERS

 

FOREQUARTERS: Legs straight and well-boned; placed preferably farther apart, showing no weakness in the pasterns, in which the tips of the feet are turned a little outwards.

 

Shoulders: Well laid back.

 

Elbows: Not loose.

 

HINDQUARTERS: Well muscled. Parallel legs when viewed from behind.

 

Knees: Well angulated.

 

Hocks: Well let down.

 

Feet: Well padded, strong and of medium size. Black nails in solid color dogs.
 

  • GAIT/MOVEMENT: Free, powerful and agile with economy of effort. The legs move in parallel when viewed from the front and from behind. Noticeable propulsion from the hindquarters.
     

  • COAT

 

Hair: Short, smooth and set.

 

  • COLOR: Red, fawn, white, black or blue or any of these colors with white. Any shading of brindle or any shading of brindle with white. Black and tan or liver color are highly undesirable.

 

SIZE:  Desired height at withers: 35.5 to 40.5 cm. These sizes are weight related.

 

WEIGHT: Males: 12.7 kg to 17 kg Females: 11 kg to 15.4 kg.
 

  • FAULTS  

Any deviation from this standard should be considered a fault and penalized in exact proportion to its severity and its effects on the health and well-being of the dog.  

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS

 

• Aggressiveness or excessive shyness.

• Any dog that shows any sign of physical or behavioral anomaly must be disqualified.

• Atypical dogs.

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