Official Breed Standard – American Staffordshire Terrier
General Appearance
The American Staffordshire Terrier should present an overall impression of exceptional strength relative to its size. It is a compact, solidly built, and powerfully muscled dog, yet agile, graceful, and confident in movement. The breed should appear alert and keenly aware of its surroundings. The outline must be sturdy and balanced, never leggy or racy. Courage is a well-known and defining characteristic of this breed.
Head
The head is of medium length, deep, and broad with a well-defined skull. Cheek muscles are strongly developed, and the stop is clearly pronounced. Ears are set high on the head.
Ears
Natural ears should be short and carried in a rose or half-prick position. Fully dropped ears are considered a fault. Cropped ears are not permitted in the show ring, in accordance with the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.
Eyes
Eyes should be dark, round, and set low in the skull, with good width between them. Pink or light-colored eyelids are unacceptable.
Muzzle
The muzzle is of medium length, rounded on the upper side, and slopes sharply beneath the eyes. Jaws must be strong and clearly defined, with a powerful underjaw. Lips are tight and even, with no looseness. The upper teeth should close closely over the lower teeth in front, forming a correct bite.
Nose
The nose must be solid black.
Neck
The neck is strong and muscular, slightly arched, and tapers gradually from the shoulders to the back of the skull. It is of medium length and free from loose skin.
Shoulders
Shoulders should be strong and well-muscled, with broad, well-laid-back shoulder blades.
Back
The back is relatively short, with a slight slope from the withers to the rump. The rump slopes gently to the base of the tail. The loin is moderately tucked.
Body
The body should have well-sprung ribs, deep through the rear. Ribs are close and compact. The forelegs are set wide enough to allow proper chest development. The chest is deep and broad.
Tail
The tail is set low, tapering to a fine point, and should reach approximately to the hocks. It must not curl or be carried over the back. Docked tails are not permitted in the show ring under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.
Legs and Movement
Forelegs are straight with strong, round bone and upright pasterns, showing no sign of weakness or bend. Hindquarters are well-muscled, with hocks set low and turning neither inward nor outward. Feet are of moderate size, well-arched, compact, and tight. Movement should be springy and smooth, without rolling or pacing.
Coat
The coat is short, close-fitting, stiff to the touch, and glossy in appearance.
Color
All colors are acceptable, including solid, parti-color, or patched. However, solid white, more than 80% white, black and tan, and liver colors are not encouraged.
Size
Height and weight should be in proportion. Preferred height at the withers is approximately 18–19 inches for males and 17–18 inches for females.
Faults
Faults to be penalized include a Dudley nose, light or pink eyes, an excessively long or poorly carried tail, and undershot or overshot bites.