It is a breed of medium size, shorthaired and comes from England. It was officially recognised by FCI in 1987 and by British Kennel Club since 1935. The very first bitch was imported to Czech republic in 1989. The breed was made by staffordshire miners and labourers by crossing bulldog and english terrier.
Origin: Great Britain
Date of publication of the official valid standard: 24. 6. 1987
Classification FCI:
Group 3, terriers
Section 3, Bull type terriers
Without working trial.
General Appearance: mooth-coated, well balanced, of great strength for his size. Muscular, active and agile.
Behaviour and temperament: Traditionally of indomitable courage and tenacity. Highly intelligent and affectionate especially with children. Bold, fearless and totally reliable.
HEAD: Short.
CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Deep through with broad skull.
Stop: Distinct.
FACIAL REGION:
Nose: Black.
Muzzle: Short foreface.
Jaws/Teeth: Jaws strong, teeth large, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i. e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaw.
Lips: Tight and clean.
Cheeks: Very pronounced cheek muscles.
Eyes: Dark preferred but may bear some relation to coat colour. Round, of medium size, and set to look straight ahead. Eye rims dark.
Ears: Rose or half pricked, not large or heavy. Full, drop or pricked ears highly undesirable.
Neck: Muscular, rather short, clean in outline gradually widening towards shoulders.
BODY: Close-coupled.
Topline : Level.
Chest: Wide front, deep brisket, well sprung ribs; muscular and well defined.
TAIL: Medium length, low set, tapering to a point and carried rather low. Should not curl much and may be likened to an old-fashioned pump handle.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS: Legs straight and well boned, set rather wide apart, showing no weakness at the pasterns, from which point feet turn out a little.
Shoulders: Well laid back.
Elbows: No looseness.
HINDQUARTERS: Well muscled. Legs parallel when vie wed from behind.
Stifles: Well bent.
Hocks: Well let down.
FEET: Well padded, strong and of medium size. Nails black in solid coloured dogs.
GAIT/ MOVEMENT: Free, powerfull and agile with economy of effort. Legs moving parallel when viewed from front or rear.
Discernible drive from hindlegs.
COAT
HAIR: Smooth, short and close.
COLOUR: red, fawn, white, black or blue, or any one of these colours with white. Any shade of brindle or any shade of brindle with white. Black and tan or liver colour highly undesirable.
SIZE AND WEIGHT:
Desirable height at withers : 14-16 ins.
(35,5 to 40,5 cm), these heights being related to the weights.
Weight:
Dogs: 28-38 lbs (12,7-17 kg).
Bitches : 24-34 lbs (11-15,4 kg)
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 and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:
• Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
N.B:
• Male animals should have two apparently normal test icles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation, should be used for breeding.
Staffordshire bull terrier is very brave, fearless, well balanced, tough and dedicated dog. He is very reliable and lovely companion. It is very devoted breed with good heart. He loves his family, loves to play and loves children above all. In England thay also call him „Baby dog“ or „Nanny dog“. Any slight sign of agression towards people is a reason to remove the dog aside from breeding programme. It is not recommended to have two males together, but it does not necessarily means they will only fight each other. Although it can rarely happen that two males can get along with each other.
These bull terrier are very strong for their size. They are active and lively. Head is short with well developed cheek muscles. Dark eyes are prefered. Light eye is tolerated only by dogs of blue coat. Eyes are round and medium big, placed to look straight forward. Eye lids are dark. Middle sized ears are half pricked but more often folded in rose shape. Full, drop or pricked ears are highly undesirable. Stafforshire bull terrier has wide and deep ribcage, muscled short neck clean in outline gradually widening towards shoulders. Feet are firm not loose. Topline is level. Tail is medium length, low set, tapering to a point and carried rather low. Should not curl much and may be likened to an old-fashioned pump handle.
Coat is short, smooth and not smelly. Colour range is from white, red, blue to black. Also combinations of these colours are possible. Any mentioned colour can be combined with white. We can find also brindle or brindle dogs with white marks. Black and tan (colour typical for rottweiler) or liver colour highly undesirable.
Staffordshire bull terrier is quick to learn, but also stubborn sometimes. When play tugging game, teach them to drop it, when commanded. Always be consistent and loving. It is necessary he gets used to other animals in house from puppy.
Staffordshire bull terrier does not require any special care. Proper socialisation of a dog is very important. The dogs is fixed upon its human family and suffers without it. Keeping them in outside kennel is not suitale not only due to its strong connection to people but also their coat as they have no undercoat in winter. They are usually fine during a car ride and sometimes they demand it. Many are great swimmers and passionate retrievers.
The term stafford first appeard in the middle of 20th century. It was made according to the place of origin, Staffordshire, in centre of Black Country. Joseph Dunn, one of the pioneers of the breed, mentioned, in his memories from 1910 - 1934, ten families who owned such dogs. Although there were no pedigrees at that time, all had similar appearance. The thought of recognision by BKC was welcome. Thanks to Joseph Dunn the breed was recognised 25th May 1935. Dunn invited his friends, breeders and owners of staffords for a celebration. Among them also Joe Malles, innkeeper from Cross Guns in Cradley Heath in the south of Stafford shire, who bred staffords for more than 40 years. Fifty breeders met at Cross Guns and estabilised the very first club (Original Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club). They chose the committee of eight known breeders, all of them were active in breeding over 20 years. The first president of the club, elected here, was Jack Barnard, kennel Paddock. At the same meeting the standard was made. The Kennel Club (the highest cynological instancy in UK, founded in 1873) approved the club and reformulated clubs name into Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club. The breed was shown for the very first time at Great Hertfordshire Open show 20th June 1935 in Hatfield. There were two classes and 27 dogs. The new estabilised club organised the first show in Cradley Heath 17th August 1935. Sixty dogs were shown. There is a long list of pioneer names, well known to all staffie lovers. The first one is Joseph Dunn, secratary of the club, Joe Mallen, innkeeper from Cross Guns in Cradley Heath (photo), who was a breeder for more then 40 years. His top dog was Ch. Gentleman Jim, who became a milestone in the history of the breed.
Gerald Dudley was showing topclass dogs in excellent consition and bred nearly 30 years. His dogs were typical for the perfect anatomy and also typical character of the breed. We should also mention John F. Gordon and his kennel Bandits. He was one of the best breeders in Britain in his time. The very first publication about the breed was written by Jack Barnard, president of the club, in 1935. In order to get the championship status for shows, which means to give Champion titles - Challenge Certificates - CCs, it was necessary to have seven hundred and fifty purebred staffords registered. It was achived in 1938, with only 3 years. The way for the highest titles was finally open. The two very first champion titles were given 4th May 1939. Both dogs got 3 CCs from different judges. They were Ch. Gentleman Jim (on the photo with Joe Mallenem) and bitch Ch. Lady Eve (on the photo with Joea Dunna). It is interesting that both were white wirk marks.
In 1937 many breeders met after big show in London and estabilised Southern Counties Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club. More estabilising of clubs followed. Today the breed has many regional clubs, that do not compete but cooperate for the good of the breed.
