GENERAL APPEARANCE
The AST should give the impression of great strength: it is a well-built, muscular dog, yet agile and elegant. It should be compact, neither leggy nor racy. It is attentive and its courage is evident.
HEAD
Medium length; broad head; very pronounced cheek muscles, well-defined stop; ears set high.
EARS
They may be cropped or uncropped, cropped being preferred. If uncropped, they should be short and held rose or half-pricked. Fully drop ears will be penalized.
EYES
Dark, round, set low in the skull and well apart. Unpigmented eyelids will be penalized.
MUZZLE
Medium length, rounded on the upper side and falling away abruptly below the eyes. Well-defined jaws. The underjaw should be strong with biting power. Lips close and even, with no looseness. Upper incisors in contact with the front of the lower incisors. Nose definitely black. (Scissor bite.)
NECK
Heavy, slightly arched, tapering from the shoulders to the back of the skull. No loose skin. Medium length.
SHOULDERS
Strong and muscular. Broad, sloping shoulder blades.
BACK
Fairly short. Slight slope from the withers to the rump, with a short, gentle slope from the rump to the base of the tail. Loins slightly tucked.
BODY
Well-sprung ribs, extending well back, close together. Forelegs set rather wide apart to allow for chest development; the chest is deep and broad.
TAIL
Short, low-set, tapering to a fine point. Not curled or held over the back. Not docked.
LIMBS
Forelegs straight, with large, round bones and upright pasterns; the front should show no bending. Hind legs well muscled, with hocks let down and turning neither in nor out. Feet medium-sized, well arched and compact. Springy gait; the dog should not roll or pace.
COAT
Short, close, stiff to the touch and glossy coat.
COLOR
All colors are accepted: solid, parti-color or patched. Only dogs with more than 80% white on the body, or liver colors, will be penalized.
SIZE
Weight should be in proportion to height; the ideal height ranges from 45 to 48 cm for males and from 43 to 45 cm for females.
FAULTS
Penalize an unpigmented nose, light eyes (except in gray-coated dogs, whose eyes follow the coat color) or unpigmented eyelids, and a tail that is too long or poorly carried.
GROUP 3: TERRIERS
SECTION C: BULL TYPE
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
NAME IN THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER
