History of the AmStaff

Origin
 

 

  The American Staffordshire can be traced with reasonable certainty to late 18th Century England.  Bull Baiting, a variety of other baiting sports, and dog fighting were all common pastimes.  In an effort to produce ever more efficient fighting machines.  Numerous crosses between bulldogs and working terriers were carried out over a period of several decades. The products of these crosses as early as 1806 bear a striking resemblance to today's American Staffordshire Terrier.  Keep in mind that breeds as we know them today did not exist until well into the 19th century.

  Bulldogs pictured in "The Sporting Magazine" from 1798 to 1824 also resemble today's American Staffordshire Terrier far more closely than the modern Bulldog.  In 1835 with the passage of Cruelty to Animals Acts, Baiting, Dog Fighting and other blood sports were driven underground.

  About 1860, the white Bull Terrier emerged as a distinct off shoot of the basic Bull-and-Terrier.  The originator of this cousin of our American Staffordshire Terrier was James Hinks.  James Hinks bred the white Bull Terrier using a combination of bull and white terrier and Dalmatian, white English Terrier.  Hinks had success in the pit with this "White Cavalier".  There is no hard evidence however that the Bull
Terrier has been used for that purpose more than occasionally since the mid-19th century.  In the early 1900's the colored Bull Terrier was
developed by crossing the white Bull Terrier back to the Pit Bull.

 

 

The Breed in the United States
1850-1930
 

 

  Many dog were brought to this country before 1860.  For example, the great dog Spring was imported by McCaffrey in 1857. Abut 1880, "Cockney" Charlie Floyd imported Paddy and Pilot.  Both destined to win fame in the fighting pits of the northeast.                                             

  In 1898 the United Kennel Club was founded in Kalamazoo, Michigan, by C. Bennett for the purpose of registering the American Pit Bull Terrier.  Owned by such famous persons as John L. Sullivan and Theodore Roosevelt, making the breed one of the most popular dogs during the first quarter of the Century.

"Pete" the famous dog with the ring around his eye of the "Our Gang Comedies" was the first staff registered by the American Kennel Club in 1936.  The American Pit Bull Terrier Club, founded in 1921 in Clay Center, Kansas, published a standard from which our present day
standard is derived.

  It should be noted that while the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Bull Terrier was being developed in this country, the English continued to develop their version of the Pit Bull.  This dog distinctively smaller and some what different type, was recognized in 1935 by the British Kennel Club under the name Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
 

 


MODERN HISTORY
 

 

  By 1930 a number of fanciers of the American Pit Bull Terrier began to work toward American Kennel club recognition.  The man most
responsible for achieving recognition was Wilfred T. Brandon. The original petition was under the name "American Bull Terrier" was
denied, at least in part.
  At this time, Captain Will Judy, publisher of "Dog World" magazine proposed the name "Yankee Terrier" this was also denied.  A compromise was therefore reached and the breed recognized in 1936 as the Staffordshire Terrier.  The final step in this long evolution of names occurred in the early 1970's as a result of the coming recognition by AKC of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Thus the name AKC offered "American Staffordshire Terrier" as the final designation of the breed.

 

 

The above information was taken from:
The American Staffordshire Terrier.
Published  in 1977
by:
H. Richard Pascoe
 

 

What Constitutes a Show dog from the 1978 STCA Year Book

"The American Staffordshire Terrier is a unique breed in the family of dogs.
Its history is rich and well documented and he remains one of the few
unspoiled breeds retaining the courage, intelligence and tractability that
have won for him wide acceptance as one of the most adaptable and capable of
all dogs.

Through the years the Staf has only secondarily been a show dog. Breeders
have traditionally considered the character and soundness of the breed to be
of ultimate importance. After all is said and done, the best Staf is the one
that possesses the traditional Staf capability and attributes. If that dog
can also win in the show ring, then the owner and breeder are indeed
fortunate. The show winner without these characteristics is no Staf at all
no matter what his outward appearance might be. In this regard we are
especially proud of the obedience Stafs as representing one aspect of our
breed's adaptability and intelligence.

The future of the American Staffordshire Terrier depends above all else on
breeders who are unwilling to use any dog in their program that does not
meet the high mental and physical qualities implied in the following
description given in the 1940 Year Book.

'Today the Staffordshire has emerged form his gladiatorial background as one
of the finest of all dogs. He is proud and noble of bearing, he combines
power with grace and agility, he is bright and alert, and his courage is not
surpassed in any other animal on earth. He is intelligent, outstandingly
amenable to training and discipline, and adaptable to almost any conditions.
He is superbly gentle with children, intensely loyal and affectionate, and a
wonderful watchdog.'"
 

AKC Breed Standard

General Impression
The American Staffordshire Terrier should give the impression of great strength for his size, a well put-together dog, muscular, but agile and graceful, keenly alive to his surroundings. He should be stocky, not long-legged or racy in outline. His courage is proverbial.

Head
Medium length, deep through, broad skull, very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop; and ears are set high. Ears - Cropped or uncropped, the latter preferred. Uncropped ears should be short and held rose or half prick. Full drop to be penalized. Eyes - Dark and round, low down in skull and set far apart. No pink eyelids. 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. Upper teeth to meet tightly outside lower teeth in front. Nose definitely black.

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

Shoulders
Strong and muscular with blades wide and sloping.

Back
Fairly short. Slight sloping from withers to rump with gentle short slope at rump to base of tail. Loins slightly tucked.

Body
Well-sprung ribs, deep in rear. All ribs close together. Forelegs set rather wide apart to permit chest development. Chest deep and broad.

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

Legs
The front legs should be straight, large or round bones, pastern upright. No resemblance of bend in front. Hindquarters well-muscled, let down at hocks, turning neither in nor out. Feet of moderate size, well-arched and compact. Gait must be springy but without roll or pace.

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

Color
Any color, solid, parti, or patched is permissible, but all white, more than 80 per cent white, black and tan, and liver not to be encouraged.

Size
Height and weight should be in proportion. A height of about 18 to 19 inches at shoulders for the male and 17 to 18 inches for the female is to be considered preferable.

Faults
Faults to be penalized are: Dudley nose, light or pink eyes, tail too long or badly carried, undershot or overshot mouths.

Approved June 10, 1936

 

UKC Breed Standard

AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER
Official U.K.C. Breed Standard
Revised October 21, 2004


History
 
    Sometime during the nineteenth century, dog fanciers in England, Ireland, and Scotland began to experiment with crosses between Bulldogs and Terriers, looking for a dog that combined the gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the Bulldog. The result was a dog that embodied all of the virtues attributed to great warriors: strength, indomitable courage, and gentleness with loved ones. Immigrants brought these bull and terrier crosses to the United States. The American Pit Bull Terrier's many talents did not go unnoticed by farmers and ranchers who used their APBTs for protection, as catch dogs for semi-wild cattle and hogs, to hunt, to drive livestock, and as family companions. Today, the American Pit Bull Terrier continues to demonstrate its versatility, competing successfully in Obedience, Tracking, Agility, Protection, and Weight Pulls, as well as Conformation.

    The United Kennel Club was the first registry to recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier. U.K.C. founder C. Z. Bennett assigned U.K.C. registration number 1 to his own APBT, Bennett's Ring in 1898.

General Appearance
 
    The American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, solidly built, short-coated dog with smooth, well-defined musculature. This breed is both powerful and athletic. The body is just slightly longer than tall, but bitches may be somewhat longer in body than dogs. The length of the front leg (measured from point of elbow to the ground) is approximately equal to one-half of the dog's height at the withers. The head is of medium length, with a broad, flat skull, and a wide, deep muzzle. Ears are small to medium in size, high set, and may be natural or cropped. The relatively short tail is set low, thick at the base and tapers to a point. The American Pit Bull Terrier comes in all colors and color patterns. This breed combines strength and athleticism with grace and agility and should never appear bulky or muscle-bound or fine-boned and rangy.

Characteristics
 
    The essential characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier are strength, confidence, and zest for life. This breed is eager to please and brimming over with enthusiasm. APBTs make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children. Because most APBTs exhibit some level of dog aggression and because of its powerful physique, the APBT requires an owner who will carefully socialize and obedience train the dog. The breed's natural agility makes it one of the most capable canine climbers so good fencing is a must for this breed. The APBT is not the best choice for a guard dog since they are extremely friendly, even with strangers. Aggressive behavior toward humans is uncharacteristic of the breed and highly undesirable. This breed does very well in performance events because of its high level of intelligence and its willingness to work.

    The American Pit Bull Terrier has always been capable of doing a wide variety of jobs so exaggerations or faults should be penalized in proportion to how much they interfere with the dog's versatility.

Head
 
    The APBT head is unique and a key element of breed type. It is large and broad, giving the impression of great power, but it is not disproportionate to the size of the body. Viewed from the front, the head is shaped like a broad, blunt wedge. When viewed from the side, the skull and muzzle are parallel to one another and joined by a well defined, moderately deep stop. Supraorbital arches over the eyes are well defined but not pronounced. The head is well chiseled, blending strength, elegance, and character.

    SKULL - The skull is large, flat or slightly rounded, deep, and broad between the ears. Viewed from the top, the skull tapers just slightly toward the stop. There is a deep median furrow that diminishes in depth from the stop to the occiput. Cheek muscles are prominent but free of wrinkles. When the dog is concentrating, wrinkles form on the forehead, which give the APBT his unique expression.

    MUZZLE - The muzzle is broad and deep with a very slight taper from the stop to the nose, and a slight falling away under the eyes. The length of muzzle is shorter than the length of skull, with a ratio of approximately 2:3. The topline of the muzzle is straight. The lower jaw is well developed, wide and deep. Lips are clean and tight.

    Faults: Snipey muzzle; flews; weak lower jaw.

    TEETH - The American Pit Bull Terrier has a complete set of evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors bite.

    Fault: Level bite.

    Serious Faults: Undershot, or overshot bite; wry mouth; missing teeth (this does not apply to teeth that have been lost or removed by a veterinarian).

    NOSE - The nose is large with wide, open nostrils. The nose may be any color.

    EYES - Eyes are medium size, round to almond-shaped, and set well apart and low on the skull. All colors are equally acceptable except blue, which is a serious fault. Haw should not be visible.

    Serious Faults: Bulging eyes; both eyes not matched in color; blue eyes.

    EARS - Ears are high set and may be natural or cropped without preference. If natural, semi-prick or rose are preferred. Prick or flat, wide ears are not desired.

Neck
 
    The neck is of moderate length and muscular. There is a slight arch at the crest. The neck widens gradually from where it joins the skull to where it blends into well laid-back shoulders. The skin on the neck is tight and without dewlap.

    Faults: Neck too short and thick; thin or weak neck; ewe neck; dewlap.

Forequarters
 
    The shoulder blades are long, wide, muscular, and well laid back. The upper arm is roughly equal in length to the shoulder blade and joins it at an apparent right angle.

    The forelegs are strong and muscular. The elbows are set close to the body. Viewed from the front, the forelegs are set moderately wide apart and perpendicular to the ground. The pasterns are short, powerful, straight, and flexible. When viewed in profile, the pasterns are nearly erect.

    Faults: Upright or loaded shoulders; elbows turned outward or tied-in; down at the pasterns; front legs bowed; wrists knuckled over; toeing in or out.

Body
 
    The chest is deep, well filled in, and moderately wide with ample room for heart and lungs, but the chest should never be wider than it is deep. The forechest does not extend much beyond the point of shoulder. The ribs extend well back and are well sprung from the spine, then flattening to form a deep body extending to the elbows. The back is strong and firm. The topline inclines very slightly downward from the withers to a broad, muscular, level back. The loin is short, muscular and slightly arched to the top of the croup, but narrower than the rib cage and with a moderate tuck-up. The croup is slightly sloping downward.

Hindquarters
 
    The hindquarters are strong, muscular, and moderately broad. The rump is well filled in on each side of the tail and deep from the pelvis to the crotch. The bone, angulation, and musculature of the hindquarters are in balance with the forequarters. The thighs are well developed with thick, easily discerned muscles. Viewed from the side, the hock joint is well bent and the rear pasterns are well let down and perpendicular to the ground. Viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are straight and parallel to one another.
    Faults: Narrow hindquarters; hindquarters shallow from pelvis to crotch; lack of muscle; straight or over angulated stifle joint; cow hocks; sickle hocks; bowed legs.

Feet
 
    The feet are round, proportionate to the size of the dog, well arched, and tight. Pads are hard, tough, and well cushioned. Dewclaws may be removed.

    Fault: Splayed feet.

Tail
 
    The tail is set on as a natural extension of the topline, and tapers to a point. When the dog is relaxed, the tail is carried low and extends approximately to the hock. When the dog is moving, the tail is carried level with the backline. When the dog is excited, the tail may be carried in a raised, upright position (challenge tail), but never curled over the back (gay tail).

    Fault: Long tail (tail tip passes beyond point of hock).

    Serious faults: Gay tail (not to be confused with challenge tail); kinked tail.

    Disqualification: Bobbed tail.

Coat
 
    The coat is glossy and smooth, close, and moderately stiff to the touch.

    Faults: Curly, wavy, or sparse coat.

    Disqualification: Long coat.

Color
 
    Any color, color pattern, or combination of colors is acceptable, except for merle.

    Disqualification: Merle

Height and Weight
 
    The American Pit Bull Terrier must be both powerful and agile so actual weight and height are less important than the correct proportion of weight to height. Desirable weight for a mature male in good condition is between 35 and 60 pounds. Desirable weight for a mature female in good condition is between 30 and 50 pounds. Dogs over these weights are not to be penalized unless they are disproportionately massive or rangy.

Gait
 
    The American Pit Bull Terrier moves with a jaunty, confident attitude, conveying the impression that he expects any minute to see something new and exciting. When trotting, the gait is effortless, smooth, powerful, and well coordinated, showing good reach in front and drive behind. When moving, the backline remains level with only a slight flexing to indicate suppleness. Viewed from any position, legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each other. As speed increases, feet tend to converge toward center line of balance.

    Faults: Legs not moving on the same plane; legs over reaching; legs crossing over in front or rear; rear legs moving too close or touching; rolling; pacing; paddling; sidewinding; hackney action; pounding.

Disqualifications
 
    Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Unilateral or bilateral deafness. Bobbed tail. Albinism. Merle. Long coat.

    Note: Although some level of dog aggression is characteristic of this breed, handlers will be expected to comply with U.K.C. policy regarding dog temperament at U.K.C. events.