GENERAL APPEARANCE
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.

SIZE
Height and weight should be in proportion.
A height of about 18-19 inches (46-48 cm) at shoulders for the male and 17-18 inches (43-46 cm) for the females is to be considered preferable.

COAT AND COLOR
Coat short, close, stiff to the touch, and glossy.
Any colour, solid, parti, or patched is permissible, but all white, more than 80% white, black and tan, and liver not to be encouraged.

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

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

FOREQUARTERS
Shoulders strong and muscular with blades wide and sloping. Forelegs set rather wide apart to permit chest development. The front legs should be straight, large or round bones, pastern upright. No resemblance of bend in front.

BODY
Back: Fairly short. Slight sloping from withers to rump with gentle short slope at rump to base of tail.
Ribs: Well-sprung, deep in rear. All ribs close together.
Chest: Deep and broad.
Loins slightly tucked.

HINDQUARTERS
Well muscled, let down at hocks, turning neither in nor out.
Feet of moderate size, well arched and compact.

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

GAIT
Must be springy but without roll or pace.

FAULTS
Faults to be penalized are:
- Dudley nose
- Light or pink eyes
- Undershot mouth
- Overshot mouth
- Full drop ears
- Tail too long or badly carried

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