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HISTORY & DISCUSSION OF THE
STANDARD
by Juanita Hobbs (South Africa)
(with help from Sandra Smid, New Zealand)
Firstly, to
clarify the point about who uses which Standard:
South Africa
and Australia both use the English Standard - both of our
Kennel Clubs have the policy of using the Standard of the
Country of Origin. Whatever Standard is used in the
country where the breed was developed is what we use.
The English
Kennel Club adopts the same policy - they use our
Standard for the Rhodesian Ridgeback because South
Africa is the Country of Origin. There is one exception,
that I know of, to this rule - the Glen of Imaal
Terrier. England has strayed away from this Standard and
adopted their own - with HUGE controversy. South Africa,
for one, still uses the Irish version of the Glen of
Imaal Standard - since Ireland is the Country of Origin.
In New
Zealand the "old" (i.e. "1948")
English Standard is used, with some changes. When the
English Kennel Club "standardized" their
Standards the NZ Kennel Club was prepared to adopt them
or not, depending upon the decision of the individual
breed clubs. The Stafford Clubs decided to stay with the
"old" and, in their opinion, better Standard.
However they have included the movement clause from the
"new" Standard.
In NZ it's
split about half and half between breeds which have
adopted the "new" version of the old English
Standards and those which opted to stay with the
original Standard (i.e., those in force in the UK prior
to standardization). Other breeds have since adopted
different Standards again, but in general the New
Zealanders tend to follow the UK Standards in preference
to the US (or FCI) Standards.
Country of
Origin was the original basis for the selection of a
Standard in NZ but this appears to have fallen by the
wayside depending upon which "clique" has the
biggest voice in the breed clubs.
The USA has
changed the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Standard slightly
of their own accord. Presumably this is because the USA
doesn't adopt a Country of Origin policy - unlike most
Kennel Clubs around the world.
Whether these
various different Standards in existence is a good
thing, or a bad thing - well, who's to say!
I'm afraid to
be the bearer to bad news, but unfortunately the ENGLISH
Standard that is printed in the Pounds & Rant book
is NOT correct. I do have a copy of this book and I
personally have never seen this version of the Standard
anywhere else before and do not know where it comes
from! Perhaps printer's gremlins are to blame? Who
knows! Just goes to prove how vital it is to check that
the right information is being printed - and how
important accuracy is!
Copies of the
latest (1987) and currect English Standard can be found
in the following publications, to name but a few:
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The
Kennel Club's Illustrated Breed Standards
John F Gordon's The
Staffordshire Bull Terrier (1989 edition)
Dieter Fleig's
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Danny Gilmour's The
Complete Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Anna Katherine
Nicholas' The Staffordshire Terriers (although she calls it
"the 1949 version"!)
North West
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club 1946 - 1996 Golden Jubilee
Book
The Ring Volumes
12, 13, 14, 15, 16 & 17
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The North West
SBTC Jubilee book is very useful when attempting to
understand our Breed's history. There are pages of reprinted
correspondence between clubs and individuals from the time
when the Standard was changed both in 1948 and in 1987. Such
correspondence is vital reading when trying to interpret the
Standard - especially since many of the letters contain
graphic descriptions which are far more explanatory that the
Breed Standard itself!!
Now, what about
the history of the Breed Standards (as far as England and
those countries that use the English Standard are
concerned):
The First
Standard was drawn up with the recognition of the Breed by
the English Kennel Club in 1935, the Second Standard took
effect in 1948 and the Third in 1987.
Here's a
comparison as clearly laid out as I know how!
Black print =
1935
Blue
print = 1948
Red print =
1987
We'll take it
section by section. Of course, each section could be
discussed ad infinitum but I have tried to point out
salient facts to help the reader.
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INITIAL
"GENERAL" CLAUSES:
The following
is a description of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier as
adopted by the Clubs at a General Meeting held on June
15th, 1935, at the Cross Guns Hotel, Cradley Heath,
Staffs. This description is mainly an amplification of
the Standard as laid down by the Staffordshire Bull
Terrier Club. It is considered that this description,
which has been drawn up and approved by many of the
leading owners, who have bred Staffordshire Bull
Terriers all their lifetime, will be of material
assistance to the smaller owners and to the novice
breeder.
General
Appearance. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a smooth
coated dog, standing about 15 to 18 inches high at the
shoulder. He should give the impression of great
strength for his size, and although muscular should be
active and agile.
Characteristics
- From the past history of the Staffordshire Bull
Terrier, the modern dog draws his character of
indomitable courage, high intelligence and tenacity.
This coupled with his affection for his friends, and
children in particular, his off-duty quietness and
trustworthy stability, makes him the foremost
all-purpose dog.
General
Appearance - The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a
smooth-coated dog. He should be of great strength for
his size and although muscular, should be active and
agile.
General
Appearance - Smooth Coated, Well Balanced, of great
strength for his size. Muscular, active and agile.
Characteristics
- traditionally of indomitable courage and tenacity.
Highly intelligent and affectionate especially with
children.
Temperament
- Bold, Fearless and totally reliable.
(1) In the
original Standard (1935) the heights were included under
the "General Appearance" and not under their
own clause.
(2) No
mention was made about the SBTs temperament in the
original Standard.
(3) The words
"Bold, Fearless and totally reliable" only
appeared in the recent 1987 version of the Standard.
(4) The words
"active", "agile", "great
strength for his size", "muscular" and
"smooth coated" have never been changed.
(5) The word
"balanced" only appeared in 1987.
The following
is a description of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier as
adopted by the Clubs at a General Meeting held on June
15th, 1935, at the Cross Guns Hotel, Cradley Heath,
Staffs. This description is mainly an amplification of
the Standard as laid down by the Staffordshire Bull
Terrier Club. It is considered that this description,
which has been drawn up and approved by many of the
leading owners, who have bred Staffordshire Bull
Terriers all their lifetime, will be of material
assistance to the smaller owners and to the novice
breeder.
General
Appearance. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a smooth
coated dog, standing about 15 to 18 inches high at the
shoulder. He should give the impression of great
strength for his size, and although muscular should be
active and agile.
Characteristics
- From the past history of the Staffordshire Bull
Terrier, the modern dog draws his character of
indomitable courage, high intelligence and tenacity.
This coupled with his affection for his friends, and
children in particular, his off-duty quietness and
trustworthy stability, makes him the foremost
all-purpose dog.
General
Appearance - The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a
smooth-coated dog. He should be of great strength for
his size and although muscular, should be active and
agile.
General
Appearance - Smooth Coated, Well Balanced, of great
strength for his size. Muscular, active and agile.
Characteristics
- traditionally of indomitable courage and tenacity.
Highly intelligent and affectionate especially with
children.
Temperament
- Bold, Fearless and totally reliable.
(1) In the
original Standard (1935) the heights were included under
the "General Appearance" and not under their
own clause.
(2) No
mention was made about the SBTs temperament in the
original Standard.
(3) The words
"Bold, Fearless and totally reliable" only
appeared in the recent 1987 version of the Standard.
(4) The words
"active", "agile", "great
strength for his size", "muscular" and
"smooth coated" have never been changed.
(5) The word
"balanced" only appeared in 1987.
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Head. Short,
deep through, broad skull, very pronounced cheek muscles,
distinct stop, short foreface, mouth level.
Head - Short,
deep through, broad skull, very pronounced cheek
muscles, distinct stop, short foreface, black nose.
Head and
Skull - Short, Deep through with broad skull. Very
pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop, short foreface,
black nose.
(1) The Nose
had it's own clause only in the 1935 Standard.
(2) The 1935
Standard had no "mouth" clause and the only
mention of it was here, under "Head", where it
says "mouth level".
(3) The word
"skull" was included in the clause's title in
1987.
(4) Essentially
the description of the head has remained unchanged.
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Eyes - Dark
preferable but may bear some relation to coat colour.
Round, of medium size, and set to look straight ahead.
Eyes - Dark
preferred but may bear some relation to coat colour.
Round of medium size, and set to look straight ahead.
Eye rims dark.
(1) In 1935 the
description was simply "dark". This was
reiterated by the 1948 version but leeway appeared for
allowing less-than-dark eyes in relation to the coat
colour.
(2) The shape,
size and placement of the eyes was included since the 1948
version.
(3) Dark eye
rims have only been called for since 1987.
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Ears.
Rose-half prick and prick, these three to be preferred to
full drop, to be penalized.
Ears
- Rose or half pricked and not large. Full drop or prick to
be penalized.
Ears
- Rose or half prick, and not large or heavy. Full drop
pricked ears highly undesirable.
(1) Only full
drop was penalized in 1935. Full drop and prick were
penalized in the 1948 version. Since 1987 they have
been "highly undesirable" - in other words as bad
as black and tan and liver is now viewed as!
(2) Size was
referred to in 1948.
(3) Thickness
of the leather was referred to only in 1987 by the use of
the term "heavy".
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Mouth
- The mouth should be level, that is, the incisors of the
lower jaw should fit closely
inside the incisors of the top jaw, and the lips should be
tight and clean. The badly
undershot or overshot mouth to be heavily penalized.
Mouth
- Lips tight and clean. 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 jaws.
(1) Original
Standard contained no separate mouth clause - but did call
for "mouth level" (see above).
(2) In the
1948 Standard a level bite was called for BUT the
description was that of what we know today as a
scissor bite.
(3) 1987 saw
the term changed to "scissor" but the description
remained essentially the same. The sentence about
badly undershot or overshot being penalized was dropped altogether
in 1987. In fact there is nowhere in the 1987 Standard which
specifically calls for penalization of the undershot
or overshot mouth.
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Neck. Should
be muscular and rather short.
Neck
- Muscular, rather short, clean in outline and gradually
widening towards the shoulders.
Neck
- Muscular, rather short, clean in outline gradually
widening towards the shoulders.
(1) Basically
unchanged except for the "gradually widening towards
the shoulders" part inserted since the 1948
version.
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Body. Short
back - deep brisket, light in loins with forelegs set rather
wide apart to permit chest development.
Body
- The body should be close coupled, with a level topline,
wide front, deep brisket, and
well-sprung ribs being rather light in the loins.
Body
- Close coupled, with level topline, wide front, deep
brisket, and well sprung ribs, muscular
and well defined.
(1) The only
thing remaining since the Original Standard is "deep
brisket".
(2)
"Light in loins" dropped >from the 1987
Standard.
(3)
"Short back" only appeared in 1935.
(4)
"Close coupled" appeared since 1948. I would like
to point out here that it must not be forgotten that
"short back" and "close coupled" are two
entirely different things.
(5)
"Level topline" only appeared in 1948.
(6)
"Forelegs set rather wide apart to permit chest
development" was only in the original Standard,
although it made a "reappearance" of sorts under
the 1948 Forequarters clause. In the Body clause it
was "replaced" by "wide front" in 1948.
(7) The
description of the ribs only appeared in 1948.
(8) The
description of the body as a whole, "muscular and well
defined", only appeared in 1987.
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Front Legs.
Straight, feet well padded, to turn out a little and showing
no weakness at pasterns.
Forequarters
- Legs straight and well boned, set rather wide apart,
without looseness at the
shoulders, and showing no weakness at the pasterns, from
which point the feet turn out
a little.
Forequarters
- Legs straight and well boned, set rather wide apart,
showing no weakness at
the pasterns, from which point the feet turn out a little.
Shoulders well laid back
with no looseness at elbows.
(1) Here we
see "set rather wide apart" in the 1948 Standard,
having been moved as it were from the Body clause.
(2) "Well
boned" made its first appearance in 1948. Special note
that the word used is "well" - not
"good", "strong" or "big".
(3) The
shoulders were mentioned for the first time only in 1948
"without looseness at the shoulders".
(4) Shoulders
were redefined in 1987 with "shoulders well laid
back" - and "looseness" was now
connected with another part of the anatomy as in "with
no looseness at elbows".
(5) Having no
clause of their own originally, the "well padded"
feet were mentioned in this clause only in 1935.
(6)
"Straight", as in legs; "turn out a
little", as in feet; and "showing no weakness at pasterns"
are the three phrases that remain consistent in all three of
the Standards.
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Hind Legs.
Hindquarters well muscled let down at hocks like a terrier.
Hindquarters
- The hindquarters should be well muscled, hocks let down
with stifles well bent.
Legs should be parallel when viewed from behind.
Hindquarters
- Well muscled, hocks well let down with stifles well bent.
Legs parallel when
viewed from behind.
(1) Bend of
stifle was not mentioned in 1935, when this clause was
called "Hind Legs".
(2) We see,
for the first time, the term "parallel" introduced
into the 1948 Standard.
(3) Both the
1948 and 1987 Standards are practically identical otherwise.
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Coat. Short,
smooth and close to skin.
Coat
- Smooth, short and close to skin.
Coat
- Smooth, short and close.
(1) Identical
except for the words "to skin" being dropped in
1987.
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Colour. may be
any shade of brindle - Black - White - Fawn or Red or any of
these colors with white. Black and tan and liver not
to be encouraged.
Colour
- Red, fawn, white, black or blue, or any of these colors
with white. Any shade of brindle
or any shade of brindle with white. Black-and-tan or liver
colour not to be encouraged.
Colour
- Red, fawn, white, black or blue, or any one of these
colors with white. Any shade
of brindle or any shade of brindle with white. Black-and-tan
or liver colour highly undesirable.
(1)
"Blue" was not part of the Original Standard. I'll
stick my neck out and say that I think the old timers
who "invented" our Breed would have considered
what we call "blue" today actually
"liver"!
(2) "Not
to be encouraged" was changed to "highly
undesirable" in 1987.
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Feet
- The feet should be well padded, strong and of medium size.
Feet
- Well padded, strong and of medium size. Nails black in
solid colored dogs.
(1) Feet had
no specific clause in 1935 but mentioned under "Front
Legs" (see above).
(2) The 1948
Standard saw the description of the feet expanded with
"strong and of medium size".
(3) The 1987
Standard calls for "nails black in solid colored
dogs" - a very dubious term! After all, is white
a colour? Is brindle a solid colour or a pattern?
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Tail. The tail
should be of medium length tapering to a point and carried
rather low; it should not curl much and may be
compared to an old-fashioned pump handle.
Tail
- The tail should be of medium length, low set, tapering to
a point and carried rather low.
It should not curl much and may be likened to an
old-fashioned pump handle.
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.
(1) Apart from
the addition of "low set" in 1948, this clause
remains basically unchanged - thank goodness!
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Gait/Movement
- Free, powerful and agile with economy of effort. Legs
moving parallel when
viewed from front or rear. Discernible drive from hindlegs.
(1) Did not
exist until 1987!
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Weight. Dogs
28 to 38 lbs. Bitches 4lbs less.
Weight
and size - Weight: Dogs, 28lb. to 38lb. Bitches, 24lb. to
34lb. Height (at shoulder),
14in to 16in, these heights being related to the weights.
Weight
and size - weight: Dogs 28lbs to 38lbs. Bitches 24lbs to
34lbs. desirable height (at
withers), 14 to 16 inches, these heights being related to
the weights.
(1) In 1935
the height was included in the General Appearance clause -
"standing about 15 to 18 inches high at the
shoulder".
(2) Although
the weights have never been changed, the height was changed
to 14 to 16 inches in 1948.
(3) Both the
1935 and the 1948 Standards describe the height to be
measured "at the shoulder" - there is no
mention of WHERE on the shoulder the measurement should be taken.
(4) Of course,
the 1987 Standard says "at withers" which is a
much more definitive point.
(5) In 1987
the term "desirable" was put in front of the word
"height".
(6) Since the
1948 Standard the term "these heights being related to
the weights" has been included.
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Faults. To be
penalized, Dudley nose, light or pink eyes, tail too long or
badly curled, badly undershot or overshot mouths.
Scale of
Points. General appearance and coat condition - 15; Head -
30; Neck - 10; Body - 25; Legs and feet - 15; Tail -
5: Total = 100.
Faults
- To be penalized in accordance with the severity of the
fault; - light eyes or pink eye-rims.
Tail too long or badly curled. Non-conformation to the
limits of weight or height.
Full drop and prick ears. Undershot or overshot mouths. The
following faults should
debar a dog from winning any prize:- Pink (Dudley) nose.
Badly undershot or overshot
mouth. Badly undershot - where the lower jaw protrudes to
such an extent that the
incisors of the lower jaw do not touch those of the upper
jaw. Badly overshot - where the
upper jaw protrudes to such an extent that the incisors of
the upper jaw do not touch those
of the lower jaw.
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.
Note
- Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles
fully descended into the
scrotum.
(1) The
"Scale of Points" only existed in the 1935
Standard.
(2) Originally
only "Dudley nose, light or pink eyes, tail too long or
badly curled, badly undershot or overshot
mouths" were termed as "to be penalized".
(3) In 1948
"non-conformation to the limits of weight or height.
Full drop and prick ears" were added "to be
penalized". "Dudley nose" was now treated
with more severity.
(4) In 1948
"in accordance with the severity of the fault" was
added to "to be penalized".
(5) "The
following faults should debar a dog from winning any
prize" was added in 1948 and thus made the
"pink (Dudley) nose" and the "badly undershot
or overshot mouth" disqualifying faults.
(6) The clause
was completely changed in 1987 and did not specify any
precise points for penalization or disqualification.
(7) As was
consistent with all English Kennel Club Breed Standards the
note about the entirety of the male was included.
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And that, my
friends, is, believe it or not, a short description of what has
happened to our Breed Standard since 1935!
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