Breed Reclassification Process Underway
American Staffordshire Terrier
As a continuation of my article in the
last issue of the Gazette, What In Your
Pedigree? I hope to give readers some of
the details of the reassigning of dogs from
certain bloodlines formerly registered
as American Pit Bull Terriers into breed
reclassifications that more distinctly
defines their breed type. The registration
department has painstakingly done the
research on the registrations of dogs
currently being processed using photos
submitted and online to understand
the type of dogs that certain kennels
and bloodlines are producing. A dog’s
registration with another kennel club as
a breed other than the American Pit Bull
Terrier also qualifies a dogs in moving to
that breed classification with the American
Dog Breeders Association.
The breed names for the dogs being
moved from the American Pit Bull Terrier
stud book to another breed classification
include American Staffordshire Terrier,
American Bully and the Working Pit
Bulldog.
American Staffordshire Terrier:
Breed Type
The American Kennel Club opened
their stud book in 1936 to select UKC
and ADBA registered American Pit Bull
Terriers due to the popularity of the dog
Petey of ‘My Gang Comedy’ fame. The
breed name was changed, at that time, to
American Staffordshire Terrier for the
dogs admitted into the AKC stud book.
The history shows that no other breeds
have been influxed into the development of
these dogs. Fanciers developed a standard
for their dogs and the breeding goal of
many of the breeders was for the look of
the dog, not the heritage purpose as an
4
American Bully
athletic fighting dog.
Any new single registrations of AKC
registered
American
Staffordshire
Terriers will be registered as American
Staffordshire Terriers with the ADBA.
Any current ADBA registered dogs with
75% or more of AKC registered American
Staffordshire Terriers within their ancestry
and exhibiting American Staffordshire
Terrier breed type can elect to have their
dog recognized under the breed name
American Staffordshire Terrier.
Because of the close genetic history to
the American Pit Bull Terrier, the general
look of the American Staffordshire
Terriers should reflect this relationship.
The American Staffordshire Terrier should
give the impression of overall strength
for his size, muscular, but still agile and
graceful – not coarse or bulky. He should
appear stocky, with wide shoulders and
hip, not long legged or racy in outline.
He should carry himself with confidence,
being keenly alert to his surroundings. His
courage is proverbial. The dogs head is
distinctly deep and board with pronounced
Working Pit Bulldog
cheeks and a distinct stop. Ears can be
cropped or natural, set high on the skull.
The dog’s muzzle is medium in length
with jaws well defined, lips close and even
without looseness.
The dogs coat is short, glossy and
slightly stiff to the touch in any color or
combination of colors… but all white, more
than 80% white, black and tan and liver
should not be encouraged. Dogs with the
merle color pattern will not be registered
within the American Staffordshire Terrier
breed classification with the ADBA.
Height and weight should be in
proportion. Males should be 18 to 19
inches at the withers and females should
be 17 to 18 inches preferred.
American Bully
The American Bully developed as
a natural extension of UKC registered
American Pit Bull Terriers mated with
AKC registered American Staffordshire
Terrier; different vari