Overall Profile: Dog should appear “square” (i.e., as long from the shoulder to point of hip as he is tall from top of shoulder to ground). He should be muscular and generate the impression of great strength without being bulky. Dog should be athletic, possessing speed, power, agility and stamina.

Head: Size of head should be impropriation to body size, but not mandatory. Medium length, widest just below ears with prominate cheeks. Muzzle should be broad, square to slightly wedge shaped, of medium length. Teeth even with tight scissors over or under acceptable canines tight. Under jaw strong and well defined.

Neck: Medium to slightly long in length, slightly arched, well muscled, tapering from shoulders to head.

Shoulders: Strong and muscular, slightly wider than rib cage but not overly wide. Front view of dog should show front lets under dog and not out at the elbows.

Chest: Deep and of moderate breath, well sprung at top and tapering toward the bottom. Looking at the front of the dog, the depth of chest should be 20 to 30% deeper than it is wide.

Back: Back should be short, strong and muscular, higher at withers than hips, slightly arches at loins, which should be well developed and slightly tucked.

Legs: Front legs should have large bones, be straight without semblance of bow, with upright pasterns. Rear legs should have a pronounces angulation of the stifle joints, well muscles tights with long sloping hips. Femur should be shorter than the tibia, placing the stifle in the upper one third of the leg. Lack of stifle angulation to be considered a serious structural fault.

Feet: Feet should be of moderate size, toes of medium length, well arched and close together, no splayed. Pasterns should be strong, straight, and upright.

Tail: Short in comparison to size, set on low, wide where it joins the body and tapering to a fine point with a pump handle appearance with relaxed. Tail should not be carried over the back.

Coat: Short, close, stiff to the touch with fine gloss. Any color or combination of colors.

Weight: Not important, as long as dog is balanced proportionately.

Movement: Light and springy, quick and agile, with a strong driving rear end.

Temperament: Sound temperament, alert, outgoing, friendly, eager to please, high spirit is acceptable.

We have not included a line drawing of a standard dog because although it is possible to lay out a blueprint of an ideal example of the American Pit Bull Terrier, the drawing could not take into account the variations acceptable within the realm of the performance background of the APBT.

Most breed standards in the past have tried to blueprint an exact model of the perfect example of their breed, (exact height, weight, color, etc.) The emphasis place on “type”, has led breeders and judges of related breeds to eliminate individuals from the gene pool who might have contributed significantly to the retention of the innate (inherent) qualities that particular breed was originally know for, because the dog was too small, too large, off color, etc.

A breed such as the American Pit Bull Terrier whose foundation dogs of 100 years ago varied greatly in “type” and size (12 to 70 lbs), and whose inner qualities were the determining factor in deciding which dogs where to be bred and contribute to the future generations of their breed, cannot be bred for a certain physical “type” and still retain their original working qualities.

Proportion………………………….10 points

Movement…………………………. 5 points

Temperament……………………….. 5 points

Total of 20 points

Size and shape…………………….. 5 points                                     Neck………………………….. 5 points

Muzzle…………………………….. 5 points                                         Back………………………….. 5 points

Teeth……………………………… 5 points                                          Chest…………………………. 5 points

                   Total of 15 points                                                                                   Total of 15 points

Shoulders & front legs……………. 10 points                                  Loin………………………….. 5 points

Feet and pasterns…………………. 5 points                                    Hips………………………….. 7 points

               Total of 15 points                                                                 Upper thigh & stifle…………. 15 points

                                                                                                                   Hocks and feet………………. 3 points

TAIL                                                                                                                           Total of 30 points

Tail set……………………………. 3 points

Shape and length…………………. 2 points

                    Total of 5 points

Grand total of 100 points.