the original standard refered to is the original KC standard!

patch my brain is the same reading 35 pages of that pitbull post!

agree with the stafford in general will not start a fight but is capable of finishing it if need be

The height of a Staffie is nothing to do with how they interact on the temperament side with people of all ages, [ or with flowers :smt081 ], there`s a very good reason they are called Nanny dogs

People who know and appreciate Staffies are not questioning their suitability with people, especially children, quite the opposite in that regard !

Well said Dave and Elaine.
The only thing that was changed was the height, from everything else is almost the same as the original standards.

The point being there is no difference in temperament, I do not think any Stafford people arugue over that, Short, fat, fit, tall whatever they have the same temperament.

Now where a lot of us people have the problem is the fact 2 inches was taken off the standard without dropping the height, which has caused a squashed effect in to comparison with the Stafford bred they way they where originally. If anything the KC stafford seems to be bulky then the Original bred SBT, they are/were lean, with nice muscle type. If I was allowed Id use examples but to many rules on this forum lol!
Its for health, nothing to do with temperament.

The KC changed the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Standard twice.
It was first changed in 1948 and then again in 1987 ( don't know why really only the wording in the standard changed - the wieght or height wasn't dropped from what I can see)

In my eyes there is no original Standard there may have been in 1937 but that has long gone along with the dogs of yesteryear, only the standard we have is the one of today which I personally think is the one that should be adhered to, the standard was changed for a reason, and a good reason at that in light of BSL and the DDA ensuring the safety of the dogs and Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed itself.

And in light of the DDA and BSL it's dangerous for 'leggy' 'atheletic' types to be bred knowing at any given time those dogs could be siezed, we've seen it all to often with recent events - so in my opinion it is dangerous to breed to that long gone 1937 standard, dangerous and extremely sad for the dogs which I dread to say could loose their lives if someone comes along and decides they are 'type'.

the height was dropped 2" in 1987 with no reduction in weight. the reson, as far as I can see, was to distance the staff from the dda and bsl.

Actually I've just been having a read, the height in the Stafford standard has not changed as far as I can see since 1948.

The actual drop in height was in 1948 it was changed from 15-18 inches to 14-16 inches as far as I can see, 1987 only the wording and the way the dogs were measured was changed in the 1987 Stafford standard.

Edited to word things more clearly.

Yes your correct BUT if you read this



1935

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.

1948

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.

1987

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.

POINTS TO NOTE:

(1) Apart from the addition of "low set" in 1948, this clause remains basically unchanged - thank goodness!

1935 - Not mentioned.

1947 - Not mentioned.

1987

Gait/Movement - Free, powerful and agile with economy of effort. Legs moving parallel when viewed from front or rear. Discernible drive from hindlegs.

POINTS TO NOTE:

(1) Did not exist until 1987!

1935

Weight. Dogs 28 to 38 lbs. Bitches 4lbs less.

1948

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.

1987

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.

In 1948 it was changed to 14-16 but only measuring from the shoulder, which in not taking in the extra inch/s from the shoulder to the withers. So infact from toe to shoulder the Stafford could be 15-18 still.

Then In 1987 it was changed from shoulder to withers so from to toe to withers, so from toe to shoulder they now have to be 14-16 inches.
Yes this is not a stafford but close enought and withers and shoulders are all in the same place, regardless of the breed of dog, but of course the height measurement changes!


http://www.staffordmall.com/standardhistory.htm

i agree hayley adn that was well described and easy to understand thanks

Yes, but my whole point is...The standard was first changed in 1948 11 years after the standard was first introduced, do you not think or believe that the standard was changed in 1948 by the very same people that created that standard in 1937? 11 years in the great scheme of things is not a long time, most of the people originally involved within the Stafford circles were quite possibly still alive.
I don't see anywhere in todays standards as it only says 'desirable height' that Staffords would be penalised for being perhaps an inch taller. So to me the standards haven't changed a great deal and people should adhere to the standards that are set, instead of breeding badly bred leaner, taller non KC staffords.

But of course thats just my opinion