Flatlands Kennels

Taken from the UKC website...www.ukcdogs.com 

Revised November 1, 2008
©Copyright 1978, United Kennel Club, Inc..

HISTORY

Sometime during the nineteenth century, dog fanciers in England, Ireland and Scotland began to experiment with crosses between Bulldogs and Terriers, looking for a dog that combined the gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the Bulldog. The result was a dog that embodied all of the virtues attributed to great warriors: strength, indomitable courage, and gentleness with loved ones. Immigrants brought these bull and terrier crosses to the United States. The American Pit Bull Terrier’s many talents did not go unnoticed by farmers and ranchers who used their APBTs as catch dogs for semi-wild cattle and hogs, to hunt, to drive livestock, and as family companions. Today, the American Pit Bull Terrier continues to demonstrate its versatility, competing successfully in Obedience, Tracking, Agility and Weight Pulls, as well as Conformation.

The United Kennel Club was the first registry to recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier. UKC founder C. Z. Bennett assigned UKC registration number 1 to his own APBT, Bennett’s Ring, in 1898.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

The American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, solidly built, short-coated dog with smooth, well-defined musculature. This breed is both powerful and athletic. The body is just slightly longer than tall, but bitches may be somewhat longer in body than dogs. The length of the front leg (measured from point of elbow to the ground) is approximately equal to one-half of the dog’s height at the withers. The head is of medium length, with a broad, flat skull, and a wide, deep muzzle. Ears are small to medium in size, high set, and may be natural or cropped. The relatively short tail is set low, thick at the base and tapers to a point. The American Pit Bull Terrier comes in all colors and color patterns except merle. This breed combines strength and athleticism with grace and agility and should never appear bulky or muscle-bound or fine-boned and rangy. Above all else, the APBT must have the functional capability to be a catch dog that can hold, wrestle (push and pull) and breathe easily while doing its job. Balance and harmony of all parts are critical components of breed type.

Very Serious Fault: Any disproportionate overdone characteristic (such as short legs, excessive bone or massive head or body) that would interfere with working ability

CHARACTERISTICS

The essential characteristics of the American Pit Bull Terrier are strength, confidence, and zest for life. This breed is eager to please and brimming over with enthusiasm. APBTs make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children. Because most APBTs exhibit some level of dog aggression and because of its powerful physique, the APBT requires an owner who will carefully socialize and obedience train the dog. The breed’s natural agility makes it one of the most capable canine climbers so good fencing is a must for this breed. The APBT is not the best choice for a guard dog since they are extremely friendly, even with strangers. Aggressive behavior toward humans is uncharacteristic of the breed and highly undesirable. This breed does very well in performance events because of its high level of intelligence and its willingness to work.

HEAD

The APBT head is unique and a key element of breed type. It is large and broad, giving the impression of great power, but it is not disproportionate to the size of the body. Viewed from the front, the head is shaped like a broad, blunt wedge. When viewed from the side, the skull and muzzle are parallel to one another and joined by a well defined, moderately deep stop. Supraorbital arches over the eyes are well defined but not pronounced. The head is well chiseled, blending strength, elegance, and character.

Very Serious Fault: Overly large, heavy heads.

SKULL - The skull is large, flat or slightly rounded, deep, and broad between the ears. Viewed from the top, the skull tapers just slightly toward the stop. There is a deep median furrow that diminishes in depth from the stop to the occiput. Cheek muscles are prominent but free of wrinkles. When the dog is concentrating, wrinkles form on the forehead, which give the APBT his unique expression.

MUZZLE - The muzzle is broad and deep with a very slight taper from the stop to the nose, and a slight falling away under the eyes. The length of muzzle is shorter than the length of skull, with a ratio of approximately 2:3. The topline of the muzzle is straight. The lower jaw is well developed, wide and deep. Lips are clean and tight.

Faults: Snipey muzzle; flews; weak lower jaw.

Very Serious Fault: Muzzle too short, which impairs breathing capability.

TEETH - The American Pit Bull Terrier has a complete set of evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors bite.

Fault: Level bite.

Serious Faults: Undershot, or overshot bite; wry mouth; missing teeth (this does not apply to teeth that have been lost or removed by a veterinarian).

NOSE - The nose is large with wide, open nostrils. The nose may be any color.

EYES - Eyes are medium size, round and set well apart and low on the skull. All colors are equally acceptable except blue, which is a serious fault. Haw should not be visible.

Serious Faults: Bulging eyes; both eyes not matched in color; blue eyes.

EARS - Ears are high set and may be natural or cropped without preference. Prick or flat, wide ears are not desired.

NECK

The neck is of moderate length and muscular. There is a slight arch at the crest. The neck widens gradually from where it joins the skull to where it blends into well laid-back shoulders. The skin on the neck is tight and without dewlap.

Faults: Neck too thin or weak; ewe neck; dewlap.

Very Serious Fault: A short, thick neck that would interfere with functional ability.

FOREQUARTERS

The shoulder blades are long, wide, muscular, and well laid back. The upper arm is roughly equal in length to the shoulder blade and joins it at an apparent right angle.

The forelegs are strong and muscular. The elbows are set close to the body. Viewed from the front, the forelegs are set moderately wide apart and perpendicular to the ground. The pasterns are short, powerful, straight, and flexible. When viewed in profile, the pasterns are nearly erect.

Faults: Upright or loaded shoulders; elbows turned outward or tied-in; down at the pasterns; front legs bowed; wrists knuckled over; toeing in or out.

Very Serious Fault: Legs shorter than half the total height at the withers.

BODY

The chest is deep, well filled in, and moderately wide with ample room for heart and lungs, but the chest should never be wider than it is deep. The forechest does not extend much beyond the point of shoulder. The ribs extend well back and are well sprung from the spine, then flattening to form a deep body extending to the elbows. The back is strong and firm. The topline inclines very slightly downward from the withers to a broad, muscular, level back. The loin is short, muscular and slightly arched to the top of the croup, but narrower than the rib cage and with a moderate tuck-up. The croup is slightly sloping downward.

Very Serious Fault: Overly massive body style that impedes working ability.

HINDQUARTERS

The hindquarters are strong, muscular, and moderately broad. The rump is well filled in on each side of the tail and deep from the pelvis to the crotch. The bone, angulation, and musculature of the hindquarters are in balance with the forequarters. The thighs are well developed with thick, easily discerned muscles. Viewed from the side, the hock joint is well bent and the rear pasterns are well let down and perpendicular to the ground. Viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are straight and parallel to one another.

Faults: Narrow hindquarters; hindquarters shallow from pelvis to crotch; lack of muscle; straight or over angulated stifle joint; cow hocks; sickle hocks; bowed legs.

FEET

The feet are round, proportionate to the size of the dog, well arched, and tight. Pads are hard, tough, and well cushioned. Dewclaws may be removed.

Fault: Splayed feet.

TAIL

The tail is set on as a natural extension of the topline, and tapers to a point. When the dog is relaxed, the tail is carried low and extends approximately to the hock. When the dog is moving, the tail is carried level with the backline. When the dog is excited, the tail may be carried in a raised, upright position (challenge tail), but never curled over the back (gay tail).

Fault: Long tail (tail tip passes beyond point of hock).

Serious faults: Gay tail (not to be confused with challenge tail); kinked tail.

Disqualification: Bobbed tail.

COAT

The coat is glossy and smooth, close, and moderately stiff to the touch.

Faults: Curly, wavy, or sparse coat.

Disqualification: Long coat.

COLOR

Any color, color pattern, or combination of colors is acceptable, except for merle.

Disqualification: Merle

HEIGHT AND WEIGHT

The American Pit Bull Terrier must be both powerful and agile so actual weight and height are less important than the correct proportion of weight to height. Desirable weight for a mature male in good condition is between 35 and 60 pounds. Desirable weight for a mature female in good condition is between 30 and 50 pounds. Dogs over these weights are not to be penalized unless they are disproportionately massive or rangy.

Very Serious Fault: Excessively large or overly massive dogs.

GAIT

The American Pit Bull Terrier moves with a jaunty, confident attitude, conveying the impression that he expects any minute to see something new and exciting. When trotting, the gait is effortless, smooth, powerful, and well coordinated, showing good reach in front and drive behind. When moving, the backline remains level with only a slight flexing to indicate suppleness. Viewed from any position, legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each other. As speed increases, feet tend to converge toward center line of balance.

Faults: Legs not moving on the same plane; legs over reaching; legs crossing over in front or rear; rear legs moving too close or touching; rolling; pacing; paddling; sidewinding; hackney action; pounding.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Unilateral or bilateral deafness. Long coat. Bobbed tail. Albinism. Merle.

Note: Although some level of dog aggression is characteristic of this breed, handlers will be expected to comply with UKC policy regarding dog temperament at UKC events.

Taken from the CKC website...www.ckc.ca

American Staffordshire Terrier

General Appearance

The 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 Colour

Coat short, close, stiff to the touch, and glossy. Any colour, solid, parti,

or patched is permissible, but all white, more than 80 percent 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.

Canadian Kennel Club Official Breed Standards

GROUP IV TERRIERS IV-2

January 2004

IV-2.1 GROUP IV TERRIERS

Body

Back fairly short. Slight sloping from withers to rump with gentle short

slope at rump to base of tail. Well-sprung ribs, 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 or

overshot mouth, full drop ears, tail too long or badly carried.

UKC - United Kennel Club

CH - Conformation Champion

GRCH - Conformation Grand Champion

The requirements to earn the GRCH title is as follows: A Champion dogs must win the Champions class a minimum of 5 times with competition (a minimum of 3 Champions shown in this class) under 3 different judges. A Champion dog may earn a competition win towards its GRCH title if it wins BOB over a Grand Champion and the total number of dogs entered in the both the Champion class and the Grand Champion class meets or exceeds the minimum 3 dog requirement.

UWP - United Weight Puller

A dog must pull three times to qualify for a UWP in these manners:

a. On natural or artificial surfaces. Eight times the dog’s body weight on the day of the event for events held on natural or artificial surfaces, or

b. On snow. Three times the dog’s body weight on the day of the event for events held on snow, or

c. On rails. Ten times the dog’s body weight on the day of the event for events held on a rail system.

UWPCH - United Weight Pull Champion

A dog must earn 100 additional pts on top of the UWP classes.

UWPCHX - United Weight Pull Champion Excellent

A dog must earn 250 pts on top of the UWPCH classes.

UGWPCH - United Grand Weight Pull Champion

A dog must earn 200 additional pts on top of the UWPCHX classes.

UGWPCH 1 - United Grand Weight Pull Champion 1

A dog must earn an additional 100 points competing in the Grand Classes.

UWPV - United Weight Pull Versatile

Can be earned directly after the UWP title. Must earn an additional 100 pts then another 100 pts on any combination of at least two different types of weighted vehicle.

UWPO - United Weight Pull Outstanding

Can also be earned directly after the UWP title. Dog must then earn 100 additional championship pts each on two different types of weighted vehicle.

UWPS - United Weight Pull Supreme

Can be earned directly after the UWP title. Dog must earn 100 additional pts on each of the three types of weighted vehicles.

UCD - United Companion Dog

Dog must earn 3 qualifying scores under at least two different judges in the Novice classes

UCDX - United Companion Dog Excellent

Dog must already be a UCD and must then earn at least 3 qualifying scores under at least 2 different judges in any Open classes.

UUD - United Utility Dog

Dog must already be UCDX and then earn at least 3 qualifying scores under at least 2 different judges in any Utility classes.

UOCH - United Obedience Champion

Dog must complete UUD, then:

1. Combined wins. At five different UKC licensed trials, earn a qualifying score in each of the Open B and Utility B classes in the same trial, with a combined score of 370 or above.

2. Obedience championship points. Accumulate 100 obedience championship points, at least 30 of which must be earned in the Open B class and at least 20 of which must be earned from the Utility B class. Obedience championship points are earned in the Open B and Utility B classes by obtaining a minimum qualifying score or better in either or both. The number of points earned increases as the qualifying score increases in accordance with the table on the facing page: Obedience championship points are awarded as follows:




Qualifying score	Points earned
170 to 174½	1
175 to 179½	2
180 to 184½	3
185 to 189½	4
190 to 192½	5
193 to 195½	6
196 to 198½	7
199 to 200	8


3. There is no restriction on the number of qualifying scores or obedience championship points that may be earned under the same Judge.

GOCH - United Grand Obedience Champion

Dog must earn the UOCH then:

 1. Combined wins. At fifteen different UKC licensed trials, earn a qualifying score in each of the Open B and Utility B classes in the same trial, with a combined score of 370 or above.

2. Judge requirements. Three of the combined wins must be earned under at least under three different Judges

UAGI - United Agility I

A dog must earn 3 qualifying scores of 170 or above in the Agility I classes. Can all be under the same judge.

UAGII - United Agility II

Must complete UAGI then complete another 3 qualifying scores in the Agility II classes. Can all also be under the same judge.

UACH - United Agility Champion

Points accumulate from the B sections of the Agility I and Agility II classes after both titles are completed. A minimum of 40 pts must be earned in each.  A score  of 196 or more must be attained.

UACHX - United Agility Champion Excellent

Requirements. To earn this title a dog must:

a. Receive five qualifying scores at five different UKC Licensed agility trials in Agility III;

b. A qualifying score requires the successful completion of all obstacles and a score of 196 points or higher;

c. Qualifying scores must be earned under at least three different Judges

UGRACH - United Grand Agility Champion

Requirements. To earn this title a dog must:
a. Combined wins. At five different UKC Licensed agility trials, earn a qualifying score in each of the AGI-B, AGII-B and AGIII classes in the same trial with a combined score of 588 points or higher.

b. Judge Requirements. Two of the combined wins must be under at least two different Judges.

All Star Ranking - A dog must attain scores of 196 or higher throughout the calendar year to attain points which count towards all star ranking. 

DNA-P - DNA Profiled. The dog's DNA profile is on record with the UKC lab.

DNA-VIP - DNA Verified Identifiable Parentage. Both the dog's parents were DNA Profiled, so this dog can prove who it's parents are by virtue of genetics.

CKC - Canadian Kennel Club

CH - Conformation Champion

To become a Conformation Champion, your dog must earn at least 10 points under at least three different judges and have earned at least one 2-point win, either at the breed or group level.

GRCH - Conformation Grand Champion

A minimum of 100 points which must include one Best in Show or a Best of Breed at a Breed National Specialty (where a minimum of ten dogs have competed) or a Best in Multiple Breed Specialty with at least five breeds represented; plus 3 group firsts or 3 Breed Specialty wins must be earned at Conformation shows.

     a) GRAND CHAMPION POINT SYSTEM

     Group 1 or Best in Specialty Show   5 Points
     Group 2 or Best of Opposite Single Breed Specialty Show 4 Points
     Group 3   3 Points
     Group 4   2 Points

(Note: no points are acquired if no other dog is present in the group.)

      Best of Breed   1 Point
      (To earn the breed point, at least 5 dogs must be shown at breed level)

      Best in Show or Best in National Specialty Show or Best in Multi Breed Specialty Show 10 Points

15.2.4 Only the highest points earned at a single show are carried forward.  For example, a dog that wins Group 1 and then wins Best in Show, earns 10 points, not 15.

A dog must also have another type of title, such as a CGN or an agility or obedience title.

CD - Companion Dog (1st Level Obedience)

Dog must attain at least 3 qualifying scores of 170 or above in the Novice classes.

RN - Rally Novice (1st Level Rally Obedience)

CGN - Canine Good Neighbor. A series of 12 tests testing a dog's basic temperament and manners. ALL 12 tests must be passed to achieve the title. Dog must be at least 6 months of age to achieve this.

IWPA - International Weight Pull Association

WD - Working Dog. A weight pull title that means a dog pulled either:

5 times it's body weight on a snow track, or 12 times its body weight on a wheeled cart a minimum of 4 times.

WDX - Working Dog Excellent. 2nd level weight pull title meaning a dog:

Pulled either 10 times its body weight on a snow track, or 18 times its body weight on a wheeled cart a minimum of 4 times.

WDS - Working Dog Superior. 3rd and final level weight pull title that means a dog:

Pulled either 15 times its body weight on a snow track, or 23 times it's body weight on a wheeled cart a minimum of 3 times.