ABKC Breed Standard
Bull Terrier
Stocky, strongly built, well balanced muscular dog — courageous, intelligent, outgoing, and inquisitive.
General Impression
Stocky, strongly built, well balanced muscular dog. Courageous, intelligent, outgoing, inquisitive, notoriously stubborn, clownish. Needs daily exercise and firm training.
Overview
Stocky, strongly built, well balanced muscular dog. Courageous, intelligent, outgoing, inquisitive, notoriously stubborn, clownish. Needs daily exercise and firm training.
Physical Standard
Key physical attributes emphasized in the ABKC standard.
- Most unique feature: distinctive egg-like head shape, almost flat at top ear to ear
- Neck very muscular, long, arched, tapering from shoulders to head
- Body well rounded with prominent spring of rib, back short and strong
- Forelegs strongest type of round quality bone, perfectly straight
Breed Standard Sections
Head
Most unique feature. Distinctive egg-like appearance, long, strong oval shape, almost flat at top ear to ear, sloping down to nose. No stop. Triangular (almond shaped) eye, small, well sunken. Greater distance nose to eyes than eyes to top skull. Ears high, small, thin, erect. Teeth: level or scissor bite.
Neck
Very muscular, long, arched, tapering from shoulders to head, no loose skin.
Chest
Deep and broad when viewed from front. Great distance from withers to brisket, nearer ground than belly.
Body
Well rounded with prominent spring of rib. Back short and strong, backline level, arching or roaching slightly over broad well muscled loins. Shoulders strong and muscular but without bulk.
Legs
Forelegs strongest type of round quality bone, perfectly straight. Elbows straight and strong. Hind legs parallel when viewed from behind. Thighs muscular, stifle joint well bent, hock well angulated.
Tail
Short, set low, carried horizontally, thick at base, tapers to fine point.
Feet
Round and compact, well arched toes.
Size
No weight nor height limits, but should exhibit maximum substance for size.
Coat
Short, flat and shiny with a hard texture, no loose skin.
Color
White and Colored. All colors and patterns acceptable with the exception of Merle.
Gait
Covers ground with smooth easy strides. When trotting, movement parallel front and back, only converging towards center line at faster speeds, forelegs reaching out well, hind legs moving smoothly.
Temperament
Behavioral expectations for stable, confident show dogs.
- Courageous, intelligent, and outgoing
- Inquisitive and notoriously stubborn
- Clownish personality; needs daily exercise and firm training
Show Classes
Common class groupings seen at ABKC events (exact classes vary by show).
- Puppy
- Junior
- Adult
- Champion
- Grand Champion
Faults
- Undershot or overshot mouth
Disqualifications
- Exhibiting human aggression
- Failure to stand for examination
- Males must have two normal testicles fully descended into scrotum
