APBA Standard
APBA Pit Bull Conformation Standard
Introduction
The responsibility of judging is to choose the dogs that conform most to the
conformation standard leaving personal bias aside.
Overall Appearance
1. The dog must look like an American Pit Bull Terrier from across the ring
2. He/she should look sturdy and powerful. Giving the impression of strength,
not slight or frail.
3. He/she should appear square with a heavy boned, solid front end and a
light springy back end.
4. He/she should look athletic, not bulky. Musculature should be smooth but
defined.
5. The adult APBT should be a lean, exercised dog showing a slight outline of
ribs and a hint of backbone (without hipbones showing) with muscles firm and
defined. They should have a clean, glossy, healthy coat with well groomed
nails. The APBT puppy should be a well nourished, happy, healthy puppy.
They should look trim, but there should not be any rib, hip, or backbone
showing. They should have a glossy coat and well groomed nails.
Balance
1. There should be equal angulations of front and rear assembly.
2. Height to weight ratio - the dog needs to look proportioned. Preferably as
tall as he/she is long.
3. The head size in proportion to the body, with a neck long enough to have
the head appear above the top of the back when head is in a normal upright
position.
Presentation
1. The dog is well socialized , showing positive interest in things around him.
2. Although some degree of dog aggressiveness is characteristic of the breed,
unruly behavior will make your dog harder to judge and depending on the
degree, may cause you to be passed up for placement.
Health
1.The dog needs to be happy, healthy, and alert. The coat should be glossy
and smooth, and the eyes should be sharp and clean.
2. Colors or color patterns known to be genetically linked to health problems
will be considered a serious fault. Albinos that are white with pink eyes and
lack pigmentation on their pads, rims of eyes, nose, etc. are considered to be
a disqualification.
Attitude
1. The dog should act confident and alert.
2. He/she should be interested in things around them, in control of their
space, and not threatened by anything in their surroundings.
3. He/she should be gentle with humans. Faults: shy, timid, or aggressive with
humans.
Body
Back end
1. The loin should be broad and long enough to square the dog.
2. The hip should be long and sloping. (Ideally 30 degrees to the ground.)
3. In the back leg the femur should be correct in length so that the stifle joint is
proportioned correctly with the rear assembly.
4.The tibia-fibula is the longer bone of the rear assembly that connects the
stifle joint to the hock. This needs to be correct in length and angulation, so
that the hock does not appear to stick out to far.
5.The length of the metatarsal is moderate, with muscles that attach equally
on each side of the bone so that the hocks move parallel to each other. The
hocks should not turn in or out. The metatarsals bones, hock and lower part of
the tibia will be light, fine and springy.
6.Rear angulation - ratio between the lengths of the bones and the muscles
which attach on these bones, causes a bent stifle which leads to a well bent
hock. This contributes to the natural springiness that is desired in the rear
assembly.
7.The muscle attachment is long and deep, well past the joint , which causes
the muscles to appear smooth, but defined.
Faults: short or flat hip, straight stifle, double jointed or slipped hock, cow
hocked.
Front end
1.The Ribcage is deep with a prominent breastbone or prosternum. From the
side, the bottom of the ribcage should be even with the elbow joint. The top of
the rib cage should be wider, tapering to the bottom, extending well back into
the loin.
2.The shoulders are wider than the ribcage at the 8th rib.
3.The scapula is well laid back with a 45 degree or less angle to the ground. It
is broad and flat allowing for adequate muscular attachment for a heavy and
sturdy front end.
4.The humerus is angled at an opposite 45 degree angle and is long enough
that the elbow comes to the bottom of the ribcage. The elbows should not turn
in or out.
5.Forearms are slightly longer than the humerus and solid, twice the thickness
of the metatarsal at the hock.
6.The feet need to be small and tight, set high on pasterns with the pads thick,
and well built up. Dew claws are natural on front feet, but should not occur on
back legs.
Faults: barrel chest, narrow chest, fine bones, out or in at elbows, down in
pasterns, splay feet, thin pads, back dew claws.
Head and Neck
1.The neck needs to be heavily muscled to the base of the skull and long in
length.
2. The head size needs to be balanced in relationship to the rest of the body,
2/3 the width of the shoulders. It should appear wedge shaped when viewed
from the top or side, round when viewed from the front.
3.The cheeks are 25% wider than the neck at the base of the skull.
4.The length from the nose to the stop should be the same length from the
stop to the back of the head. The bridge of the muzzle is well developed.
5.Under the eyes should be wider than the head at the base of the ears.
6. The muzzle should be straight and box like with tight lips.
7. The teeth should meet in a straight scissor bite. The canines need to be
wide at the base and taper to the end with the top canines fitting tightly behind
the bottom canines.
8. The eyes will be small and deep set. Elliptical when viewed from the front
and appear triangular when viewed from the side.
9. There are no faults on the ears, but a bat or radar ear is not preferred.
Faults: short neck, cheeky, underdeveloped muzzle, or overshot or undershot
to the extent that the canines do not fit properly together.
Tail and Coat
1. The skin should be thicker and loose around neck and chest, and tight
fitting elsewhere, showing vertical folds around the neck and chest even in a
well exercised animal. The loose skin and folds should not be excessive.
2. The coat needs to be short and bristled with a glossy shine showing over
the entire body.
3. Color or any combination of colors is acceptable, except for albinism where
the dog is white with pink eyes and lacks pigmentation around the eyes, nose,
or on the pads of their feet.
4. The tail is thick at the base, tapering to the point. The point of the tail
should meet the hocks. It needs to hang down like a pump handle when
relaxed.
Major faults: Albinism. (White dog, blue or pink eyes, lacks pigment)
Faults: Longer coat, fringed hair on tail or elsewhere, bobbed tail or any tail
other than straight, unless medical problem.
Disqualifications: Man aggression, one sided or both sided cryptorchid,
spayed or neutered dogs.
Above all the APBT should look like an athlete that is at the top of his/her
game. The dogs need speed, power, agility, and stamina and must be
balanced in all directions. If the dog has to much of one thing, this will rob
him/her of another.
The American Pit Bull Terrier in it’s all is truly a thing of beauty!
Introduction
The responsibility of judging is to choose the dogs that conform most to the
conformation standard leaving personal bias aside.
Overall Appearance
1. The dog must look like an American Pit Bull Terrier from across the ring
2. He/she should look sturdy and powerful. Giving the impression of strength,
not slight or frail.
3. He/she should appear square with a heavy boned, solid front end and a
light springy back end.
4. He/she should look athletic, not bulky. Musculature should be smooth but
defined.
5. The adult APBT should be a lean, exercised dog showing a slight outline of
ribs and a hint of backbone (without hipbones showing) with muscles firm and
defined. They should have a clean, glossy, healthy coat with well groomed
nails. The APBT puppy should be a well nourished, happy, healthy puppy.
They should look trim, but there should not be any rib, hip, or backbone
showing. They should have a glossy coat and well groomed nails.
Balance
1. There should be equal angulations of front and rear assembly.
2. Height to weight ratio - the dog needs to look proportioned. Preferably as
tall as he/she is long.
3. The head size in proportion to the body, with a neck long enough to have
the head appear above the top of the back when head is in a normal upright
position.
Presentation
1. The dog is well socialized , showing positive interest in things around him.
2. Although some degree of dog aggressiveness is characteristic of the breed,
unruly behavior will make your dog harder to judge and depending on the
degree, may cause you to be passed up for placement.
Health
1.The dog needs to be happy, healthy, and alert. The coat should be glossy
and smooth, and the eyes should be sharp and clean.
2. Colors or color patterns known to be genetically linked to health problems
will be considered a serious fault. Albinos that are white with pink eyes and
lack pigmentation on their pads, rims of eyes, nose, etc. are considered to be
a disqualification.
Attitude
1. The dog should act confident and alert.
2. He/she should be interested in things around them, in control of their
space, and not threatened by anything in their surroundings.
3. He/she should be gentle with humans. Faults: shy, timid, or aggressive with
humans.
Body
Back end
1. The loin should be broad and long enough to square the dog.
2. The hip should be long and sloping. (Ideally 30 degrees to the ground.)
3. In the back leg the femur should be correct in length so that the stifle joint is
proportioned correctly with the rear assembly.
4.The tibia-fibula is the longer bone of the rear assembly that connects the
stifle joint to the hock. This needs to be correct in length and angulation, so
that the hock does not appear to stick out to far.
5.The length of the metatarsal is moderate, with muscles that attach equally
on each side of the bone so that the hocks move parallel to each other. The
hocks should not turn in or out. The metatarsals bones, hock and lower part of
the tibia will be light, fine and springy.
6.Rear angulation - ratio between the lengths of the bones and the muscles
which attach on these bones, causes a bent stifle which leads to a well bent
hock. This contributes to the natural springiness that is desired in the rear
assembly.
7.The muscle attachment is long and deep, well past the joint , which causes
the muscles to appear smooth, but defined.
Faults: short or flat hip, straight stifle, double jointed or slipped hock, cow
hocked.
Front end
1.The Ribcage is deep with a prominent breastbone or prosternum. From the
side, the bottom of the ribcage should be even with the elbow joint. The top of
the rib cage should be wider, tapering to the bottom, extending well back into
the loin.
2.The shoulders are wider than the ribcage at the 8th rib.
3.The scapula is well laid back with a 45 degree or less angle to the ground. It
is broad and flat allowing for adequate muscular attachment for a heavy and
sturdy front end.
4.The humerus is angled at an opposite 45 degree angle and is long enough
that the elbow comes to the bottom of the ribcage. The elbows should not turn
in or out.
5.Forearms are slightly longer than the humerus and solid, twice the thickness
of the metatarsal at the hock.
6.The feet need to be small and tight, set high on pasterns with the pads thick,
and well built up. Dew claws are natural on front feet, but should not occur on
back legs.
Faults: barrel chest, narrow chest, fine bones, out or in at elbows, down in
pasterns, splay feet, thin pads, back dew claws.
Head and Neck
1.The neck needs to be heavily muscled to the base of the skull and long in
length.
2. The head size needs to be balanced in relationship to the rest of the body,
2/3 the width of the shoulders. It should appear wedge shaped when viewed
from the top or side, round when viewed from the front.
3.The cheeks are 25% wider than the neck at the base of the skull.
4.The length from the nose to the stop should be the same length from the
stop to the back of the head. The bridge of the muzzle is well developed.
5.Under the eyes should be wider than the head at the base of the ears.
6. The muzzle should be straight and box like with tight lips.
7. The teeth should meet in a straight scissor bite. The canines need to be
wide at the base and taper to the end with the top canines fitting tightly behind
the bottom canines.
8. The eyes will be small and deep set. Elliptical when viewed from the front
and appear triangular when viewed from the side.
9. There are no faults on the ears, but a bat or radar ear is not preferred.
Faults: short neck, cheeky, underdeveloped muzzle, or overshot or undershot
to the extent that the canines do not fit properly together.
Tail and Coat
1. The skin should be thicker and loose around neck and chest, and tight
fitting elsewhere, showing vertical folds around the neck and chest even in a
well exercised animal. The loose skin and folds should not be excessive.
2. The coat needs to be short and bristled with a glossy shine showing over
the entire body.
3. Color or any combination of colors is acceptable, except for albinism where
the dog is white with pink eyes and lacks pigmentation around the eyes, nose,
or on the pads of their feet.
4. The tail is thick at the base, tapering to the point. The point of the tail
should meet the hocks. It needs to hang down like a pump handle when
relaxed.
Major faults: Albinism. (White dog, blue or pink eyes, lacks pigment)
Faults: Longer coat, fringed hair on tail or elsewhere, bobbed tail or any tail
other than straight, unless medical problem.
Disqualifications: Man aggression, one sided or both sided cryptorchid,
spayed or neutered dogs.
Above all the APBT should look like an athlete that is at the top of his/her
game. The dogs need speed, power, agility, and stamina and must be
balanced in all directions. If the dog has to much of one thing, this will rob
him/her of another.
The American Pit Bull Terrier in it’s all is truly a thing of beauty!
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