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A PB A
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American pure bred Alliance
__________
Registry
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APBA Conformation Standard
Introduction
The responsibility of judging is to choose the dogs that conform most to the conformation standard leaving
personal bias aside. This breed combines strength and athleticism with grace and agility and should never appear
bulky or muscle-bound or fine-boned and rangy.
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.. They should have a glossy coat and well groomed
nails.
6. The adult APBT should be a healthy weight, (without hipbones showing) and with muscles firm and defined. 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. The APBT is both strong and athletic, it is more
important for this breed to be correctly proportioned in regards to height and weight. A healthy male could weight
between 35 and 60 while a conditioned female could be between 30 and 50 pounds. While some dogs may be
larger or smaller they should not be penalized unless they are disproportionately big or appear too rangy and
small.
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.
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 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. Movement should 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. 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, gay tail or any tail other than straight, unless a
medical problem.
Disqualifications: Man aggression, one sided or both sided cryptorchid, spayed or neutered dogs.
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. This breed combines strength and athleticism with grace and agility and should never appear
bulky or muscle-bound or fine-boned and rangy.
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.. They should have a glossy coat and well groomed
nails.
6. The adult APBT should be a healthy weight, (without hipbones showing) and with muscles firm and defined. 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. The APBT is both strong and athletic, it is more
important for this breed to be correctly proportioned in regards to height and weight. A healthy male could weight
between 35 and 60 while a conditioned female could be between 30 and 50 pounds. While some dogs may be
larger or smaller they should not be penalized unless they are disproportionately big or appear too rangy and
small.
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.
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 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. Movement should 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. 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, gay tail or any tail other than straight, unless a
medical problem.
Disqualifications: Man aggression, one sided or both sided cryptorchid, spayed or neutered dogs.
The American Pit Bull Terrier in it’s all, is truly a thing of beauty!