An Article by Mrs Jane Rebello

Jane was the founder of "Touch O' Class" kennels in the USA. She helped many people understand the AMstaff whether it be by interpreting the standard, understanding the Amstaff temperment, sharing puppy experiences, or knowledge about nutrition or grooming. She gave judges seminars all over the United States and really helped both new and old judges gain a better perspective of the Amstaff.

The follwing article is one of my all time favourite descriptions of the Amstaff and what we as breeders should be aiming for.

The Amstaff standard has been critized for being vague. A show standard should be a standard of perfection, a description of the ideal. It should not be a loose approximation of what most members of the breed look like, this would give us nothing to aim for except mediocrity. The standard is the breeders blue print, by which we try to produce the best dog we can. It is the judges way to evaluate our efforts. How can either one of us create or evaluate if we do not have a clear and specific discription of breed type?

Soundness: Soundness is included with Breed type. This is because much of the Amstaff standard is based on our requirement for soundness. A sound dog may not always be "typey", but to be truley "typey" an Amstaff needs to be sound. If type is based on pupose and function (how well suited is a dog to accomplish his originall task)then type is based on the proper appearance for performance, souindness is the enabler of that performance.

In order for our pit anncestors to perform properly, they needed to be able to use their fronts for battering, biting and defence. Their rears for springing, propelling and absorbing punishment. Bones needed to be heavy and strong to resist damage and the body compact, powerful and balanced to provide suberb wrestling ability. The chest needed great depth and the ribs great spring to accomodate great lung capacity for stamina. The dog did 90% of his work off his rear, and this rear needed to be strongly constructed with powerful musculature and excellant angulation to provide spring and thrust. Great wrestling ability was most important to the original dogs, and this should be clearly evident in the soundness, musculature and type of our current show dogs.

These and other soundness features are required for correct breed type, but they are the formerfunctional neccesities of the foundatiuon of this breed. The Amstaff who is poor or lacking in these features can not be considered sound, nor would they be typer. In Amstaffs, soundness extends beyond the physical traits, the total dog must be sound. Very importantly, this includes soundness of temperment and mind. There is no place in this powerful breed for a nasty, freaky, overly aggressive dog. We like spirit, but it must be controllable. In a top quality Amstaff soundness and type are not separable.

Good movement will display some of the Amstaffs soundness at work. You can believe the old adage: "The dog who can not move right, is not built right." So what is "right" for an Amstaff? his movement will be powerful and springy, more catlike then that of the other terriers. In keeping with the rest of this dog, his movement is efficient, balanced, powerful, graceful and effortless looking. His powerful rear and muscle system propel his stocky substance in a suprizingly graceful, light and flowing manner. He does not plod or lumber. The power, balance and coordination of this dog enable him to be graceful, even though he is stocky and substantial. His movement compliments the rest of him, displaying to the full advantage his agility, strength and fine balance. It is indeed a sorry sight to see an Amstaff labor along or hopping showing no drive or power. That is no way for an athlete to move! We should not permit the shotened upper arm that prevents proper front reach or the elongated rear pasterns, with the dogs stumping along on locked hocks. Also incorrect are straight stifles, cowhocks, flimsy - looking rears or any rear that for any reason does not spring and drive.

Style: This is indeed hard to define. It is what he does with what he has got! The dog will present himself, show off his winning attitude, ripple those marvelous muscles under his shining coat. He will project courage and power. He will strike a stance so solid looking, you feel his legs are growing out of the ground, his strong rear poised like a coiled spring. He will arch his powerful neck and say with pride, grace and elegance. That is "The Amstaff Style".

Quality: The Amstaff is indeed a dog who looks like a dog. He should be so efficiently built, so balanced, so proportionate that, to some, he may appear plain. No one feature over powers the others. His quality is a distinction of his virtues and all around excellence. Quality is not merely the absence of faults, it is the presence of merit. We stress balance, but there are some who are balanced because they are mediocre all over. These dogs lack quality. In overall quality, we should see the coming together of virtues, excellance of type, winning attitude, mental stability, free and powerful movement and stylishness. We see the synergy of superior physical and mental attributes. A top show Amstaff must have quality.

Beauty: We see beauty when everything about the dog combines in such a way that he delights the eys and satisfies the spirit. He will evoke a response that you will feel - more than you will think about. The beauty of the Amstaff is much like that of a fine horse, the awe inspiring presence of power, muscle, bone and brawn. You will respond to his flawless balance and grace, vibrant vigor, symetry of line and harmony of proportion. Beauty is the total impact the dog will have on you. He may have style but lack quality and type. He may have quality, but still the parts dont seem to fit right. But, when this is working, when it all comes together just right, when he is all these things -then he is a little living work of art! When he gives you goose bumps - then he is beautiful! your winners should always be beautiful!