GLOSSARY OF TERMS.
Links are used where possible to provide additional information

Age Group
Dog Shows are divided firstly into groups and then each group is divided into age group. A puppy under three months of age cannot compete. The age groups used in most shows are set out below. As you can see they are numbered and in some classes you will have a choice, for example an intermediate bitch may be entered in classes 5A, 10A or 11A. This would come in handy if you are showing two bitches the same age

Amstaff
See American Staffordshire Terrier, The subject here.

American Staffordshire Terrier
The American Staffordshire Terrier is now being confused with the American Pit Bull Terrier through the names "American and Terrier". A purebred American Staffordshire Terrier is NEVER an American Pit Bull Terrier. The difference in temperament is immeasurable. American Staffordshire Terriers have never attacked anyone in Australia.

Best in Show
All dog breeds compete in groups. The winner of each group then compete against each other for the Best in Show award. The winner of a group which wins Best in Show then entitles its runner up to compete for Runner up Best in Show.

Bull Terrier
The Bull Terrier and the Miniature Bull Terrier were once feared many years ago because the name was confused with American Pit Bull Terrier through the "Bull and Terrier" part of the name.

Bully
Used to describe the Amstaffs with the most substance. They usually have more bone and a larger head. Bully is bigger but not necessarily better as the animal has to be judged as a whole.

Chromosomes
Chromosomes are string like structures on which the genes are formed. There may be one pair of genes on a chromosome or many. There may also be what is termed multiple alleles

Complete Outcross
An animal completely unrelated to your own stock.

Cross Fault
This is where two dogs have the same of similar faults. The purpose in any breeding should be to match the faults so that each dog compliments the other thus bringing you one step closer to perfection.

Dog Genome Map
Recently scientists have mapped the mouse genome. This enables them to isolate genes and decipher which genes do what. Their next project is the dog. It is unlikely that the information from these projects will become available for use in show breeding.

 

Dominant Genes
A Dominant gene is one where one copy of a gene needs to be within an organism for it to be expressed. In dogs, an example of this is Dominant black. It is called Dominant and not Semi-Dominant because even if the animal has two Dominant black genes it will still be black.

General Specials
This is where the really major awards are achieved. The winner and runner up in each group must wait for General Specials and the winners all compete for Best in Show. if the winner of a group takes Best in Show then the runner up must enter the ring to compete for runner up Best in Show. After Best in Show, each age Group winner must compete against all the other age group winners for Best in Show in that group.

Genetic Diversity
Created by outcrossing. Linebreeding creates more and more similar animals as the gene pool within a stud shrinks. The occasional outcross increases the gene pool and allows for improvement. This is called genetic diversity.

Genes
Genes are units of heredity. They dictate size, colour, coat length, eye colour etc etc. Genes are found on chromosomes. They are complete units of heredity. They will be passed, whole, to any offspring. Some genes are Semi Dominant, some Dominant, some recessive, some sex-linked and some polygenetic

Genotype
This is the genetic makeup of an organism. It is a complete list of all the genes carried even though many recessive genes may not be expressed in the phenotype

Group
Each dog show ids divided into groups. As the name suggests, the American Staffordshire Terrier is in the Terrier group. Not all Terriers are in this group. The Sydney Silky Terrier for example is considered a Toy Breed and is exhibited in that group. The winner of and runner up of each group must then compete in General Specials for Best in Show. The winners of each age group must also compete against the other age group winners.

Heterozygous
This is the form of a gene also known as single factor. Recessive genes are also referred to as splits. All genes are in pairs and when the genes on a chromosome are different, the organism is said to be heterozygous for that gene or "different". The other gene is usually what is termed wild type or normal in many organisms.

Homozygous
This is the form of a gene also known as double factor. Recessive genes must be in this form to be fully expressed unless they are multiple alleles. All genes are in pairs when the genes on a chromosome are the same, the organism is said to be homozygous for that gene or "the same".

Limited Register
The Limited Register is where dogs are placed that are not to be bred with. Limited Register papers are ORANGE. Pups from parents on the Limited Register cannot be placed on the Main Register. There are many reasons breeders place dogs on the Limited Register. Perhaps the dog was sold as a pet only - not to be bred with, or has genetic defects which while not affecting its health, are not ideal to pass on to its offspring. Perhaps it is of poor quality or has too many undesirable show or genetic faults. It could have a temperament problem. Any dog placed on the Limited Register by its breeder must be treated with extreme caution if it has been used for breeding as breeding was NEVER intended.

Locus
Locus is the precise point on a chromosome where genes are found.

Main Register
The Main Register is where dogs are placed that are considered to be of show quality or useful as breeding stock at a later date. Any puppy purchased should have both parents registered on the Main Register. The Main Register papers are BLUE. If the breeder owns only one dog then they should have photos of the stud dog and a signed Service Certificate stating the dog's name and registration details. You should only buy a puppy which has both parents registered on the Main Register.

Linebreeding
The practice of breeding related animals in order to purify the gene pool.

Moderate
Used to describe the intermediate type of Amstaff. Usually with significant substance but perhaps a little less in bone and head will be more refined compared to the bully type. Many great dogs over the years were moderate type and the expanded standard calls for a dog on the bully side of moderate.

Multiple Alleles
Multiple Alleles are where gene mutations occur at exactly the same locus or place on the same chromosome. Usually genes for different traits occur on different chromosomes and many can be expressed co-jointly. In the case of multiple alleles, we have expression of a different kind. As the alleles occupy the same space, only one can occupy that space at any given time. These alleles will have their own dominance hierarchy. For example, if we have the alleles a//a, b//b and c//c. Our organism can carry one of 6 combinations. Apart from those mentioned it could also be a//b, a//c or b//c. How these alleles interact with each other varies from allelic series to allelic series and from one kind of organism to another. For instance, in budgerigars, in a particular allelic series a//b has a phenotype with features from both a and b. a//c looks like a//a and b//c looks like b//b, whereas in another, a//a, b//b in the a//b situation a acts as a simple dominant over b.

Outcross
An animal often distantly related but often unrelated to your own.

Pit Bull
See American Pit Bull Terrier

Phenotype
This is what an organism actually looks like regardless of its genotype

Polygenetic
Many features are the result of many genes acting in unison. For example, if we look at dog breeds, they range from the smallest lapdogs to the giant breeds. How is this so? If we accept that wild type is the wolf or some similar animal then those smaller contain genes that make them smaller and vice versa. By doubling up on these genes we can make the dog larger or smaller till we get the required size. If we cross a larger breed with a smaller breed we will often get dogs or varying heights depending upon how many if these polygenes are inherited.

Recessive Genes
These genes require two copies to be expressed or need to be in the homozygous form. Heterozygous recessive genes are not usually expressed, however,there are occasions there there is a slight alteration to the phenotype indicating the presence of a heterozygous gene.

Red Nose
A type of American Pit Bull Terrier

Royal New South Wales Canine Council
Royal New South Wales Canine Council is the controlling body for Pure Bred Dogs in New South Wales. Other Canine Controlling bodies may be located here

Semi Dominant
A Semi-Dominant gene is one where one copy of a gene needs to be within an organism for it to be expressed. It differs from a Dominant gene because while the gene will express in the heterozygous form, the homozygous form will differ in phenotype.

Sex-Linked
Sex-linked genes are located on the sex determining chromosomes and will be passed from Father to daughter or mother to son.

Specialty
A show run twice yearly by the American Staffordshire Terrier Club of NSW for American Staffordshire Terriers only.

Staffy, Stafford, Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier - This is the commonly recognised English Staffordshire Terrier. These are recognised by their smaller size 14-16 inches at the shoulder for males.

Terrier Type
Terrier type has the least substance of the three Amstaff types. They have less bone and body size than the moderate type and have a typical terrier head with a longer type muzzle.

Total Outcross
Completely unrelated. No related ancestors in the last 3-4 generations.

Unregistered
This means that the dog is not registered with the Purebred Dog Controlling body for your area. It cannot be considered to be purebred.