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Colby's Primo - Myth or Fact?
I've heard the Primo story for years -- about how he was the model for the American Staffordshire Terrier standard. The story had always been on the edges of what I knew about the breed and I hadn't thought too much about it, until the advent of the Internet -- and then the story became quite pervasive and I was hearing it everywhere and it was used with authority.
So, curiosity got the best of me and I started doing a little digging. While I was in Texas (1995 to 2007), I had the advantage of picking the brains of people that have been in the breed longer than many of you have been alive and who had conversations with Mr. Wilford T. Brandon, founder of the Staffordshire Terrier Club of America and author of the Standard.
In an article which appears in the 2002 Hoflin Annual, Wayne Brown (author of the book, "History of the Pit Bull Terrier" writes (this information is NOT new, but Wayne has recently written a lot of it down in a concise way in the STCA Quarterly and the Annuals):
"Bill Brandon was a fellow Texan and he told me that he wrote the Staffordshire Terrier standard using the UKC APBT Standard and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Standard from England. Others have said that he also used the standard of the American Bull Terrier Club of Clay Center, Kansas and even others have said that he also used a famous dual registered UKC/ADBA American Pit Bull Terrier named Colby's Primo as a model for the Standard. The AKC approved the Standard on June 9, 1936".
In my conversations with Wayne, he tells me that he does remember Brandon telling him about using the SBT and UKC Standards, but does not remember him saying anything about Primo. Richard Gray (Rounders Kennel) says the same thing, adding "....and he (Brandon) talked a LOT!"
Remember, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier had achieved recognition by the English Kennel Club in 1935. Jackie Fraser writes in "The American Staffordshire Terrier":
"Brandon studied the Standards of other breeds while trading ideas with Jack Barnard and Joseph Dunn of England who were working to gain recognition for the SBT in their country. Utilizing this information along with a mental picture of the best Pit Bulls he had ever seen, he wrote the Standard for the breed which is still serving today."
So the author of the ST Standard, Brandon, kept in touch with his counterparts in England, and the English dog was granted recognition in 1935.
Fraser continues:
"On May 23, 1936, the first official meeting of the Staffordshire Terrier Club of America took place. The Standard was adopted and a resolution was passed to grant full recognition to the breed under the name Staffordshire Terrier. On June 9, 1936, the fledgling club was advised that the AKC had granted the request.
So, we see that the Standard as written was adopted by STCA (Staffordshire Terrier Club of America) in May of 1936.
I mention these dates because they become kind of important when you learn when Colby's Primo was whelped. According to a letter from STCA to Louis Colby in 1943, (in which AKC registration certificates were sent to Colby for some of his dogs), Primo was whelped on May 29, 1935, sired by Colby's Brandy out of Colby's Mabel. This would have made Primo almost exactly one year old on the day the Standard was adopted by the STCA on May 23, 1936.
Here is the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Standard which was in effect in 1936, so this is the one under which that breed achieved recognition in 1935 in England:
GENERAL APPEARANCE: The SBT is a smooth-coated dog, standing about 15"-18" high at the shoulder. He should give the impression of great strength for his size, and although muscular should be active and agile.
HEAD: Short, deep through, broad skull, very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop, short foreface, mouth level.
EARS: Rose, half prick and prick; these three to be preferred, full drop to be penalized.
EYES: Dark
NECK: Should be muscular and rather short.
BODY: Short back, deep brisket, light in loins with forelegs set rather wide apart to permit of chest development.
FRONT LEGS: Straight, feet well padded, to turn out a little and showing no weakness at pasterns.
HIND LEGS: Hindquarters well muscled, let down at hocks like a terrier.
COAT: Short, smooth and close to skin.
TAIL: The tail should be of medium length tapering to a point and carried rather low; it should not curl much and may be compared with an old-fashioned pump handle.
WEIGHT: Dogs 28 - 38 lbs. Bitches 4 lbs. less.
COLOR: May be any shade of brindle, black, white, fawn or red, or any of these colors with white. Black and tan and liver not to be encouraged.
FAULTS TO BE PENALIZED: Dudley nose, light or pink eyes (rims), tail too long or badly curled, badly undershot or overshot mouths.
Any of that look familiar?
Now, the UKC American Pit Bull Terrier Standard in effect in 1936...
HEAD: Medium length, bricklike in shape, skull flat and widest at the ears, with prominent cheeks, free from wrinkles.
MUZZLE: Square, wide and deep, well pronounced jaws, displaying strength. Upper teeth to meet tightly over lower teeth, outside in front.
EARS: Cropped or uncropped (not important), should set high on head, and free from wrinkles.
EYES: Dark and round; should set far apart low down on skull.
NOSE: Black preferred with wide open nostrils.
NECK: Muscular, slightly arched, tapering from shoulder to head, free from looseness of skin.
SHOULDERS: Strong and muscular with wide sloping shoulder blades.
BACK: Short and strong, slightly slopng from withers to rump.
Slightly arched at loins which should be slightly tucked.
CHEST: Deep but not too broad, with wide sprung ribs.
RIBS: Close, well-sprung, with deep back ribs.
TAIL: Short in comparison to size, set low and tapering to a fine point, not carried over the back.
LEGS: Large round boned, with straight upright pasterns reasonably strong. Feet to be of medium size. Gait should be light and springy. No rolling or pacing.
THIGHS: Long with muscles developed. Hocks down and straight.
COAT: Glossy, short and stiff to the touch.
COLOR: Any color or marking permissible.
WEIGHT: Not important. Females preferred from thirty to fifty pounds. Males from thirty-five to sixty pounds.
Okay, here is the Standard for the Staffordshire Terrier which went into effect in 1936 and has never been changed.
GENERAL IMPRESSION: The American Staffordshire Terrier should give the impression of great strength for his size, a well put-together dog, muscular, but agile and graceful, keenly alive to his surroundings. He should be stocky, not long-legged or racy in outline. His courage is proverbial.
HEAD: Medium length, deep through, broad skull, very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop; and ears are set high. Ears - Cropped or uncropped, the latter preferred. Uncropped ears should be short and held half prick or rose. Full drop to be penalized. Eyes - Dark and round, low down in skull and set far apart. No pink eyelids. Muzzle - Medium length, rounded on upper side to fall away abruptly below eyes. Jaws well defined. Underjaw to be strong and have biting power. Lips close and even, no looseness. Upper teeth to meet tightly outside lower teeth in front. Nose definitely black.
NECK: Heavy, slightly arched, tapering from shoulders to back of skull. No looseness of skin. Medium length.
SHOULDERS: Strong and muscular with blades wide and sloping.
BACK: Fairly short. Slight sloping from withers to rump with gentle short slope at rump to base of tail. Loins slightly tucked.
BODY: Well-sprung ribs, deep in rear. All ribs close together. Forelegs set rather wide apart to permit of chest development. Chest deep and broad.
TAIL: Short in comparison to size, low set, tapering to a fine point; not curled or held over back. Not docked.
LEGS: The front legs should be straight, large or round bones, pastern upright. No semblance of bend in front. Hindquarters well muscled, let down at hocks turning neither in nor out. Feet of moderate size, well-arched and compact. Gait must be springy but without roll or pace.
COAT: Short, close, stiff to the touch and glossy.
COLOR: Any color, solid, parti, or patched is permissible, but all white, more than 80 percent white, black and tan and liver not to be encouraged.
SIZE: Height and weight should be in proportion. A height of about 18 to 19 inches at the shoulders for the male and 17 to 18 inches for the female is to be considered preferable.
FAULTS: Faults to be penalized are Dudley nose, light or pink eyes, tail too long or badly carried, undershot or overshot mouths.
Adopted and approved June 10, 1936.
It seems fairly obvious what sources Brandon drew on for his Standard. Primo's birthdate just seems too late for him to have been used the way the "legend" states -- as the "model" for the Staffordshire Terrier Standard. Richard Gray and Wayne Brown do not remember Brandon ever mentioning Primo and Brandon "talked a LOT!" Neither Jackie Fraser or Richard Pascoe mention Primo in their books on the breed.
So how did the Primo legend get started? Wayne Brown conjectures that AFTER the fact, Colby declared he had on his yard a dog that matched the AKC Standard - and he very well could have in Primo, who appears to be a very nice dog from the pictures.
But was he THE MODEL for the Staffordshire Terrier Standard? I'm not trying to change anyone's mind, just presenting additional evidence to what has been out there....
Originally posted by Carlo Restivo, STCA Archivist and Judges Education committee member. Known as Sagebrush Kennel.

Colby's Primo and the dog the standard was actually based on, Wheeler's Black Dinah"Say hello to Dinah! Today's Breed of the Day is the American Staffordshire Terrier, and Dinah (full name Wheeler's Black Dinah) was the very first AmStaff registered with the AKC. Whelped in May of 1931, Dinah was registered when the breed was officially recognized in 1936. Her photo and measurements were sent to the AKC as an example of a "very good type" to help establish the breed standard. Some other members of the first class of AmStaffs include Tabasco Jerry and Pottery Prudence!"
- AKC Library & Archives

Comparison between UKC (1936), AKC (1936), ADBA (1909 PBTBA)standards.These standards describe the same dog.UKC HEAD - Medium length, brick like in shape, skull flat and widest at the ears, with prominent cheeks, free from wrinkles.AKC HEAD - Medium length, deep through, broad skull, very pronounced cheek muscles, distinct stop; and ears are set high.ADBA HEAD - Of medium length, skull flat and widest at the ears, prominent cheeks and forehead free from wrinkles. STOP - Well defined, indenture not too deep.-----UKC MUZZLE - Square, wide and deep, well pronounced jaws, displaying strength. Upper teeth to meet tightly over lower teeth, outside in front.AKC MUZZLE - Medium length, rounded on upper side to fall away abruptly below eyes. Jaws well defined. Underjaw to be strong and have biting power. Lips close and even, no looseness. Upper teeth to meet tightly outside lower teeth in front.ADBA MUZZLE - Square and wide as viewed from the front, presenting a round appearance as viewed from above. Underjaw strong and well defined. LIPS - Meet closely and evenly all around, not running too far back with an entire absence of any lippiness. TEETH - Clean, sound and strong, meeting evenly.-----UKC EARS - Cropped or uncropped (not important), should set high on head, and free from wrinkles.AKC EARS - Cropped or uncropped, the latter preferred. Uncropped ears should be short and held rose or half prick. Full drop to be penalized.ADBA EARS - To be cropped, straight, of moderate length, and should not cause wrinkling of the skin when held correct.-----UKC EYES - Dark and round; should set far apart low down on skull.AKC EYES - Dark and round, low down in skull and set far apart. No pink eyelids.ADBA EYES - Round, black color preferred. As seen from the font they should be situated low down in skill, as far from the ears as possible, with corners in a line at right angles with the stop. As wide apart as possible to be within line of cheek as viewed from the font.-----UKC NOSE - Black preferred with wide open nostrils.AKC NOSE - Nose definitely black.ADBA NOSE - Black, nostrils wide and open.-----UKC NECK - Muscular, slightly arched, tapering from shoulder to head, free from looseness of skin.AKC NECK - Heavy, slightly arched, tapering from shoulders to back of skull. No looseness of skin. Medium length.ADBA NECK - Slightly arched, tapering from shoulders to head and free from any looseness of skin.-----UKC SHOULDERS - Strong and muscular with wide sloping shoulder blades.AKC SHOULDERS - Strong and muscular with blades wide and sloping.ADBA SHOULDERS - Strong, muscular; shoulder blades wide and sloping back.-----UKC BACK - Short and strong, slightly sloping from withers to rump. Slightly arched at loins which should be slightly tucked.AKC BACK - Fairly short. Slight sloping from withers to rump with gentle short slope at rump to base of tail. Loins slightly tucked.ADBA BACK - Short, strong and muscular, higher at withers than hips, slightly arched at loins, which should be well developed and slightly tucked.-----UKC CHEST - Deep but not too broad, with wide sprung ribs. RIBS - Close, well-sprung, with deep back ribs.AKC BODY - Well-sprung ribs, deep in rear. All ribs close together. Forelegs set rather wide apart to permit chest development. Chest deep and broad.ADBA RIBS - Well sprung, close together, back ribs deep. CHEST - Deep from withers to brisket, wide from front to back rips, not too broad as viewed facing the dog.-----UKC TAIL - Short in comparison to size, set low and tapering to a fine point, not carried over the back.AKC TAIL - Short in comparison to size, low set, tapering to a fine point; not curled or held over back. Not docked.ADBA TAIL - Short in comparison to size, set on low, wide where it joins the body and tapering to a fine point, not carried over the back.-----UKC LEGS - Large round boned, with straight upright pasterns reasonably strong. Feet to be of medium size. Gait should be light and springy. No rolling or pacing. THIGHS - Long with muscles developed. Hocks down and straight.AKC LEGS - The front legs should be straight, large or round bones, pastern upright. No resemblance of bend in front. Hindquarters well-muscled, let down at hocks, turning neither in nor out. Feet of moderate size, well-arched and compact. Gait must be springy but without roll or pace.ADBA LEGS - To have large, round bone, and strong, straight, upright pasterns. Reasonably straight without semblance of bow. THIGHS - Long, muscle well developed. Hocks straight, well let down, turning neither in nor out as viewed from behind. FEET- Of moderate size, toes of medium length, well arched and close together. Pads strong and nails short.-----UKC COAT - Glossy, short and stiff to the touch.AKC COAT - Short, close, stiff to the touch, and glossy.ADBA COAT - Short, close, stiff to the touch and with fine gloss.-----UKC COLOR - Any color or marking permissible.AKC COLOR - Any color, solid, parti, or patched is permissible, but all white, more than 80 per cent white, black and tan, and liver not to be encouraged.ADBA COLOR - Uniform, any color permissible, markings notobjectionable.-----UKC WEIGHT - Not important. Females preferred from thirty to fifty pounds. Males from thirty-five to sixty pounds.AKC SIZE - Height and weight should be in proportion. A height of about 18 to 19 inches at shoulders for the male and 17 to 18 inches for the female is to be considered preferable.ADBA WEIGHT - Not important, preferably between 24 and 54 lbs.-----AKC FAULTS - Faults to be penalized are: Dudley nose, light or pink eyes, tail too long or badly carried, undershot or overshot mouths.Made by Al Bincarousky. Known as Esoteric Kennel.

Bitesport titled AmStaffs

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Naturally occurring colors in AST

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