Sunday, May 25, 2008

Steering Clear Of Fake Boston Terrier Breeders

The time has come to bring a Boston Terrier into your family and you have decided that you want to deal with a Boston Terrier breeder so that you know what you are getting. However, like any other industry, there are fake Boston Terrier breeders out there that are trying to take advantage of unknowing owners. You want to make sure you avoid a fake Boston Terrier breeder or else you may get an unhealthy pet that could rack up huge vet bills on you and cause you and your family to make difficult decisions.

A sure way to spot a out the fake Boston Terrier breeder from the legitimate ones is to ask about free pet insurance, for use after you bring your Boston Terrier home. Legitimate breeders are offered free pet insurance to give to buyers that extends for six weeks after the sale in the hopes that you will extend the insurance after the six weeks is up. If you breeder is not willing to give you signed proof of insurance, or if you check out the insurance and it is not valid, you probably have a fake breeder.
Your relationship, and contact, with your Boston Terrier breeder is an ongoing thing that does not stop just because you took the dog home. A legitimate breeder will be available for any new Boston Terrier owner to answer questions and offer any advice you may need. If you are having a hard time getting your breeder on the phone, or they won’t answer any questions for you, then the chances are you have a fake breeder.

For first time Boston Terrier owners the breeders are an invaluable resource in finding out the correct care and feeding instructions for your new pet. The legitimate breeders build their business based on their good reputation and it is important for them to be as helpful as possible. The good breeders will send home samples of food that should be fed to your new Boston Terrier so that you know what you are supposed to be feeding your dog. If your breeder is not offering any care or feeding instructions then you probably have a fake breeder.
A reputation for being professional, helpful, knowledgeable and accessible is everything to the business of a Boston Terrier breeder, along with providing quality pets. You should always be able to stay in touch with a legitimate breeder and if you find that you cannot keep your pet later in its life then a good breeder will take the dog back, but without giving you a refund for your purchase price. At least you will know that the Boston Terrier will be taken care of. A fake breeder will not offer this service.

A recognized breeder registry like the American Kennel Club is a standard by which all legitimate breeders adhere to and you should always buy your Boston Terriers only from those breeders in good standing with a breeder registry. If you find yourself in a position where a fake breeder has scammed you contact your attorney to find out if you have any course of action.

You can find legitimate Boston Terrier breeders by using the information in this article. There is a lot of helpful Boston Terrier information in this article.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Boston Terrier Information And History

Any Boston Terrier breeder worth his salt will tell you that this all-American breed isn't really a Terrier at all. Terriers were dogs originally bred to chase small game or to harry and kill prey. The Boston Terrier is descended from two extinct breeds, one of them a Terrier and the other a Bulldog. It was inbred with various English and French Bulldogs down to the size and temperament seen in the breed today. The Boston Terrier is more similar in appearance and bloodline to its Bulldog ancestry and is often referred to as the Boston Bull. The Boston Terrier gained membership in the American Kennel Club in 1893 and is the first American-made breed to win that honor.

Though the Bulldog ancestors of the Boston Terrier were bred for aggression, this trait has largely been bred out of the Boston Terrier. The breed is a non-sporting, companion dog with an overall affectionate, intelligent and energetic temperament.
A Boston Terrier breeder will also breed for personality. Due to their close ancestry with Bulldogs, some Boston Terriers can have behavioral issues such as aggression and dominance. Breeders will not breed dogs known for these negative behavior traits. The breed standard temperament of the Boston Terrier is affectionate, intelligent, sociable, playful and alert but never aggressive. Though breeders have been attempting to breed out aggression since the late 1800's, Boston Terrier puppies still need to be trained in proper behavior from birth. This breed is very sensitive to tone of voice so positive reinforcement in the form of praise in a gentle vocal tone encourages good behavior. This is especially important when housebreaking since Boston Terriers can be stubborn and willful in this area.

Boston Terrier Breeders attempt to breed healthy dogs but, like all pure dog breeds, Boston Terriers suffer common genetic problems such as cataracts, deafness, allergies, curvature of the spine and difficulties in birthing. Boston Terriers may also have significant respiratory and digestive problems throughout their lives. A good breeder will have dogs screened for genetic disorders.
Questions to ask a Boston Terrier breeder include the following:
-Do you maintain your own kennel? Good breeders maintain their own kennels and socialize puppies with house privileges.
-May I visit the kennel? Good breeders will encourage buyers to meet parents- if on site- and puppies to build a relationship.
-Have puppies and parents been screened for common genetic defects? Good breeders will not breed any dog with known genetic or behavioral disorders.
-Do you provide medical and immunization records? This should always be a yes.
-Do you provide a warranty or guarantee of health? It may be time-limited.
-Do you run a breed-specific rescue center? Good breeders will encourage buyers to visit rescued Boston Terriers who have been abandoned and need homes. If breeders do not run rescues, they should be affiliated with rescue centers.
-Do you sell or broker Boston Terriers to pet stores? Good breeders never sell to pet stores!
-Can you tell me about Boston Terriers? Breeders are experts on the breed.
Nothing can guarantee that you will get a perfect puppy with no problems, but asking just a few questions can ensure a good start.

There are many important questions to ask Boston Terrier breeders. This article provides Boston Terrier information and questions to ask the Boston Terrier breeder.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Where to Find Boston Terrier Breeders

Boston Terrier breeders had to rename this breed due to an uproar in the late 1800's over the breed being referred to as the Bull Terrier. There was already a Bull Terrier Club and the Boston Terrier, which is descended from the now-extinct Old English Bulldog and the English White Terrier, was quite dissimilar in appearance and temperament. Still commonly called the Boston Bull, Boston Terriers are more closely related to their Bulldog ancestors than Terriers.

A Boston breeder, Robert C. Hopper, bred the first Boston Terriers with French Bulldogs to give the breed a smaller size and more affectionate demeanor. Traditional Bulldogs were bred to bait bulls and engage in dogfights. Mr. Hopper tried to breed out any aggressive tendencies to make the Boston Terrier a companion dog that could be kept in an apartment or home with a small yard. In 1893, the Boston Terrier became the first American breed to be registered by the American Kennel Club.
The Boston Terrier is also referred to as the American Gentleman due to the tuxedo-like markings on its coat. Boston Terriers may be black with white, brindle with white, brown with white or a red-black color called seal with white. Their coats are uniformly white on the muzzle, between the eyes, on a band around the neck, on the chest and halfway up the forelegs. This color pattern make the Boston Terrier appear to be wearing a white collar, shirt, and cuffs with a black suit jacket and coat tails. Besides being sturdy and dapper in appearance, the Boston Terrier is very intelligent and amusing. Boston Terrier breeders provide a solid foundation of discipline and training for dog buyers to build upon. Some owners say that their Boston Terriers can do thirty or more tricks, some as intricate as riding a skateboard!

Boston Terriers suffer from common genetic problems such as cataracts, a condition called cherry eye, deafness, allergies, curvature of the spine, respiratory issues and digestive problems. Because of the breed's short muzzle, dogs may reverse sneeze and snore loudly. Like their bulldog ancestors, Boston Terriers can also be very gassy, a surprising quality in an American Gentleman.
Good Boston Terrier breeders can be found in Boston (of course!), as well as many other cities and countries. Good places to start when researching where to buy a Boston Terrier include the Boston Terrier Club of America, the American Kennel Club, and local Boston Terrier rescue centers. There are many websites that promise next-day pets and overnight shipping of puppies, but these should be avoided. A purebred Boston Terrier should not be shipped. If possible, it should be bred and bought locally. Pet store puppies should also be avoided because these puppies have also been shipped and buyers receive no guarantee on their health or pedigree.

Boston Terrier buyers have a responsibility to thoroughly research Boston Terrier breeders. There are many illicit breeders working to make money with little regard to animal health, quality or care. Buyers should ask for references from respected breeders in their town or state. Local shelters may also be able to direct buyers to good Boston Terrier breeders.

Good Boston Terrier breeders interview buyers to make sure they can provide loving homes for Boston Terrier puppies. Boston Terrier information about breeders is provided in this article.

Boston Terrier Rescue