The Breed Standard Of The Boston Terrier

Although the breed standard for the Boston Terrier is pretty strict on what they should look like, they are also strict on what the breed should act like. This attention to temperament has sadly been lacking in some other breed standards like the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Even pet quality Boston Terriers who would be laughed out of a show ring will not be offended, as they will be happy for the chance to make anyone smile.

The charming personality of the Boston Terrier is not only one reason why it is so popular, but also why they do so well outside of a show ring or a breeding kennel. The purpose of developing the breed was to make a good pet for people, unlike other breeds bred to hunt, fight or herd livestock. They are lively, kind, easy-going and good with kids and senior citizens as well as other animals.
The breed standard also reveals another reason why the Boston Terrier is so popular. They are small, but not so small as to jeopardize their health. They are robust, but portable. Although you may find some Boston Terriers outside the lines, they are usually fifteen to twenty-five pounds and only about fifteen inches high at their shoulders. They are most famous in black and white, but also come in seal and white and brindle and white. The breed standard is quite strict on the distribution of white around the body, which disqualifies a lot of Boston Terriers from the ring.

The breed standard also emphasizes sturdiness. They are not to have physical weaknesses like swaybacks, spayed legs, very slow gait or look overly muscular. Their bodies should look sturdy but everything should be in proportion. And the tails are naturally very short, although occasionally a purebred is born with a long tail. The ears are perky and most of the time they are pointed (occasionally a floppy eared one comes along).
Knowing as much Boston Terrier information as you can absorb will help you not only get along with your Boston Terriers, but decide if the breed is right for you in the first place. The breed standard emphasizes a short, smooth coat, so that tells you that Boston Terriers are easy to groom and don't need to be clipped. But that also tells you that these dogs need to be kept indoors, as they lack any protection from the elements.

The Boston Terrier breed standard not only tells you what to look for in a champion show dog, and how hard it is to find one, but also lists common physical faults of the breed. This can help you identity a dog in a shelter that you might want to adopt. Although the dog might not match the physical description exactly, you'll know they have the temperament, which is the most important aspect of the Boston Terrier breed standard.

Unfortunately, you can often find a Boston Terrier available for adoption at many local shelters. Asking your vet or going to the library are good ways to get more Boston Terrier information.

The Non Sporting Terrier

The result of a cross breeding between an Old English Bulldog and An English White Terrier, the Boston Terrier is truly an American original. It is a smaller version of the Bull and Terrier types of breeds that were very popular during the early days of our country. The Boston Terrier is one of the few breeds that originated in the United States that is recognized by the AKC.

Today a Boston Terrier makes for an excellent buddy. It has been bred down to become companionable, as it was originally bred as a fighting dog. The breed is very decorous, gentle, yet alert and quite intelligent as well. They socialize well with children, and the elderly, this type of dog adores attention, which makes them a perfect family dog. A Boston Terrier will only bark when necessary, so they make for an excellent pet if you live in an apartment or condo.
The other thing that’s great about Boston Terriers is that they only need long walks and interactive playtime, so you won’t need a lot of space for them to exercise. The downside is that since they are very friendly, they have the tendency to go off even with strangers. That is why it is a good idea to keep them in a safe and tenable environment.

The Boston Terrier, like other small snout dogs are called a Brachycephalic breed. That is why they have tiny nostrils, a narrow trachea and long palates. Because of these features Boston Terriers usually snore, and reverse sneeze. Their stomachs are sensitive and they are prone to intestinal gas.

If you don’t have a Boston Terrier yet, you better be sure that you really want one because they need a lot of time and affection. Boston Terriers hate being left alone. They should be fed twice a day for them to get good nutrition and the food must be dry to prevent tooth decay.
Because Boston Terriers have short hair, they are very easy to groom. They need combing with a soft bristled brush every day. The face should be wiped with a clean damped cloth daily and bathes are only given when necessary. Their eyes and ears should be checked daily for ear grass and ticks. Their nails should also be clipped regularly.

A Boston Terrier is a very loving and affectionate breed. They hate being alone. Boston Terriers love being part of the family. They are highly inquisitive, and love to please which makes them easy to train. Regrettably a Boston Terrier can be a little difficult to house break.

Boston Terriers have come a long way. It is now one of the top breeds that the American Kennel Club recognizes. So many families decide that this is the right dog for them because of its magnificent nature and uncanny intelligence. Even singles want this breed of dog because it makes for excellent company to cheer you up.

The Boston Terrier is one of the most intelligent American breed of dogs. Boston Terrier information is available in your local kennel club.

American Gentleman: The Boston Terrier Dog

The Boston Terrier dog originates from the United States and is sometimes called the American Gentleman. The reason for this nickname, besides its gentle and loving manner, is due to its markings that make the Boston Terrier dog look as if it is wearing a little tux. The coat of the Boston Terrier is usually black, brindle or seal with white markings that cover the chest, muzzle, neck and about half of the forelegs.

The Boston Terrier is not a lapdog although it has a small build. It is studier and more compact than most lapdogs. Although it was originally bred as a fighting dog it has lost any aggressive traits that it might have originally possessed as it was then bred as a companion dog. Boston Terriers are excellent companions as they are very loving and enjoy being with people. It is this part of their personality that makes the Boston Terrier ideal for families.
You may have heard that the Boston Terrier dog is very yappy and aggressive. This fear of aggression in your Boston Terrier dog is probably confounded by that fact that it was once bred as a fighting dog. However any negative things you have heard about this breed in terms of behavior is the result of irresponsible breeders who produce neurotic puppies that will grow into neurotic dogs.

A well-socialized Boston Terrier will get along with everyone in your household and barks only when it senses danger or intruders. The high intelligence of a Boston Terrier allows it to differentiate between friends of the family who are welcome in the house and people who are clearly intruding. This is in part due to the sensitivity of Boston Terriers to their owner’s moods. They are especially sensitive to the tone of your voice and can instantly sense a rebuke in your voice.

If you want the best Boston Terrier dog possible then you should always buy your puppy from a reputable breeder. A reputable breeder is not in it for the money. Inspect your breeder’s premises, is it clean, are the dogs well cared for? Ask how many times a year the bitches have litters. If the breeder seems like they are trying to get as many puppies as possible from the one dog then you should avoid buying.

Irresponsible breeders don’t care about inbreeding or weak genetic pools and produce dogs that have health problems characteristic of the breed. A responsible breeder minimizes the chances of this happening. An irresponsible breeder also produces neurotic puppies that are aggressive and prone to incessant yapping. Poor breeding practices can even lead to retarded dogs when dogs are born with a skull defect that stunts brain growth. Find a good breeder and you will have the best puppies.

The Boston Terrier is a wonderful dog that does well in a family environment with plenty of people to play and cuddle with. Boston Terrier information about the dog’s temperament and nature can be found in this article.

Boston Terriers – Historically Bred For Companionship

The history of the Boston Terrier parallels the history of the new Americans descended from European colonists. In the 1800's, new America was trying to find their own identity not only in their place in the world, but in their own homes. They wanted to take the best of the European dogs they were familiar with, but change it a bit to make the dog breed more American like they were. They wanted a companion in the home.

Dogs were already well established in North America by the time the very first European settlers arrived. However, anything having to do with the Native Americans was seen as shocking, savage and unfamiliar. So the Native American dogs, along with their owners, were ostracized from new America. Boston was one of the biggest shipping towns in New America, and still had close ties to Europe. Therefore, the Boston Terrier came from predominately European bulldog lines.
There were dogs already in North America living with the Native Americans, but they were not the kind of dogs the European colonists were used to. Also, the Native American dogs were still half-wild and independent. The young country of America, although proud of their American-ness, also yearned for some of the comforts of the old country. One of these comforts was for a companion dog based on Bulldog stock.

Bulldogs, although developed for fighting bulls and other dogs, are incredibly friendly with people. This is probably because they turned to people as their pack members instead of other dogs. This is a trait in many Bulldog varieties, including the French Bulldog and English Bulldog, which were used in the Boston Terrier's creation. One of the old names of the Boston Terrier was the Boston Bull. Recently, bull in a breed name has gotten a bad reputation so the Bull part has been replaced by Terrier.
Eventually, the determined Boston breeders got the dog they wanted. This Boston Bull Terrier or Boston Bull was about fifteen to twenty five pounds, had a naturally short tail and had an evenly proportioned amount of white with the colors black, seal or brindle. The breed has gone through many name changes to get to the Boston Terrier name we have today. The American Kennel Club recognized them as a distinct breed in 1893.

The future of the Boston Terrier looks very good, because there has been just as much attention to breeding a good temperament as there has been to breeding cute looks. There have been attempts to make a teacup sized Boston Terrier, but they are frowned on because of health concerns. The current Boston Terrier is small enough for apartment life, but resilient enough for roughhousing. There have been popular designer dog breeds based on crossing with Bostons, such as the Boston Spaniel (a cross with a Cocker Spaniel).


A Boston Terrier makes a great pet for both families and singles. Boston Terrier information can be found at your local library or vet's office.