The Boston Terrier is a popular dog breed that originated in the USA. Due to its gentle and friendly nature, it has even earned the nickname “The American Gentleman”. They are quite an intelligent breed, but they also have a high level of prey drive.

Although they are small in size and a non-sporting breed, they are still fairly energetic and agile. Further, with a decent amount of exercise, they can be easily accommodated as indoor dogs.

Boston Terriers are mainly characterized by their unique color combination which gives them the appearance of wearing a tuxedo. Another distinguishing feature of this breed is their short muzzle and big, round eyes.

They serve extremely well as family dogs or companion dogs, and a great choice of pet for people who live alone. Read on below for detailed breed information about Boston Terriers.

History

All Boston Terriers are believed to have descended from a dog named “Judge”. But there are different stories about the origin of Judge, and no concrete evidence to prove which one is true.

However, the most popular story is that Judge was a Bull and Terrier dog that belonged to a man named Robert Hooper residing in Boston during the 1870s.

Reportedly, Judge was bred with a dog named Gyp, belonging to Edward Burnett from Massachusetts. Though the details of Gyp’s breed are not known, she is believed to have been a bulldog-type breed.

The offspring of Judge and Kate was bred with a number of other dogs by Burnett, and those offsprings were further bred to refine a few characteristics. This eventually led to the rise of the Boston Terriers, which received their name after their place of origin. They were recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1893.

Popularity

In earlier times, Boston Terriers, as well as their ancestors, were bred to be fighter dogs. However, this breed gradually evolved into friendly and family-loving dogs. As such, they are quite a popular breed and are ranked 21 out of 195 by the AKC.

Appearance

Boston Terriers are certainly very unique in terms of appearance – partly due to their facial features and partly due to their color schemes. Their features and appearance are described in detail below.

Head

Boston Terriers have a somewhat square-shaped head that is proportional to the size of their bodies. Further, they have wide eyes and pointed ears, with a very short muzzle.

Body

Boston Terriers have a stout and compact body. Though small in size, they have a muscular build with a broad chest. Also, their neck is a little arched, and their tail is short and tapered. Further, their legs are small and short, but strong and muscular.

Moreover, the gait of Boston Terriers is straight and rhythmic, which surely looks very graceful. Furthermore, they weigh anywhere between 12 and 25 pounds.

Coat & Colors

The coat of Boston Terriers is short and smooth, which doesn’t shed much compared to dogs with longer fur. As per AKC standards, only three color combinations are accepted as pure Boston Terriers.

Those are white and black, white and brindle, or white and seal. Any other color of the coat is not accepted as a true Boston Terrier since they are half-breeds or mix-breeds.

Breed Standards

Here are the different breed standards for Boston Terriers:

• AKC’s Boston Terrier standard
• KC’s Boston Terrier standard
• CKC’s Boston Terrier standard
• FCI’s Boston Terrier standard

Temperament

The gentle nature of Boston Terriers gives them a mild temperament. At times, they may be clumsy, and other times they may be quiet. Although they are not very aggressive, sometimes they may behave a bit stubborn.

If socialized from an early age, they will develop a very domesticated and well-mannered personality. Further, they are not very vocal, and they only bark when they feel something suspicious or curious.

Behavior with strangers

Boston Terriers may be wary and suspicious of strangers when their owners are not around. But in the presence of their owners, they are not aggressive towards strangers.

Behavior with other pets

Boston Terriers get along quite well with other dogs and similar sized pets like cats. However, they tend to have a high level of prey drive towards smaller animals such as rodents, lizards, and insects.

When introduced to a new pet, Boston Terriers may sometimes act aggressively and protective over their territory. However, this is usually temporary and they can be quickly trained to get used to a new pet in the home.

Intelligence and Trainability

Terriers are fairly intelligent – meaning they’re not the smartest and fastest learners, but they can be trained well to learn commands and perform certain behaviors. Further, they respond very well to positive reinforcement training using their favorite treats.

Also, if they are trained from a small age, they can learn the most basic commands and even many complex ones. Even in terms of behavior training, they can be trained to be a well-mannered and disciplined family dog.

Health

Boston Terriers have an average lifespan of about 11 to 13 years. However, they are prone to some health problems, that buyers and owners should be aware of. Some of the common health conditions that Boston Terriers are susceptible to are listed below.

Due to their big, wide eyes, Boston Terriers often suffer from eye conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma. As they grow older, they become more Thus, it is recommended for Boston Terriers to undergo occasional eye check-ups at regular intervals.

Eye Conditions

Due to their big, wide eyes, Boston Terriers often suffer from eye conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma. As they grow older, they become more susceptible to such conditions. Such eye diseases are hard to detect or self-diagnose, and can only be detected by a veterinary doctor. Thus, it is recommended for Boston Terriers to undergo occasional eye check-ups at regular intervals.

Luxating Patella

Luxating patellas are a common condition in many small-sized breeds. It’s a condition where the kneecaps of the dog slip out of their place. Further, it is characterized by limping and abnormal gait. Sometimes, the dog may show signs of pain in the affected leg. Severe cases of luxating patella must be treated with surgery.

Breathing Problems

The short muzzle of Boston Terriers can often cause some type of breathing problem in the dogs. Many times, heat and high levels of humidity can also cause breathing problems in this breed. In most cases, the problem is temporary and often gets better on its own. But there is a possibility for Boston Terriers to develop fatal breathing problems. However, treatment for severe breath disorders may include surgical procedures.

Deafness

Boston Terriers often suffer from partial or complete deafness. It is the responsibility of breeders to ensure that all Boston Terrier puppies undergo BAER testing, which determines if there is any incidence of deafness. As long as you get this breed from a reputed and reliable breeder, you will be informed beforehand if the puppy is suffering from deafness or not.

Care

Boston Terriers are relatively easy to care for and can be considered as low maintenance dogs. Even first-time dog owners won’t find it very difficult to care for them.

Feeding

It’s best to feed Boston Terriers with good quality dog food, two times a day. But keep track of the total calories your dog is receiving and regularly measure your dog’s weight to ensure that they don’t become obese or overweight.

If you’re using treats to train them, you must be careful with the number of treats you use. Further, too many treats can add a lot more calories than needed for the dog.

Grooming

Having short fur, Boston Terriers do not shed a lot and require little grooming. Thus, it is best to brush their coats once a week and bathe them occasionally, about once or twice a month.

If they are spending more time indoors, then you won’t need to bathe them a lot. However, owners must take care to trim their nails often.

Exercising

Boston Terriers require light exercise and taking them out on walks for two times a day should suffice. If they remain idle for a long time, they may get bored and show some unwanted behavior. Thus, it’s necessary to keep them occupied with some basic tricks and games at certain intervals.

If you want, you can train them to be athletic and agile as well. However, they can adjust well to both slow and fast-paced lifestyles.

Ownership

Boston Terriers are suitable for first-time dog owners, people living in small apartments, and those looking for companion dogs or low-cost dogs. Further, they are a perfect choice for families who want a dog that is easy to maintain.

Pricing

The average cost of a Boston Terrier is about $600 to $1,200. Reputed breeders may even charge $1,500, while certain Boston Terriers with superior lineage may even cost up to $4,000.

Buying

Here are some things you must keep in mind while buying a Boston Terrier:

1. Scrutinize the credentials and reputation of the breeder from whom you are buying.
2. Make sure that the breeder has performed BAER testing on the dog to check for deafness.
3. Get all the required paperwork in place, which includes medical reports of the dog as well as its parents, and other documents such as proof of lineage.

When buying a Boston Terrier, do choose breeders over pet shops. Breeders are usually people who love dogs and care for them. They often provide for many health requirements of the dog before selling them.

Breeding

The average litter size of Boston Terriers can be anywhere from 3 to 5 puppies. But there are cases where a minimum of 1 puppy and a maximum of 7 puppies are born. The mating process, as well as the pregnancy period of Boston Terriers, tend to go smoothly with no common complications.

However, the small size of this breed can cause problems in the natural delivery of puppies. In such cases, veterinarians perform C-section on the dog. But performing a C-section can also cause some complications that can even prove to be fatal for the mother or the new-born puppies.

It is a good idea to provide calcium supplements to Boston Terriers, as an adequate amount of calcium can promote natural delivery and avoid the need for C-section.

However, do not give them any supplements during the pregnancy period, only before or after. Owners must give special care to pregnant dogs in terms of quality food and sufficient nutrition.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have gathered the most common questions about Boston Terriers and tried to answer them as concisely as possible.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Boston Terrier is one of the best breeds for new and experienced dog owners alike. They can fit in perfectly in any type of household, be it a spacious house or a small apartment.

Since they don’t require excessive care, grooming, and exercise, they make perfect pets for busy working people as well as those who live alone. Due to their friendly nature, they also make for great companion dogs.

The two main things that Boston Terrier owners should care for is a balanced and nutritious diet and regular check-ups for some common health problems. That said, they are an excellent all-rounder breed with many positive features and very few negative ones.