This small breed dog is built
with small, erect ears, short tails, and a stout,
short muzzle. The Boston Terrier originated in the
late 19th century. Originally, the breed was
actually called a Hooper’s Judge, which was a breed
of English White Terrier and English Bulldog. The
original breed was around 30 pounds but as new
breeding took place, the Boston Terrier ended up
being larger, weighing in around 45 pounds.
The Boston Terrier was a favorite breed in Boston
and by 1889, the American Bull Terrier Club was
organized. It was just a few years after this that
the name was officially changed to “Boston Terrier”,
which is what we know the breed as today. Then in
1893, the Boston Terrier was admitted into the
American Kennel Club, being the first non-sporting
dog in the United States.
During early breeding years, this breed had various
colors and markings, which were considered of little
to no importance. However, in the early 20th
century, very specific colors and markings were
deemed the standard, actually becoming a vital part
of the breed’s acceptance. Although the Boston
Terrier was mischievous and somewhat unruly in its
early years, today we see a well-behaved dog that is
fun, loving, and comical in nature.
Temperament
Keep in mind that the Boston Terrier was actually
bred for fighting originally but over the years,
this breed was bred down to a gentle, companion dog
that remains highly popular today. In fact, most
Boston Terrier’s are very gentle and well behaved.
You would likely notice a little bit of mischievous
behavior but nothing out of line. Although the
Boston Terrier is a great, single dog, they also
enjoy the company of another Boston Terrier.
The nice thing about this particular breed is that
while the breed is alert, making a great watchdog,
it is not an obnoxious barker. Typically, this breed
will only bark when someone comes to the door or it
sees passersby in front of the home. Since this dog
has been bred down specifically to be a companion,
it is a great choice for homes with children, and
other pets to include birds, dogs, cats, etc. The
key is to socialize the puppy while young, teaching
it to be independent but also loving and calm.
Size and Color
The Boston Terrier is a small, compact breed that
again, has erect ears, a short muzzle, and short
tail. You will find Boston Terriers as small as 10
pounds although they can weigh as much as 25 pounds.
As far as height, this breed typically stands
between 15 and 17 inches at the withers.
For coloring, remember that originally, color and
markings were considered unimportant. However, today
you would expect to see the Boston Terrier with
white markings on a brindle, black, or seal-colored
body. Keep in mind that the Boston Terrier can have
all three body colors with white markings as well.
Although all three, body colors are beautiful, the
standard is the seal, which is black with soft red
highlights.
If you were interested in showing a Boston Terrier,
you want to choose a puppy that has white markings
that covers the chest and muzzle, as well as a band
that goes around the neck. Additionally, the white
should go up 50% of the forelegs, on the back legs
but only to the hocks, and then a beautiful white
blaze on the face between the eyes but this should
never be touching the eyes.
Keep in mind that specifically with the Boston
Terrier for show, you want symmetrical markings.
While this is not mandatory, it is preferred. The
key is looking for a dog that looks as if it were
wearing a clean, crisp tuxedo. The white markings on
the body make the dog look refined and very
gentlemanly, which is the crux of the Boston
Terrier. Depending on the dog’s ancestry, you would
expect to see some variation in color and markings.
Feeding and Grooming Requirements
The key to feeding Boston Terriers, as well as other
dog breeds is that even some of the top dog foods
have formulas changed. When this happens, dogs may
not do well with the new food. Therefore, you should
feed your Boston Terrier food that you trust and pay
attention to the formula. If you notice something
has changed, you might expect some problems with
diarrhea and/or vomiting. A better solution for your
Boston Terrier is homemade food.
Keep in mind that this breed in particular needs
extremely high levels of protein and fat in order to
maintain a healthy body, specifically for show. If
you decide to use store bought food, look for
formulas with 30% protein and 20% fat or create your
own formula using this balance. Another important
tip associated with feeding a Boston Terrier is that
many will have allergic reaction to anything
containing brewer’s yeast, which would include some
lamb and chicken-based foods. Just stick with high
quality, dry food.
For grooming, you can expect some shedding although
not much. This dog has a smooth, short coat that
typically needs just an occasional brushing. In
other words, working with a firm bristle brush, you
would need to brush the Boston Terrier about three
times per week. In addition, make sure this dog’s
face is washed with a damp cloth daily and that the
nails are clipped when needed.
Exercise Needs
This breed of dog loves playtime. However, when it
comes to actual exercise, only moderate activity is
required. While you could take the Boston Terrier
for a long walk, it is not necessary. Typically, a
short walk a few times a week would suffice. For the
Boston Terrier, the main goal is making sure it has
a good companion since this breed needs lots of love
and affection. Remember, this dog was down bred to
be a companion dog so it needs human contact. You
would not want to keep the Boston Terrier outside
although time spent playing, exercising, and
training is a good idea.
