Boston Terrier
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General Description
(Boston Bull, Boston Bull Terrier) The Boston Terrier is a compact, stout, well-muscled mastiff breed. Their distinctive face features a short, broad muzzle and a pair of large, round, far-set eyes that are dark in color. Their ears are short and stand erect, and their nose is large and black in color. The Boston Terrier’s head is wide and flat, and the neck is slightly arched. The breed’s chest is proportionately broad, and the limbs are straight, sturdy, and well-muscled. The coat of the Boston Terrier is glossy, short-haired, and fine in texture. It exists in a number of colors including brindle & white, black & white, or brown & white.User added info
Official colors are brindle with white and black with white. Other colors aren't officially recognized by the AKC.
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Character
Originally, the Boston Terrier was bred to participate in dog fights. Since that time, the vast majority of the breed’s aggressive tendencies have been eliminated. The contemporary Boston Terrier is friendly, alert, and good-natured. They are full of character, energy, and enthusiasm, and they are highly intelligent and well-mannered. Because they are perceptive and sensitive to a person’s tone of voice, they like to learn and are a comparatively easy breed to train. They are independent and free-willed in certain situations. Boston Terriers only bark if they sense a threat, and for this reason, they make good watchdogs. They are very good with children, elderly people, and they are social with strangers. They like to feel like part of the family. Some male Boston Terriers may be dominant towards other male dogs. They get along with non-canine pets.
Size
15 – 17 inches
Weight
10 – 25 pounds
General Health
Because of their squat muzzle and short face, the Boston Terrier is susceptible to breathing problems in extreme weather conditions. This breed can become overheated if they are overly exerted or pushed too hard by their owner(s). This breed is likely to drool and snore. Boston Terrier puppies are often delivered by cesarean section because of their large-sized head. Their prominent eyes increase the likelihood for eye injuries. Some lines of this breed are especially prone to heart and skin tumors. Poorly bred Boston Terriers are susceptible to a bone defect in the skull that stunts brain growth and causes retardation. This breed typically lives for 15 or more years. They average 3 to 4 puppies per litter.*
Because of the fast way this breed consumes food, it may tend to have a flatulence issue.
History
The Boston Terrier was originally bred in the United States for the purpose of participating in dog fights. The breed used to be much larger in size (up to 45 pounds). Original Boston Terriers were a cross between the English Bulldog and the English White Terrier (now extinct). In the mid-to-late 1800’s, coachmen employed by the wealthy people of Boston began to breed these dogs. Because of their profession, the coachmen had access to many of the fine specimens their wealthy employers owned. One of the English White Terrier and English Bulldog crosses led to the creation of a dog named “Hooper’s Judge”. Hooper’s Judge was bred down in size with a smaller female, and this process continued for two more litters. This offspring, interbred with one or more French Bulldogs, led to the creation of the foundation for the Boston Terrier. By 1889, the breed had become popular in the Boston area, and purveyors of this breed formed the American Bull Terrier Club. The Boston Terrier was given its name several years later, and was officially recognized by the AKC in 1893. Throughout the 20th century, a stronger emphasis was placed on physical appearance, coat color, and markings.
Maintenance
The glossy, short-haired coat of the Boston Terrier is easy to groom and care for. Regular brushing with a firm bristle brush and bathing only as necessary are sufficient methods of upkeep. The face and eyes of this breed should be wiped with a clean, moist cloth on a daily basis. Ears and eyes should be regularly checked. Nails should be kept trimmed. The Boston Terrier is an average shedder.
Ideal Environment
The Boston Terrier can live happily in a small household or apartment. They are comparatively inactive indoors and are content to live without a yard. They are sensitive to extreme climate fluctuations. Boston Terriers enjoy going for short, brisk walks and playing in fenced-in areas. *
Although small, Boston terriers are high-energy dogs that love to run and play. They are happy to be a lap dog as well. Bostons should have a yard and a long walk or run-every day to keep healthy and happy. Most of all they just enjoy spending time with their owners.
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Ask a QuestionBoston Terrier Q&A
Hello, my boston male is 10 months old. He is very aggresive with our other 2 large dogs but they will not respond to him that way as they know its bad. He bites at them when playing and I contantly must remind him to " no bite". He is also going outside and then coming in and doing his business in the house right in front of me. He has also peed on my bed covers. We have tried everything with this dog and he is a terror. We adore him and are really trying to work through this but its crazy. On the leash he is like watching the "exorcist" and screams and throws himself down on the ground. He attacks other dogs as soon as he sees them. Then he does the most adorable things and we then remember why we still have him. Why is my boston so misbehaved??
Are boston terriers able to loose teeth and grow them backin the same spots?
I have a 4 month Boston Terrier. When I first got him, at 2 months, his nose was mainly pink with speckles of black on it. It seems like each week or so his nose is getting less pink and more black. It has filled in around the edges, up the middle, just two spots directly above the nostrils are pink. Will his nose eventually turn completely black?
Yes - when I got my BT at 8 weeks, his nose was mostly pink with some black as well. As he got older and more mature, the pink faded and now he has a completely black, cute button nose :]
We just purchased a Boston Terrier puppy, female, that is 8 weeks old. While my husband was playing with her she started nipping at his fingers and then when my husband raised his arm so the puppy couldn't bite him, the puppy jumped up and bit him on his under arm. My husband told the puppy no and tried to calm the puppy and the puppy just acted vicious and started growling and trying to bite again. We rolled her over and told her NO and put her in her kennel for a few minutes. When I got her back out she was fine.
Then again this morning when my husband started petting her when she was on the floor she started growling and bitting his hands. My husband holds her, pets her, and she goes to sleep in his arms most of the time.
Just on these rare occasions she exibits this behaviour.
This really worried me because this wonderful, cuddly, sweet puppy turned into a spitting, growling, squirming, vicious little creature that we didn't recognize.
Our puppy seems really great natured, except whe wants to fight with my husband, gets along well with out other pets and has never exibited this behaviour with me or our 16 year old grand daughter
I'm worried now that I have a nerotic pet.... Help!
At first, it sounds like the puppy is just playing with your husband, whether or not your husband wants to play back. If she's showing teeth and growling before you even get your hand down to pet her, that's a sign of aggression, which may be set off by something you haven't noticed yet. Chances are, however, that she's just being a naughty puppy. My Boston was an absolute terror the first 4-6 weeks we had him, but after using a stern voice used for training (and make sure not to ever contradict yourself while training - yell at puppy for a mistake, and then pet her right after cuz she's so cute), she'll learn that biting and nipping is not acceptable by the pack leader, and her bad behavior should stop. Good luck!
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Best Dog Ever
They are Great Dogs!I've owned about 3 in my life time and I've loved them all.They're cute,fun-loving,and did i mention Cute!
Pros: They are great
Cons: They will steal any food left out