Boston Terrier Characteristics
This little bundle of energy is one of the few dogs that originated in the United States of America. After the Civil War, this breed was developed originally as a fighting dog, but you would never know that today.
The original breed was bred by crossing a white English White Terrier (now extinct) and an English Bulldog and they originally weighed up to 44 pounds.
Throughout the years, the Boston Terrier was bred downsize eventually breeding with the French Bulldog to produce the size we are now familiar with.
In 1891 the breed’s supporters established a Boston Terrier Club of American, naming the breed after the city it originated in.
By 1893 the breed was accepted into the American Kennel Club as a non-sporting breed. Now, the breed is regarded as a truly All-American dog thanks to its gentle disposition.
It is known as a lover, not a fighter, and is often referred to as ‘The Little American Gentleman’.
Body Type
Even though their body is small, they have a solid and muscular body. The body has a square appearance and is short. Even the head appears square, but it is proportionate to the rest of the dog’s body.
The muzzle is wide, deep, and short, and the bite of the dog is either slightly undershot or even, which gives it a square look. The nose is black. The eyes are very wide-set and their appearance is large, round, and dark. The ears are naturally erect but can be cropped or left alone.
WHAT OTHER BREEDS OF DOGS GET THEIR EARS CROPPED?
The limbs, like the body, are muscular, and they are set wide-apart thanks to the broad chest and body. The neck has a slight arch to it. The tail is either screw-shaped or straight and the rump of the dog curves slightly to the tail. They should weigh between 20-25 pounds and stand about 12 to 17 inches tall at the shoulder.
Coat
The Boston Terrier is perfect for anyone who wants a dog that does not shed very much and does not require very much grooming. Their coat is sleek and fine and requires very little care. A small rubber brush, to attract hair that has been shed, maybe all that is needed to keep the coat looking healthy and shiny.
Color
The Boston Terrier Breed can come in a few different colors. The most common are black and white, brindle and white, seal and white, and brown and white. All have a white muzzle, face blaze, and white chest which gives off the look of a tuxedo. Be wary of any breeder that tries to sell you a ‘unique color’ because this may be a sign of a low-quality breeder. These dogs do not come in solid colors.
Temperament
This breed is full of energy yet is very alert and gentle when need be. The Boston Terrier has a high level of intelligence and knows what it can get away with and what it can’t; therefore, it needs to have the proper obedience training with a strong-minded, leader-orientated owner in order to ensure it behaves responsibly at all times.
Consistency is the key with this breed, as they will always test their limits when given a chance. There will always be one leader in the pack and it will either be the owner or the Boston Terrier.
In addition, because they are sensitive little dogs, their owners need to have a controlled voice that does not give away anxiety or anger. Owners also need to physically and mentally stimulate their dogs in order to be well-behaved and release built-up energy. They are high-strung otherwise. This can be achieved through lots of exercise, training, and games.
Boston Terriers can be good watchdogs, barking only when they hear something that validates barking. However, some owners claim that their dogs do not bark at any noise.
They are known to be great family dogs, getting along with children; however, they also are great companions for the elderly who live in apartments as long as they can get out to exercise on a daily basis. They are comical and love to make their owners laugh with their silly antics and funny expressions.
Tasty Tidbits
Boston Terriers are called brachycephalic dogs, thanks to their short muzzles and broad, short skull. This means that they cannot cool the air that goes into their lungs as their longer-nosed friends can, which means that they are susceptible to over-heating and should always be provided shelter and shade to stay cool on hot days.
In addition, their short coat makes them susceptible to freezing during extremely cold weather, and they should not be exposed to cold weather for long periods of time.
Breeding is not an easy task for Boston Terriers. Because they have a small pelvis and a large head, most litters have to be delivered through a cesarean section, and the litter is usually very small (it is not uncommon for there to be only one puppy born). Therefore, breeding should only be done by professionals who have bred the proper dogs together for the ultimate breed success.
Boston Terriers are prone to respiratory problems, and pulling on their collar can cause them to easily choke and wheeze. Therefore, rough handling kids should not be permitted to walk a Boston Terrier who is on the collar, and training should not be done through jerking and pulling on the collar.
Boston Terriers are prone to gas. This may not be something that everyone wants in their home.
Thanks to their short muzzle, they often drool, snort, and shore. While the snorting can be cute during play, the drooling and snorting can be annoying to some people. Anyone who thinks they may have an issue with it should not buy this breed because it is often worse than pictured.
Punishment can make this breed very upset. If loud voices, yelling, or physical punishment is used, this breed will react poorly and stop doing anything their owner wants them to do; therefore, positive and motivational training should be the only method used with this breed for optimal results.
Lastly, this breed will overeat if they are allowed to. A proper, well-balanced diet is important to maintain a healthy weight and a healthy body.
