Boston Terrier Dog Breed Profile
The Boston Terrier has his beginnings in Boston, located
in the United States. Around the year 1870, crossbreeding
between English Bulldogs and English Terriers led to
a few other breeds. One of the first such dogs was named,
Hooper's Judge. He was bred with a white female, resulting
in the first of the Boston Terriers, although they did
not go by that name until later.
In 1889, the American Bull Terrier Club was organized
by owners of this new breed of dogs. Unfortunately,
the founders of this club met with some opposition from
both Bull Terrier and Bulldog owners. They did not believe
that it was fair to consider this new breed in the same
standing or to use the same name as their established
breeds. The club quickly changed the name to the Boston
Terrier Club.
Originally, crossbreeding produced inconsistent results
and it took long years of selective crossbreeding, including
inbreeding, before consistent results were achieved.
Eventually, the breed became what it is today.
A small, compact dog that has a square skull and jaw
with a shortened snout or muzzle, the Boston Terrier
has round eyes that are set far apart. His head is short,
as is his tail, which sits rather low on his backside
or rump. His body is rather short due to his short legs.
The ears of a Boston Terrier are pointed and set at
the corners of his square skull. They are carried perfectly
erect upon his head. The nose of a Boston Terrier is
wide and very black. The muzzle and fore chest are typically
white in coloring.
Their coloring is commonly black with white markings,
seal (a type of reddish-looking black) or brindle with
white markings. It is this specific combination of dark
coat with bright white markings that leads to the easy
recognition of the Boston Terrier. Boston Terriers do
not shed very much and their grooming needs are minimal.
Trimming is unnecessary at all times.
The Boston Terrier is known for his friendly nature
that makes him a wonderful companion. He does well in
apartments and living with single people. However, he
is equally adaptable to family living since he does
get along well with children.
The Boston Terrier is an intelligent breed, lending
him to easy training. His disposition is typically friendly
and lovable. He enjoys spending time with people and
being indoors is quite acceptable to him. In fact, remaining
indoors is also advisable due to his extreme sensitivity
to changes in temperature and proclivity to skin ailments.
Additionally, he is loyal and empathetic to his owners
and their needs. As a watchdog, he is excellent and
reliable. He is always alert to any changes and is quick
to respond. Intruders will meet with his desire to run
them off despite his relatively small size.
However, partly due to his original parentage lines,
he does display a tendency to interact on rather an
aggressive level with other dogs. He takes quickly to
any challenge and does quite well presenting himself
and managing to stay ahead in any ruckus.
Healthy Boston Terriers do not need lots of exercise
to keep them happy and content. However, moderate exercise
that includes walks and some play are important, especially
in young puppies that tend to have more energy.
Regular walks and exercise, even on a moderate level
are important not only to the dog's physical health,
but also, to his mental health. However, it is important
to remember this breed's tendency to respiratory problems
and to keep his exercise to short sessions that do not
involve overexertion on the part of the dog.
The Boston Terrier is a small to medium size. The lightweight
dog usually weighs under 6.8 kg or 15 lbs. The middleweights
usually weigh between 6.8-9 kg or 15-20 lbs. The heavyweights
usually weigh between 9-11.3 kg or 20-25 lbs. The typical
height of the adult is approximately 31 to 38 cm or
12 to 15 inches.
Health issues that may affect the Boston Terrier include
hypothyroidism, megaesophagus, epilepsy, glaucoma, cataracts,
cardiovascular problems, and allergic dermatitis. Eye
problems and respiratory problems are common with breeds
that have short muzzles. Therefore, this breed might
also experience wheezing, especially during extremely
hot weather.
The American Kennel Club recognized this breed in 1893.
The average lifespan of the Boston Terrier is between
ten and fifteen years.
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