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Your Online Guide To Everything Boston Terriers

Breed Brief - History - Appearance - Temperament - Exercise - Grooming - Training - Health
Is Breed Right For Me? - Breeders/Puppies For Sale - Dog Names - Pictures - Further Info - Clubs/Rescues

 

Boston Terrier Dog Breed Brief

Origin: United States
Height: 10-16 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 11-25 pounds (shown in 3 weight classes)
Exercise Needs: Moderate
Grooming Needs: Low
Life Expectancy: 11-13 years
Good With Kids: Yes
Trainability: Easy

The Boston Terrier is a unique and distinctive little breed of dog. Nicknamed the "Gentleman of Dogs," due to his extremely sweet and gentle disposition, this adorable little toy dog has won the hearts of many, across the world. If you’re looking for a spunky and adorable little friend, the Boston Terrier may be just the sort of companion that you had in mind.

Boston Terrier History

 

As his name implies, the Boston Terrier is a native American breed of dog, first bred in the beautiful city of Boston, Massachusetts. The result of crossing an English Bulldog (named Judge) with a now-extinct breed, known as the white English Terrier (named Gyp), a pup named “Wells’ Eph” would later be crossed with “Tobin’s Kate” and the Boston Terrier would develop from these crossings. Originally called the American Bull Terrier, the breed’s name would be changed in 1891, after a great deal of opposition from both Bulldog and Bull Terrier breeders. At the time, the American Bull Terrier Club received no support from the AKC, who declared the breed too young and stated that they were unsure, as of yet, whether or not the available representatives would continue to breed true and continue to produce offspring of the same type.

Fortunately, the American Bull Terrier fanciers were determined and had a great deal of faith in their little dogs. Changing the name to Boston Terrier, honoring the city where the dogs were first bred, they continued to breed and exhibit these captivating little dogs until they were finally admitted into the Stud Book in 1893. The rest, as they say, is history.

 

Boston Terrier Appearance

Once nick-named “Round Heads,” the Boston Terrier is a very distinctive breed, well-known for his compact little body and noticeably round head. Boston Terriers are a determined little dog and this shows in their build and their stance; they are alert and intelligent, as well as being a very active variety of toy dog, and their bodies are built for strength, despite their short stature.

The Boston Terrier can come in a brindle, seal, or the more common black shade, and are to be evenly marked with white. Additionally, these charismatic little dogs are shown in one of 3 separate weight classes: Under 15 pounds, 15 to under 20 pounds, and 20 to under 25 pounds. While there are no official “teacup” varieties, some breeders will often refer to their smaller Boston Terrier puppies as being Teacup Boston Terriers. This simply means that they are of the smaller weight class and is nothing more special than that. 

Boston Terrier Temperament

“Personality-plus” is a term that best-suits these adorable little dogs. Often nick-named the gentleman of dogs, they are charming, captivating and very cuddly, making wonderful companion animals for the elderly. Additionally, the Boston Terrier gets along well with children and seems to have a great deal of patience for smaller humans. The main concern with Boston Terrier is that they can sometimes bite off more than they can chew, much like any other terrier, trying to stand up and protect their humans and property from much larger dogs. This, as one can imagine, can sometimes get your Boston Terrier puppy into a world of trouble if he is left unsupervised or let run loose.

Boston Terrier Exercise Needs

A high-spirited little dog, the Boston Terrier does enjoy an active lifestyle. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much to wear out those short little legs. A short walk in the park or a little bit of chasing the ball down the hallway can get him panting in no time. Additionally, the Boston Terrier enjoys gentle games of tug-o-war and most like to chew on rubber toys, happy to keep himself somewhat entertained for a time.

Breed Brief - History - Appearance - Temperament - Exercise - Grooming - Training - Health
Is Breed Right For Me? - Breeders/Puppies For Sale - Dog Names - Pictures - Further Info - Clubs/Rescues

Boston Terrier Grooming Requirements

Care and upkeep of your Boston Terrier puppy is relatively simple. Not overly heavy shedders, you will find that your Boston Terrier sheds the most in the spring and then, again, in the fall. In the meantime, a simple brushing once or twice a week will suffice, and will help to keep his coat glossy by stimulating the oils in his coat and helping to free and remove any dander. To brush him, use a soft-bristled brush and go with the grain of hair, brushing in a gentle and flicking motion. He will love the free back-scratching.

A Boston Terrier shouldn’t need to be bathed too often; once or twice a month is usually a good bet, unless you have an individual who really enjoys getting dirty. Aside from this, the only other major grooming needs that a Boston Terrier requires are keeping his nails clipped, his ears clean and, if he will let you, his teeth brushed. Should tooth-brushing be an issue, however, there are a variety of toys and treats now available, which help to reduce tartar build up and tooth decay.

Boston Terrier Training

The Boston Terrier is a keenly intelligent breed and one that desires to please his owner. For these reasons, he is generally very easy to train and receptive to the praises that he receives for good behavior. Obedience classes are highly recommended, if you are inexperienced with training dogs - not only does it teach your dog basic commands and obedience, but it also teaches you how better to understand your new puppy, and what methods he bests responds to. In no time, you two are sure to be teaching one another new tricks.

Boston Terrier Health Information

Like any breed of dog, the Boston Terrier is subject to a variety of health concerns. Your best bet is, when deciding to choose a new Boston Terrier puppy, check around with several breeders and ask about the various health issues that can affect these beautiful little dogs. A reputable breeder should be well-versed in the health concerns and should be able to give you more details, as well as showing you the sire and dam of your potential puppy. Some of the health problems that can affect Boston Terriers include:

• Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome (BAOS)
• Deafness
• Corneal Ulcers
• Prevention Corneal Ulcers
• Patellar Luxation
• Hypothyroidism

Is the Boston Terrier Dog Breed Right For You?

The Boston Terrier is indeed a gentleman amongst dogs. Dressed in his little tuxedo and sporting one of the most charming personalities in the dog world, he is a captivating little companion that is sure to warm your heart. Due to his low maintenance requirements, he makes an ideal pet for an elderly person, as well as making a great family dog. Boston Terrier puppies should be supervised with small children, however, as they can be seriously injured if accidentally dropped, fallen on or poked in the eyes and, even the gentlest of souls can still get a little nippy when prying and pinching fingers get to be too painful. Provided you have the time to give your Boston Terrier some love when you come home from work and the occasional lap to sit upon or lay beside, he will consider himself king of the castle and the happiest dog in the world.

Finding A Responsible Boston Terrier Breeder

Now that you have decided that the Boston Terrier is the right breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a responsible Boston Terrier breeder from which to buy a healthy, well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first Boston Terrier puppy you find at the cheapest price available! To buy a puppy from a responsible Boston Terrier breeder, you may need to pay more and wait longer. The additional money and waiting time will be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste from a newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard breeder", and you'll likely also purchase a great deal of additional expense and heartache, since you will likely end up falling in love with a puppy with health and behavioral problems that will likely need special care, plenty of veterinary visits, regular medication - or even euthanasia. But do your homework and find a responsible, caring Boston Terrier breeder who home-raises their puppies with love, screens their breeding dogs for health problems, offers a health guarantee and post sale support, and who genuinely loves the Boston Terrier breed and is in it for the love of the breed, rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of getting a healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family companion that will provide you and your family with many years of joy, laughter and companionship.

Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...

Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Boston Terrier puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many sites now online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for puppy mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear of these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the breeders whom they allow to advertise.

We Highly Recommend:

• Boston Terrier Puppies For Sale
• Boston Terrier Breeders Showcase
• Boston Terrier Puppy Finder on Pet Net
  
  

Boston Terrier Names

Choosing a name for your Boston Terrier puppy can be a daunting task! There are so many names to choose from that it can take a lot of thought and research to find just the right name for your Boston Terrier. Usually, it's best to get to know your puppy for a few days or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will help you decide on just the right name to choose. Does he have a sense of humor? A serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to one side? A strange love of cantaloupe? By observing your new Boston Terrier puppy over the first days or weeks, you should at least have a clue about what type of name you want to give. There are a ton of dog names and pet names web sites on the internet. Some are wonderful information resources, while others, unfortunately, are just "garbage" sites set up with the sole purpose of cashing in on visitor hits for this popular subject.

We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name for your new Boston Terrier puppy. These sites offer inventive, unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that have helped thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the right name for their new baby!

• Dog Names
• Choosing A Name For Your Dog Or Puppy
• Unique Pet Names
  
  

Boston Terrier Pictures

Boston Terriers are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking at Boston Terrier pictures, you can usually gain more insight into what these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and this can help you decide if you really want to become an Boston Terrier owner. The following sites below offer pictures of Boston Terrier dogs, Boston Terrier puppy photos, funny Boston Terrier photos and more. Enjoy!

• Boston Terrier Dog Pictures
  
  

Additional Boston Terrier Information Resources

• Wikipedia - Boston Terriers
• Boston Terrier Dogs and Puppies
• The Boston Terrier and All About It, available at Project Gutenberg. (First published 1910)
• An article on Helium about the Boston Terrier

Boston Terrier Clubs and Rescues

Boston Terrier clubs and rescues web sites can help you learn even more about the Boston Terrier dog breed, help you locate a responsible Boston Terrier breeder, or help you find an Boston Terrier dog or puppy in need of a second chance for a loving, forever home. We've compiled the following list of Boston Terrier clubs and Boston Terrier rescues web sites for your convenience:

• Boston Terrier Club of America, Inc.
• Boston Terrier Club of Canada
• Boston Terrier Rescue Net
• American Boston Terrier Rescue located in North Texas
• Boston Terrier Rescue located in Southern California