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Boston Terrier

Boston Terrier
History:

Country/Date of Origin: United States/1800s

A breed made in the USA, the Boston Terrier is the result of a cross between an English Bulldog and a white English Terrier, a breed now extinct. The original Boston Terriers, which weighed 35 pounds, were considerably larger than the typical twenty-pound dog today. Dog fanciers around Boston called the dog they developed the Round Head, Yankee Terrier, American Bull Terrier and several other names, but when the breed was admitted to the American Kennel Club in 1893, it was decided that Boston Terrier would be used.

 Other Names Body Type Personality Coat Health Concerns

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Yankee Terrier, Round Heads

AKC Group: Non-Sporting

Breed Club: Boston Terrier Club of America, Inc.

Rescue Club: Linda Trader, (724)-883-4732, Pennsylvania, btcaresc@greenepa.net

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Body Type:

  • A distinctive , dapper looking dog with a broad head, large, round eyes and tuxedo markings
  • Height: 15-17 inches (at shoulder)
  • Weight: 10-25 pounds
  • The short tail is set low and is not carried above horizontal. It can be either straight or screw. It is never docked
  • The ears are carried erect and are set at the corners of the skull; they are sometimes cropped

Personality:

  • Very affectionate
  • The Boston Terrier is not a terrier; the breed does not have the fiery temperament of that tribe
  • Dapper and intelligent, the Boston Terrier can have a stubborn streak
  • Excellent with children

Coat:

  • Smooth, short, and shiny
  • Permissible colors are brindle and white (which is preferred) or black and white
  • A regular symmetry of the markings is extremely important in this breed. The placement of the white is called tuxedo patterning. There must be a white muzzle and white blaze on the head, and white on the neck, chest, forelegs and hind legs below the hocks
  • Minimal grooming required

Health Concerns:

  • Subject to respiratory problems
  • Prone to eye injuries and infections as well as cataracts
  • Skin conditions such as fold dermatitis and demodectic mange
  • Cushing's disease
  • Snores up a storm
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Tasty Tidbits:
  • An excellent breed for the first time dog owner
  • The breed will adapt itself to whatever life style you have
  • Small, relatively quiet, long-lived, smart, great with kids and short coated
  • The breed was at one time the most popular dog in America
  • The Boston Terrier has been out of vogue for many years, but appears to be making a comeback
  • The breed is closely associated with the city of Boston and is used as a mascot or symbol of many things in Beantown